2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey

New survey data show employer-sponsored health costs climbed again in 2026, and employers are increasingly passing those increases on to workers. - KFF’s 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey (the 28th EHBS) finds average family premiums rose 5% this year to $28,303 (KFF/Fierce Healthcare summary). Employers’ overall plan costs also moved up 5%, with little relief expected (KFF Health News). - Employees are paying more of that bill: workers’ average annual contribution for family coverage rose 9% — $621 — to $7,471 in 2026, with the burden especially heavy for employees at small firms (KFF). - Reporting based on the surveys says millions of workers are feeling the squeeze as employers shift costs through higher premiums, larger deductibles and greater cost-sharing, prompting some people to delay or forgo care (New York Times). The EHBS also asked employers detailed questions this year about plan satisfaction, coverage of GLP‑1 drugs and IVF, and actions taken in response to projected cost increases (KFF survey). Overall, the trend points to continued pressure on workers’ wallets absent clear relief. Sources: KFF 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey; KFF coverage summaries; New York Times reporting. Links: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/2026-employer-health-benefits-survey/; https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/kff-employer-family-premiums-5-28k-2026; https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/workers-now-pay-7471-on-average-annually-for-family-health-coverage-up-9-or-621-from-2025-benchmark-employer-health-benefits-survey-finds/; https://kffhealthnews.org/insurance/kff-survey-employer-based-health-plan-costs-rise-2026-2027/; https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/22/business/health-insurance-costs-workers-premiums-deductibles.html.