Marsh report predicts double-digit rise in global corporate health costs by 2027

A report by professional services firm Marsh, titled “Health Trends 2027”, forecasts a 10% increase in medical costs per beneficiary for corporate health plans in 2027, excluding the United States. This marks the seventh consecutive year of double-digit increases in global medical costs.

Based on a survey of 306 insurers across 69 markets, the data indicates that approximately 40% of analyzed markets expect increases exceeding 10% in 2027. Furthermore, 78% of insurers anticipate this trend will persist or worsen through 2030. The report attributes rising costs to the increased use of advanced technology in care delivery, cited by 57% of insurers, and a higher incidence of health issues, noted by 47%.

To manage these pressures, insurers expect companies to respond by either making moderate changes to health plans or focusing on optimizing benefit value to align coverage with business priorities and health outcomes.