(NewsNation) — Americans with employer-based health insurance could see monthly premiums rise 6% to 7% in 2026, according to a new report from consulting firm Mercer.

That projection comes from a survey of over 1,700 U.S. companies, which expect the average cost of health plans for employers to climb 6.5% next year — the steepest increase since 2010.

As plan costs go up, the employee share of the premium typically rises proportionally, Mercer said.

If the forecast holds, it would mark the fourth straight year of significantly higher health insurance costs for employers following a decade of more moderate annual increases averaging about 3%, the report noted.

In response, nearly 60% of employers plan to make cost-cutting changes to their health plans in 2026. Generally, that means raisi

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