ERISA class action filings almost doubled year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, according to Gallagher, as plaintiffs’ firms expand beyond traditional excessive-fee claims into new legal territory.

Leave benefits now cover caregiving, menopause and reproductive loss, but confidence in compliant administration remains low, according to NFP’s 2027 U.S. Leave Management Report.

Only 28% of employees believe their current retirement savings strategy will help them reach their goals, according to Gallagher.

Health care costs worldwide are projected to grow at more than triple the rate of general inflation even as the pace of increases moderates, according to Aon.

Rapid adoption of GLP-1 therapies has pushed health insurers to balance rising near-term pharmacy costs against uncertain long-term reductions in medical spending, according to AM Best.

Most small and mid-sized companies got scant explanation for their latest renewal and rarely shopped it, leaving nearly half paying the first number insurers offered, according to Ignition Benefits.

More than a third of employers reported health plan premium increases of 10% or more at their latest renewal, and pharmacy and voluntary benefits are facing similar scrutiny, according to Gallagher.

Employer benefit plan exposure to cell and gene therapies is limited by operational and clinical barriers, but those constraints are beginning to erode, Lockton reports.

High-cost claim frequency has nearly tripled over five years and severity accelerated sharply in 2025, according to QBE North America’s 2026 Accident & Health Market Report.

Brokers overwhelmingly expect affordability pressures to transform benefits plan design within five years, according to the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.

Accelerating claim frequency, catastrophic condition costs, and specialty pharmacy inflation are pressuring rates in the medical stop loss market, according to Tokio Marine HCC.

Leadership skill gaps act as a “cascade trigger” for downstream workforce risks, while employee financial insecurity emerges as a top-five concern, according to Marsh’s People Risk 2026 report.

This year, 18 brokers were named the 2026 Employee Benefits Power Brokers. An additional two were selected as finalists.

Nearly three-quarters of employers report increased responsibilities, prompting shift to one-stop solutions, according to The Hartford’s 2026 Future of Benefits Study.

Mental health claims surge while employers navigate regulatory uncertainty and shifting workforce priorities, Sedgwick reports.

Aon study shows slower medical cost growth for GLP-1 users, yet employers face complex decisions on coverage amid evolving pricing, health patterns.

Benefits cost control takes center stage as economic pressures mount, Brown & Brown survey finds.

Newfront’s Kimily Phu discusses employee benefits trends, regulatory challenges, and career advice for brokers in today’s complex, cost-pressured environment.

Mental health absences surge as companies struggle to deliver the supportive leave experience workers expect: Guardian.

SECURE 2.0 provisions and holistic financial support strategies drive significant changes in workplace benefits landscape: Gallagher.