WSJ: US employer healthcare costs projected to see largest increase

Employers in the United States expect healthcare costs for their workers to increase by 11.1 percent in 2027, marking the highest rise in more than two decades.

This is according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on Thursday (20/8), citing a survey from employee benefits consultancy WTW.

According to the survey, the projected increase would mark the fifth consecutive year of accelerating growth in employer-sponsored health programme costs.

The report said that as companies face higher health programme costs, the costs borne by workers are also rising almost in tandem, with more money being deducted from their salaries for insurance premiums.

US citizens with employer-provided health insurance are expected to spend an average of 5,297 US dollars (1 US dollar = Rp17,779) on healthcare costs in 2026, up 388 US dollars from 2025, according to estimates released by employee benefits consultancy Aon.

That figure includes salary deductions for insurance premiums, as well as out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and copayments.

The report noted that higher hospital costs, increased use of medical services, expensive cancer treatments, and the growing use of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss are among the factors driving the rise in healthcare costs.