Employer health costs could rise 9.5% in 2027. Here is what to check in your plan

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - For Georgians who get health insurance through work, the monthly premium is only one part of the price tag to consider during benefits enrollment. Aon , a benefits consulting firm, projects U.S. employers’ health-care costs will rise 9.5% in 2027, pushing average costs above $19,000 per employee, according to a company news release. The projection is before employers’ cost-management efforts, Aon said. The increased cost pressure could translate into higher employee premiums, deductibles, copays or other changes to coverage. For workers, that makes benefits enrollment a time to compare the total potential cost of each plan — not just the amount deducted from each paycheck. What is driving costs Aon said medical spending continues to rise as use of health care services increases, chronic conditions become more prevalent and the number of high-cost claims grows. Prescription drug spending also contributes, Aon said, with growing use of specialty medications and GLP-1 therapies. What employees pay Aon said employees are expected to pay an average of $5,297 for health care coverage in 2026. That includes $3,130 in payroll contributions and $2,167 in out-of-pocket costs. Out-of-pocket costs rose 10.2% from 2025, Aon said. The company attributed the increase to greater use of health care services and enrollment in leaner plan options. Aon said employers are responsible for about 82% of plan cost on average. Lower premiums can come with other costs A plan with a lower premium may carry a higher deductible. It may also require higher copays, have a smaller provider network or impose more expensive prescription-drug costs. Before selecting a 2027 plan, employees should check: Premium: What will come out of each paycheck? Deductible: How much must be paid before many services are covered? Out-of-pocket maximum: What is the most the worker could pay for covered care in a year? Copays and coinsurance: What will office visits, urgent care, specialists and hospital care cost? Provider network: Are current doctors, specialists and hospitals still in-network? Prescription coverage: Are medications still covered, and did the drug tier, deductible or prior-authorization requirements change? Family needs: Which plan makes sense if a spouse or child needs regular care, therapy, surgery or costly medication? GLP-1 medication coverage Prescription coverage deserves special attention for people taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss. The nonprofit Business Group on Health reported that coverage of those medications among its employer members dropped to 60% in 2026, down from 72% in 2025. The figures come from a survey of 127 employers representing 8.7 million covered U.S. individuals. The group also found that 14% of employers have dropped or plan to drop coverage of GLP-1 medications for weight management by 2027. Business Group on Health said the median health care cost increase for 2027 is 9.2%, falling to 8% with plan design changes. Employees should ask their HR or benefits department whether coverage has changed for 2027, especially if they use a high-cost medication, expect a procedure or have a doctor they do not want to lose. Workers should compare premiums, deductibles, prescription costs and provider networks before their employer’s enrollment deadline. Listen to Behind the Investigation on your favorite podcasting platform If there’s something you would like Atlanta News First Investigates to dig into, fill out this submission form . Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.