Health care costs are rising, prompting companies to increasingly shift financial burdens to employees, as reflected in findings from a Mercer study. Around 51% of companies are likely to make design changes that increase costs for employees, up from 45% last year. Average benefit costs are anticipated to rise by 5.8% this year due to surging prescription drug prices, compelling 61% of employers to seek alternatives. Costly GLP-1 weight-loss medications are a primary concern, with 77% prioritizing their management, though future coverage remains uncertain.
Health care costs for workers are already up, with the average costs of those benefits expected to grow by 5.8% this year, which is an increase from 4.5% last year.
Over half of employers (61%) are now actively looking for alternatives to typical pharmacy benefit contracts due to rising prescription drug prices.
77% of organizations ranked managing the costs of GLP-1 weight-loss medications as their highest priority concerning pharmacy benefits, yet coverage might be at risk due to rising costs.
Employers are weighing the immediate costs of covering GLP-1s against the potential for generating further financial burdens in the coming year.
#health-care-costs #employee-benefits #prescription-drug-prices #pharmacy-benefits #employer-strategies
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