2026年全球医疗成本趋势报告

November 2025 Executive summary Global healthcare cost trend rates are projected to remain elevated in 2026,with a global average of 10.9% and more than half of surveyed countriesanticipating double-digit rate increases affecting employer-sponsored health minor plan design adjustments, and enhanced membereducation to improve plan utilization. The data showsthat employers have little appetite for increasingemployee premium cost sharing, prioritizing insteadthe competitiveness of their benefits and the avoidance • Chronic conditions — including cardiovascular disease,cancer, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders — • Pharmacy costs and the expanded use of GLP-1medications are emerging as significant cost drivers • Utilization is rising due to the growing burden ofdisease and increased employee focus on health. Market trends supporting better cost managementinclude digitalization and technology integration(such as telemedicine, e-claims, and AI integration intothe healthcare ecosystem), regulatory and structuralreforms, introduction of copayments and limits onoutpatient treatment and therapies, better utilization • Poor plan usage and weak care management modelsare further exacerbating cost pressures, with overuseof high-cost providers — emergency services fornonurgent conditions, reimbursement rather than •General inflation is expected to decline globally in2026 yet remains a factor in emerging and politically • Healthcare labor market pressures, especially forskilled nursing, are driving up provider costs amid • Overwhelmed public health systems are promptinga migration to private care, intensifying demandand increasing costs for employer-sponsored plans, Regionally, medical trend rates vary, but the upwardtrajectory is consistent. Employers must balance plandesign flexibility, preventive care initiatives, and digitalintegration with robust utilization management tomitigate cost pressures. As the healthcare landscape Employers are responding with a range of costcontainment strategies. The most widely adopted Global healthcare cost trend outlook (2025-2026): What HR leaders need to know Global employer medical costs remain elevated and broadly decoupled from consumer inflation. The global medicalcost trend is expected to edge up from 10.4% (2025) to 10.9% (2026), while worldwide CPI is projected to declinefrom 4.2% (2025) to 3.7% (2026). International (expatriate) plans — whose members are more inclined to seek carefrom higher-cost internationally recognized providers — remain stubbornly high in 2026. Most regions face “excessmedical inflation” (medical trend minus CPI) of 5 to 9 percentage points — meaning plan budgets must grow well It should be noted that while we have adoptedgeographic divisions used by intergovernmentalorganizations, they do not describe economicsimilarity. For example, if Central and EasternEurope were separated out from the rest ofEurope, it would show a projected 2026 healthcarecost trend of 14.2%, while the rest of Europe Global health trends: Implications for employer health plans For HR leaders managing employee health benefitsacross multiple countries, understanding the driversof medical claims is essential for effective costmanagement and strategic planning. The latest globaldata shows that chronic conditions — particularlycardiovascular disease and cancer — continue to bethe leading contributors to private medical claims costs The findings show rising claims associated with oraland gastrointestinal conditions, mental and behavioralhealth, and accidents and injuries. These trendsunderscore the growing complexity of employee healthneeds, with comorbidities and psychosocial issues Demographic shifts are amplifying these pressures.As life expectancy increases and governments raiseretirement ages, more employees are working longerand living with chronic diseases. This results in higherclaims for age-related illnesses and injuries, especially in Chronic and complex conditions — especiallycardiovascular, cancer, musculoskeletal, and metabolicdisorders — are the primary drivers of global health plancosts. For employers, these findings highlight the needfor targeted prevention, robust care management, and enabling earlier interventions. However, the initialimplementation and integration costs can create short- Non-health-related cost pressures Factors beyond underlying health conditions playa substantial role in driving medical inflation andincreasing private medical plan costs worldwide.Globally,general inflationremains the most significantnonmedical contributor, impacting the price ofhealthcare services, supplies, and insurance premiums Innovative medical technologieslike minimallyinvasive surgery, wearable diagnostics, and virtual care platforms are also reshaping care delivery, sometimesincreasing upfront costs while offering potential long-term savings and better outcomes. New and expensive medications,particularly genetherapies, biologics, specialty drug