Gallagher report shows 36% of US employers see 10%+ health plan premium hikes at renewal

• Gallagher’s 2026 US Benefits Benchmarks flagged tighter employer governance, analytics, and vendor oversight as healthcare cost pressure intensifies.
• 36% of employers reported health plan premium increases of 10%+ at their latest renewal, despite plan design changes.
• Pharmacy spend drew heightened scrutiny, with 49% citing specialty drug costs as a top challenge, reflecting GLP-1 impact.
• Voluntary benefits expanded as a lower-cost support lever, with 72% aiming to broaden packages, 66% targeting coverage gaps.
• Wellbeing engagement remained weak, with 23% reporting participation below 20%, prompting shifts toward more integrated benefit programs.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Arthur J.Gallagher & Co. published the original content used to generate this news brief on August 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.