Affordability remains the overwhelming concern for large employers as prices continue on an upward trajectory with no meaningful rationale. Other areas of consistent focus from the country’s top employers are the need for enhanced transparency and more sophisticated data analytics tools, signaling their intent to more closely scrutinize newly available information to effectively address price increases.
“These priorities, coupled with the growing frustrations our members are expressing, should be a wake-up call for many healthcare stakeholders who think the status quo is acceptable and that the days of blank checks will never end,” said Elizabeth Mitchell, president and CEO of the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH). “Getting access to price and quality data to effectively evaluate whether employers and families are paying a fair price for health care services is still too hard, but PBGH and our members are taking action to combat these challenges.”
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The nonprofit coalition of 40 of the largest public and private healthcare purchasers in the United States recently presented the results of its annual member survey. This new analysis found that affordability is the resounding concern for employers, consistent with last year’s results.
Premiums continue to climb and are expected to increase by an average of 6% to 7% in 2026, according to recent reports. Some individual market plans are rising by more than 20%, again outpacing inflation on a year-to-year basis. More than two-thirds of members surveyed are conducting a medical request for proposal this year, with another 23% conducting a pharmacy RFP.
More than one-quarter of members already are using a nontraditional pharmacy benefit manager. With the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2026, PBM reform remains a top priority for both policymakers and purchasers in addressing rising pharmacy costs and opaque business practices across the industry
Data and transparency are also top concerns. Healthcare pricing for the same procedure can vary significantly among providers and across geographic regions, with little to no correlation to the quality of services. With the availability of transparency data increasing, employers are leveraging insights to inform healthcare purchasing strategies, including bundled payments, direct-to-employer contracts and the use of centers of excellence.
Advanced primary care also remains a top priority as benefits leaders strive to ensure that preventive care is accessible, coordinated and integrated with behavioral health to promote the best patient experience and outcomes. Employers and public purchasers are assessing top advanced primary care providers through carrier networks and third-party clinic and vendor solutions.
“The 2026 survey is an affirmation of our strategic roadmap,” Mitchell said. “PBGH’s initiatives include tactical programs and services that focus on affordable, high-quality, whole-person health to establish fair pricing, ensure accountability and enable fiduciary success. We’ll be continuing to work with members to develop and refine these tools to enable them to fully leverage all newly available data and resources at their disposal.”
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