Employer-Paid

The American Benefits Council, America’s Health Insurance Plans and the Association of Federal Health Organizations joined ERIC in the brief.

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.

“In the vast majority of metropolitan areas across the country, health insurers hold outsized market share -- leaving patients with fewer choices and higher costs,” said Dr. John M. Whyte, CEO and executive vice president of the American Medical Association.

Strong Northeast showings highlight safety, longevity, and healthcare.

For self-funded plans, the path forward should be one that is proactive, rather than reactive.

Trump said that while he still preferred a plan that would give Americans direct subsidies to purchase insurance, an agreement to reduce costs could help preserve the Obamacare exchanges.