Across the benefits industry, the outlook is clear: rising costs are becoming the norm. For HR and benefits leaders, that creates a familiar pressure: how do you manage costs when forecasts point upward?
Interestingly, not every employer is experiencing the same level of increase.
As discussed in our recent webinar, data from the 2026 State of Employee Benefits shows a different story. Between 2024 and 2025, client medical spend per employee declined slightly, while pharmacy costs rose. When combined, total spend increased by only about 2%—far below industry expectations1.
It’s not luck or one-time plan changes driving this gap. It comes down to visibility into the data. Employers with access to near-time data are identifying cost drivers earlier, adjusting utilization patterns and guiding employees toward appropriate care decisions before costs escalate.
Instead of reacting at renewal, these organizations are actively managing benefits throughout the year, offsetting pharmacy pressure with curated care solutions and benefits incentive experiences.
For benefits administrators, the takeaway is clear: benchmarks don’t have to define your outcomes. With the right insights, you can move from reacting to controlling trend.
Ready to see how your plan compares? Contact us to learn more about how Benefitfocus Health Insights can help you turn real-time data into action and help bend your cost curve.
