9 Healthcare Trends to Watch in 2026: Telehealth 2.0, AI, Pain Management, and More

The employer healthcare cost surge every HR leader needs to know

As we move through 2026, the forces shaping employer healthcare strategy are becoming impossible to ignore. Rising costs are no longer a future concern—they’re an immediate reality for HR and benefits leaders navigating increasingly complex decisions around coverage, access, and workforce wellbeing.

Employers now project a median 9% increase in healthcare spend in 2026, marking the highest anticipated growth rate in more than a decade. When viewed over time, the trend is even more striking: employer healthcare costs in 2026 are expected to be 62% higher than they were in 2017.

What’s driving this surge isn’t a single factor, but a convergence of rapidly evolving healthcare trends. Three areas in particular are reshaping employer benefit strategies faster than others—GLP-1 medications, cancer care, and behavioral health services. Each represents both a growing cost pressure and an opportunity for smarter, value-based solutions.

Here’s what employers need to understand about these trends as they prepare for the year ahead:

•  9% Median projected employer healthcare cost increase in 2026—the highest in a decade
• +62% Cumulative increase in employer healthcare costs between 2017 and 2026
•  72% Employers identifying GLP-1 medications as a major or very significant cost driver in 2025

73% Employers reporting increased utilization of mental health and substance use disorder services

New 2026 trend: Managing the GLP-1 surge—employers’ fastest-growing cost challenge

One of the fastest-growing trends in employer healthcare today is the rapid rise of GLP-1 medications.

Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy are now widely used for obesity management. While clinical results have been promising, the speed of adoption has introduced a significant new cost pressure for self-insured employers.

Recent surveys show 72% of large employers say GLP-1 medications are impacting healthcare costs to a “great” or “very great” extent—up from 56% the year prior—underscoring how quickly this category is reshaping benefits strategy.

In response, employers are moving beyond simple coverage decisions toward more structured, value-focused approaches:

1. Set clear clinical eligibility guardrails

Many employers now require documented diagnoses—such as type 2 diabetes or obesity (BMI ≥30)—before coverage begins. These guardrails help ensure appropriate clinical use while limiting non-medical utilization.

2. Pair medication access with lifestyle support

GLP-1 therapies deliver stronger, more sustainable outcomes when combined with nutrition, exercise, and behavioral coaching. Integrated support programs help reduce discontinuation and long-term costs.

3. Offer a COE program as alternative options

Not all patients respond effectively to GLP-1 therapy. For eligible individuals, bariatric surgery through high-quality Centers of Excellence (COEs) can provide a durable and cost-effective alternative.

Carrum Health’s COE network includes top-rated bariatric providers vetted on clinical outcomes, complication rates, and patient experience—helping employers guide members toward the right treatment at the right time.

Here are some of the biggest healthcare trends worth paying attention to:

9 healthcare trends we’re tracking this year

1. Expansion of value-based care models

Value-based care prioritizes quality of care over quantity, the latter of which—the fee-for-service model—has been a focus for doctors and institutions for years due to societal and industry pressures. Quality refers to safety, comfort, efficiency, equality, and a tailored approach to care and also takes into consideration the ways in which financial hurdles are diminished or removed.

Value-based care models aim for patients to receive the right treatment for their background and needs, avoid taking unnecessary or burdensome steps in their care, and be treated respectfully and the same as others. In addition, value-based care—when practiced correctly—lowers the risks associated with providing care, improves overall health results, and streamlines processes.

The benefits of value-based care models can be substantial: They can lead to more inclusive and equitable care, healthier outcomes, and stronger doctor-patient relationships, and they have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry for the better.

For these reasons and others, value-based care models will likely only continue to grow in scope and adoption. One market research firm predicts the global value-based healthcare market will reach $43 billion in 2031. In 2022, McKinsey estimated that value-based care models could generate $1 trillion in enterprise value by 2027. And the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services predicts that enrollment in Medicare Advantage, which uses a value-based care model, will rise over the next year.

2. More personalized medicine leveraging AI and machine learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have changed the game for many industries, including healthcare. This technology has been shown in the last year to improve diagnostics, generate personalized treatment plans, streamline redundant tasks or outdated processes, enhance training and skills development, and assist with drug development.

The medical world has only scratched the surface of what artificial intelligence can do for customization and efficiency. Not to mention, this tech is still very much in its infancy and filled with unanswered ethical concerns. But as it improves and scales, it’s very possible we’ll continue to see it play more and more of a role in many aspects of healthcare, from insurance to surgery to therapy.

3. Telehealth and remote monitoring 2.0

Telehealth became mainstream during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s never really dropped in practice since. Over the next year, you can likely expect to see this field evolve even further beyond basic consultations. Just a couple of years ago, three researchers suggested that telemedicine could play a significant role in chronic disease management by improving access and empowering patients.

