For employers, this year’s health care renewal season likely will be challenging, as another year of historic pricing increases is expected.
That said, we believe there are creative solutions that can help organizations balance their talent attraction and retention goals with the need to contain costs.
Our team of employee benefits experts is sharing some of our ideas here.
In this publication, we’ve got more information about:
- Different health insurance plans and funding mechanisms that can help contain costs
- Low- or no-cost ancillary benefits that can support talent attraction and retention goals
- Prescription drug trends that are expected to impact pricing
- Tips for navigating the open enrollment and renewal period with your broker
We can’t change the factors driving up regional and national health care costs, but we can help your organization explore benefits options and design the strategy that’s right for your team.
If you’d like our support as you look ahead to open enrollment, you can reach out to our employee benefits team here, or you can contact your Schauer Group advisor.
In 2025, employer-sponsored health care experienced the highest pricing increase in a decade – and the trend is expected to continue in 2026.
If you’d to discuss trends in benefits pricing further, you can reach out to our employee benefits team.
Using health plan design to manage rising costs
Depending on the size, needs and goals of your organization, here are some options the employee benefits team at Schauer Group recommends exploring.
For talent attraction and retention, consider ancillary benefits
Ancillary benefits – or additional benefits that supplement a group health care plan – are an affordable way to bolster your benefits offerings and support your organization’s talent attraction and retention efforts.
Prescription drug trends to watch
Between the increased demand for prescriptions and the continued growth of the high-cost specialty drug market, prescriptions remain one of the leading causes of rising health care expenses for employers. As such, the employee benefits team at Schauer Group is paying attention to trends that could both positively and negatively impact drug pricing in 2026.
Tips for navigating open enrollment
With the pricing increases expected, this open enrollment period likely will present challenges for many employers. As you prepare for your renewal, here are strategies the team at Schauer Group recommends reviewing with your benefits broker.