01/21/2026
Planning benefits for 2026 means navigating rising costs and harder tradeoffs.
Mercer’s analysis highlights how employers are approaching 2026 benefit decisions amid continued cost pressure. A few themes stood out:
• Employers are facing tougher choices around affordability and plan design
• Cost management is top of mind, but employee experience remains critical
• Clear communication and decision support are becoming essential, not optional
At TouchCare, we see the same thing play out every day. The strongest benefits strategies pair thoughtful planning with real guidance, helping employees make confident decisions and get more value from what’s offered.
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Mercer released its Survey on Health and Benefit Strategies for 2026. According to the survey, more employers will likely reduce benefits in 2026 as they try to control fast-growing health benefit costs.