The development and growing use of wearable device technology, too, could contribute to the revolutionization of telehealth. With patients having the ability to monitor their stats in real-time via watches and rings and share that data with providers, they’ll gain further control of and insight into their own health outcomes without needing to show up in person. Digital health programs like Hello Heart are already seeing positive outcomes from the use of mobile apps and tools, while many doctors are recommending patients use or provide data from Apple Watches and other wearables.

4. A focus on health equity

The healthcare industry, the government, and other related parties continue to address glaring disparities by promoting expanded coverage and lowering costs. However, we know that we still have a long way to go in terms of achieving health equity for all. A recent report from independent research firm The Commonwealth Fund, for example, found that patients who were Black received worse care than patients who were white on 52% of quality measures in 2023 and that racial and ethnic disparities in access, care, and outcomes permeate throughout every U.S. state.

These efforts are not without their financial benefits, either: A recent analysis by The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions found that addressing health equity gaps could add $2.8 trillion to the U.S. GDP in the next 15 years. This conclusion resulted from acknowledging the steep costs of inequity, such as reduced productivity as a result of poor health outcomes and status. (Think: someone taking off work due to a prolonged or undiagnosed illness.)

5. Innovations in mental health

Mental health issues are rising, and thus they’re becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday check-ups and primary care. Doctors see the writing on the wall and have begun taking steps to incorporate mental health into their roles. For example, many choose to partner with psychologists to refer patients to seek out proper treatment or address problems outside their area of expertise.

Beyond primary care are new innovations such as VR therapy and AI chatbots, which are specifically designed for treating mental health in more tailored and unique ways (many experts, it’s worth noting, advise using them in addition to other forms of treatment). And employers are even contributing to the cause through niche benefits such as substance use care.

(Exciting news: Carrum Health recently began offering a value-based treatment model for substance-use disorders!)

6. Breakthroughs in biotech and genomics

Biotech and genomics have made some incredible strides in 2024, and there’s much more to be unearthed in 2025. A cure for progeria, an ultra-rare disease that speeds up aging in children, is close to being uncovered thanks to a unique gene editing technique, and in the spring, a 12-year-old boy received the first-ever approved gene therapy for sickle cell disease. With AI and other tech advancements, experts see even more breakthroughs in treating rare diseases on the horizon.

Meanwhile, several biotech companies have been testing out personalized vaccines for treating various types of cancer, with early signs being mostly positive.

7. Increased non-opioid pain management

In light of the current opioid crisis, many healthcare providers and patients are leaning on and advocating for alternative treatments for managing pain.

Some of the more prevalent options include neuromodulation therapies, which use minimally invasive techniques to deliver electrical pulses that stimulate or inhibit nerves; cannabis and psychedelics, which thanks to recent deregulation are more widely available and accepted; and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which are used most commonly to treat depression.

8. Supply chain resilience and sustainability

COVID-19 and subsequent events taught us how crucial the supply chain is to the health and development of society—and how quickly and easily it can be disrupted. The healthcare world, among others, has since focused on ways to make their supply chain more resilient, and their output more sustainable and climate-friendly over the long term.

Virtual care has been seen as a way to lower carbon emissions produced by commuting patients or carbon-reliant facilities. Healthcare providers, like Boston Medical Center, are also seeking out renewable energy sources to power a lot of their work, including solar and biomass (burning organic materials).

However, it’s important to note that the upcoming administration’s proposed tariff plan could put a damper on this progress. Reports suggest it could impact the imports of medical devices—and potentially raise costs for providers and patients. It’ll be important to keep an eye on how this plays out over the coming months and years.

9. Less reliance on cost-sharing for employers

After a failed attempt at shifting healthcare costs to employees several years ago, employers are now actively trying to shield their staff from rising costs in the hopes of retaining and attracting top talent.

While this is no doubt stressful for companies to handle, it’s also an exciting moment for innovation and change: McKinsey notes in a recent blog post that we could see increased demand for value-based care insurance plans and a “health as an investment” mindset.

There’s much to look forward to in the new year in terms of health advancements and support for patients and organizations alike—and keeping up with these healthcare trends becomes much easier with a partner like Carrum Health. Carrum takes the burden out of pursuing and receiving care by making the process simple, affordable, and curated to each worker’s needs. Employers can rest assured that they’re giving their employees the best perks possible for addressing any and all health concerns and saving money in the process.

What employers should do now: A 2026 healthcare benefits action plan

Tracking healthcare trends only creates value when it leads to action. Based on the biggest forces reshaping employer healthcare in 2026, here’s a practical roadmap for self-insured employers and benefits leaders.

Key trend priorities for employers

Employers don’t need to solve these trends alone—working with value-based partners such as Carrum Health can help transform growing healthcare complexity into measurable outcomes and long-term cost stability.

Learn more about how employers can partner with Carrum Health here.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.