Beth Umland, Director of Research, Health, Mercer November 16, 2023

Mercer’s survey reveals that the average per-employee cost of employer-sponsored health insurance rose by 5.2% in 2023, reaching $15,797. Small organizations saw the highest increase at 7.8%. Despite rising costs, many large employers avoided shifting costs to employees. Prescription drug costs, especially for diabetes and obesity treatments, significantly contributed to the increase. Employers are focusing on managing high-cost claims and providing more plan choices. Future cost management strategies will include addressing the impact of new, expensive gene and cell therapies.

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