Late last week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) filed an amicus brief urging the Third Circuit to uphold a lower court's dismissal in Barragan v. Honeywell Int'l Inc.

Prices rose about 21% between 2020 and 2024, reducing the buying power of every dollar to 82 cents.

Hiring is gaining momentum with 57% of small and mid-size business CEOs planning to increase headcount within the next 12 months.

One in five employees (19%) believe salaries for new hires will be lower compared to 2025.

Essentials, not luxuries, are driving every day strain. According to the survey, 65% of respondents said the cost of everyday necessities is their top financial stressor.

For employers, advisors, and individuals alike, 2026 won't just be about reacting to these changes — it will be about mastering a new landscape of high-cost innovation and shifting federal support.

Individual market enrollment increased from about 11 million to 18 million from 2013 to 2023.

The U.S. government alleged that CVS improperly requested and received GHP reimbursement for premature refills, dispensed excessive insulin pens, and falsely under-reported the days-of-supply of insulin that its pharmacies dispensed.