Understanding the latest employee benefits trends can help organizations plan ahead and offer a benefits package that meets the evolving needs of workers. Here are five trends shaping benefits in 2026:
- Rising health care costs—Surveys project that health care costs are likely to increase by 6.5% to, in many cases, as much as over 10% in 2026. Employers will absorb much of the costs.
- Continued popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs—A RAND report revealed that 12% of Americans have used GLP-1 medications for weight loss, and 14% are interested in using the drugs. Moreover, the number of prescriptions for the drugs has more than tripled since 2020.
- The impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—The OBBBA, a sweeping tax and spending bill, includes a broad set of changes for employee benefit plans, most of which take effect in 2026. Changes include expanded access to health savings accounts, increased limits and tax credits for dependent care, and the introduction of a new tax-advantaged account (“Trump Account”).
- New specialty drugs—Industry experts estimate that nearly 80% of all approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2025 are specialty drugs, and the momentum will continue throughout 2026. Biologics, biosimilars, and cell and gene therapies are fueling this rapid growth.
- Expansion of fertility benefits—New federal initiatives aim to make in vitro fertilization more affordable. Many states require that insurance companies cover infertility diagnosis and treatment. Also, employee demand for fertility benefits is growing.
As the workforce’s needs continue to evolve, so must the benefits that companies offer to remain relevant and meaningful to employees. Every workplace is unique, but employers can monitor and understand the latest benefits trends to better attract and retain top talent while maximizing costs.
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