Employee Benefits Report – August 2026

The 2026 Healthcare Cost Surge: Mid-Year Strategies Employers Can Still Deploy

Healthcare costs are rising faster in 2026 than most employers expected. Mid-year projections from national carriers show medical trend running between 6.5% and 10%, driven by higher inpatient costs, increased specialty-drug use, and a sharp rise in GLP-1 prescriptions. Read on for details.

Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs): The Fastest-Growing Benefit of 2026

Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) are becoming one of the fastest-growing benefits of 2026. Employers are adopting LSAs because they solve a problem traditional benefits have struggled with for years: personalization. Employees want benefits that fit their lives, not one-size-fits-all programs. LSAs give them that flexibility.
Read on for details.

ICHRAs Gain Momentum: Why Employers Are Reconsidering Defined-Contribution Health Benefits

Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) are gaining real traction in 2026 as employers look for predictable costs and more employee choice. For many organizations, traditional group health plans have become too expensive, too complex, and too difficult to manage across multiple states. Read on for details.

Preventive Care Incentives: Small Changes That Reduce Big Claims

Preventive care has become one of the most reliable ways for employers to reduce long-term medical claims, yet participation rates remain stubbornly low across many organizations. The challenge isn’t employee resistance—it’s lack of structure. Read on for details.