Whether it’s through plan design, education or simple encouragement, HR teams play a vital role in helping employees stay on track. And based on what we’ve seen, they’re listening.

Consumers are using AI to find information when they first feel sick, consulting it to prepare for visits with their clinicians and using it to better comprehend patient instructions and recommendations.

This data represents lived experiences, financial pressures, and the broader trends shaping our future. Most importantly, they underscore opportunities for employers, brokers, and all of us in employer-sponsored health care in 2026.