Market Insights

Six in 10 employers have increased their investment in benefits, and 62% expanded their non-medical offerings.

Here are five key findings about employee purchasing and interest to shape your 2026 strategies.

Organizations that will thrive in 2026 won’t be those that merely adopt AI tools. Success will favor those who thoughtfully integrate human expertise, organizational strategy and AI capabilities.

“We hope that you see these assessments as a commitment to setting a new standard of transparency for the health care marketplace, as we believe that you and every person who engages with our health system deserves to understand how we go about our work,” said CEO Steve Hemsley.

Bonuses peaked in 2021, when 44% of employees received one, according to the research, with the largest increase in bonuses between 2019 and 2021 happening in the health care sector.

With escalating medical and pharmacy costs as a primary motivator, employers are moving health care benefit cost-containment to the top of their overall priorities for 2026.