Rising Healthcare Costs Fuel Growth Opportunities in MRSH, UNH & CNC

According to Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.'s (MRSH) survey of over 1,800 employers, healthcare costs for employees are projected to rise by 8.2% in 2027, with an estimated 11% increase if cost-control measures weren't in place.

The steep increase is attributed to expensive new treatments, rising provider charges, and increased use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which alone is expected to add about one percentage point to health benefit cost growth next year.

Employers are responding by reworking plan structures, with 59% planning to make cost-reduction changes to their health plans for 2027. Roughly two-thirds of large employers expect workers to shoulder a larger share of premium costs.

Aon plc (AON) also echoes the healthcare cost warning, expecting employer healthcare costs to rise by 9.5% before mitigation, citing higher utilization, specialty-drug spending, provider pricing, and billing practices.