# US employers keep passing rising healthcare costs to workers. There are better options

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/us-employers-keep-passing-rising-healthcare-costs-to-workers-there-are-better-options/
- Published: 2026-11-08T15:00:43+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T15:23:11+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/08/employer-healthcare-plans
- Topics: Americas, Politics, Research, Science, World

## Key points

- Employers expect health benefit costs to rise 8.2% in 2027.
- Workers are bearing a growing share of healthcare costs.
- Reimbursement accounts and other plans offer employers alternatives.

## Summary

US employers are facing an expected 8.2% rise in health benefit costs per employee in 2027, the biggest increase since 2003, and many are passing a growing share of the bill to workers. The article argues that shifting costs this way can be shortsighted and says employers, particularly smaller businesses, have other ways to manage spending while offering health benefits.

Options include individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements, which let employers reimburse staff for their own insurance, and health savings accounts linked to high-deductible plans. Some smaller firms are also adopting self-insured or level-funded plans, negotiating discounted rates with local providers and pharmacies, or paying consultants to help employees choose suitable cover. The article says ICHRA uptake among employers with fewer than 100 staff grew by 73% to 128%, while noting these approaches take time to set up.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.