Health Insurance Premiums Expected to Rise Sharply in 2027
Many Americans who receive health insurance through their employer or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace may face premium increases of nearly 10% or more by 2027. Experts attribute this rise to factors such as increased use of GLP-1 medications, general U.S. inflation, consolidation among healthcare providers, and the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies. These rising costs are adding financial pressure on households already dealing with broader affordability challenges. Employer-sponsored health plans cover most Americans under age 65, and employers typically subsidize a large portion of these premiums. However, consulting firms like Marsh predict an average increase in employer healthcare costs by about 8.2% per worker in 2027 — the largest rise since 2003. Other consultants project even higher increases, with WTW estimating a jump of 11.1%. Employers may pass on some or all of these rising costs to employees through increased premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
Topics: ACA (Obamacare) GLP-1 drugs health insurance inflation premium increases