Health Insurance Costs for Businesses to Rise by Most in 15 Years
Insurers say that the rising premiums are driven by growing healthcare costs
By Anna Wilde Mathews
Sept. 10, 2025 6:00 am ET
The Wall Street Journal
U.S. businesses are facing the biggest health-insurance cost increases in at least 15 years, after already-steep boosts in recent years that have pushed the annual expense for family coverage high enough to equal the price of a small car.
Costs for employer coverage are expected to surge about 9.5% in 2026, according to an estimate from Aon, while an employer survey by WTW suggested 9.2%. Both benefits-consulting firms’ projections, which were provided exclusively to The Wall Street Journal, would represent the fastest rate of increase since at least 2011, when the price tags for employer coverage were far lower than the recent average of roughly $25,500 for a family plan.