Health care benefits are expectedto hit a new milestone in 2019, with costs approaching amind-boggling $15,000 per employee according to a new report issued by the National Business Group on Health.The report also reveals that the majority of employers view therise of artificial intelligence and telemedicine as a major playerin the disruption of health care in 2019. A full 51 percent ofcompanies have made virtual-care solutions their top initiative,while 43 percent believe that artificial intelligence will play amajor role in solving the problem of escalating costs.

With costs at a new record high, companies are reaching thelimit of being able to pass on these costs to their employees.Cost-sharing techniques have resulted in employees bearing 30percent, a total of $4,500 a year, making health care nearlyunaffordable for many. Rates have averaged an increase of over 5percent annually for the last five years. Companies are demandingsolutions and are turning to technology to save the day.

“Seven in 10 employers believe new market entrants from outsidethe health care industry are needed to disrupt health care in apositive way,” says Brian Marcotte, CEO of National Business Groupon Health. “Disruptors include innovators from Silicon Valley andelsewhere.”