Employer Healthcare Cost Volatility Drives Tougher Strategy and Vendor Oversight

Business Group on Health projects a 9.2% 2027 healthcare cost trend, with cancer leading cost growth, pharmacy approaching 25% of spend, and continued uncertainty around GLP-1 coverage. Employers are emphasizing Centers of Excellence, site-of-care management, pharmacy strategy, AI-enabled benefits administration, and stronger vendor accountability; public support for price controls adds political-risk context but not a defined policy change.