Factors driving the increases include inflation, an aging population that uses more health care and newer treatments that come with higher price tags.

Health insurance premiums are anticipated to rise sharply in 2026, with projections indicating a 6.5% increase, which is more than double the average wage growth of 3%. This marks the largest increase in 15 years, according to Mercer, and is expected to impact both employers and employees, particularly those with single incomes or dependents.

To manage these rising costs, 60% of employers plan to increase payroll contributions and cost sharing measures such as co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums. The increase is attributed to factors including inflation, an aging population, and the introduction of new, high-cost treatments. Despite the rising costs, employers are also investing more in mental health care options for workers.

Health insurance premiums expected to rise sharply in 2026

MORE OF YOUR PAYCHECK IS LIKELY TO GO TOWARDS YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS NEXT YEAR. HEALTHCARE COSTS ARE RISING FASTER THAN WAGE GROWTH. AND THE TREND IS DIRECTLY IMPACTING HOW EMPLOYERS ARE APPROACHING THEIR SPONSORED HEALTHCARE PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES. It's going to vary a lot from employer to employer and plan to plan but in general we're talking six and a half percent. SUNIT PATEL IS THE CHIEF ACTUARY OF U.S. HEALTH AT MERCER. THAT SIX AND A HALF PERCENT IS RELATIVE TO WAGE GROWTH WHICH IS AVERAGING THREE PERCENT. THAT MEANS MORE OF YOUR INCOME WILL GO TOWARDS HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURES. People with a single income have a lot less wiggle room so to speak. I think people with kids will be really affected because obviously their kids are insured with them. FOR EMPLOYERS SPONSORING HEALTH PLANS IT'S A MUCH BIGGER INCREASE THAN EXPECTED. THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN 15 YEARS ACCORDING TO MERCER. Sixty percent of employers are planning not only to increase payroll contributions but increasing cost sharing so that could be co-pays, deductibles, coinsurances or out-of-pocket maximums. PATEL SAID EMPLOYERS MADE A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT IN RECENT YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC TO ABSORB THOSE COSTS. BUT NOW CHANGES IN THE LARGER ECONOMY HAVE ALTERED THE EQUATION. I think the cost pressures are more significant and even though there is a focus on employee health and well-being, they're certainly just a financial reality. THERE IS INFLATION AND AGING POPULATION THAT USES MORE HEALTH CARE AND BETTER TREATMENTS WITH HIGHER PRICE TAGS. Innovations have allowed treatment for diseases that did not experience any treatment options. You can think for example of GLP-1 drugs such as Regovi that are obviously treating important diseases. MERCER'S PROJECTIONS PUT 2026 AS THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS FOLLOWING A DECADE OF MODERATE INCREASES. THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT LAST YEAR FOUND COVERAGE COSTS ROSE ABOUT 24 PERCENT BETWEEN 2019 AND 2024. BUT WAGE GROWTH MATCHED THE INCREASES AT 28 PERCENT. IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS FOR WORKERS. EMPLOYERS ARE PAYING MORE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE OPTIONS. A KAISER SURVEY FOUND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS RANKED THIRD IN EMPLOYERS' LIST OF PRIORITIES. ACCESS INCLUDES RESOURCES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE HEALTH CARE PLANS. HOLLY FERFER, SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP.

European leaders, from Ursula von der Leyen to Emmanuel Macron, have reacted positively to U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

EU leaders urge Hamas to accept Trump's Gaza plan 'without delay'

Military leaders have been summoned to Quantico Marine Corps base from all around the world by Defense Secretary Hegseth for a rare, in-person meeting. Democratic lawmakers have raised safety concerns about the military leaders leaving their posts for the well-publicized meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth gathers U.S. military leaders for rare, in-person meeting

Imelda is now a Category 1 hurricane, threatening dangerous weather conditions on the East Coast alongside Hurricane Humberto. CBS News' Rob Marciano has more details.

Folly Beach

Imelda becomes hurricane, threatens dangerous conditions on East Coast

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday he is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of U.S. "aggression," following a spate of deadly U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats.

Caracas

Maduro ready to declare state of emergency over U.S. 'aggression'

Some have expressed excitement after Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer, while others have criticized the pick. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports.

Bad Bunny to headline Super Bowl 2026 halftime show

President Donald Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas that are then sent into the U.S., repeating a threat made in May that would upend Hollywood's global business model.

Hollywood

Global Tariffs

Trump says U.S. to impose 100% tariff on movies produced overseas

Moldova's pro-Europe governing party has won a majority in key parliamentary elections. The result brings Moldova closer to EU membership — but not everyone is celebrating.

Chișinău

Pro-EU party wins majority in Moldova election

U.S. President Donald Trump outlined a 20-point plan for peace in Gaza as he stood with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Hamas has yet to comment on the plan.

Washington

Middle East Conflict

Trump, Netanyahu announce plan to end Gaza conflict

Amid growing impatience over the Kremlin’s reluctance to participate in direct talks with Ukraine, Washington is now considering providing Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles, according to U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Ukraine Invasion

Washington might send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Vance says

The FBI says it is investigating 'an act of targeted violence' after a man crashed his vehicle through the front doors of a Michigan church, opened fire with an assault rifle and set the church ablaze, killing at least four people and wounding at least eight others.

Grand Blanc

Investigators look for motive in deadly Michigan church shooting

Washington is preparing for the arrival of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. President Trump is advancing a plan aimed at securing the release of hostages, ending the war in Gaza, and outlining a post-war strategy.

Netanyahu set to meet Trump at the White House

The military wing of Hamas said it had lost contact with two Israeli hostages held in Gaza City, and called on Israel to pull troops back and suspend air strikes for 24 hours so fighters could retrieve the captives.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Hamas says it lost contact with two hostages in Gaza City siege

Iran's parliament on Sunday (September 28) condemned what it called "illegal" sanctions, after the United Nations reimposed restrictions over the country's nuclear program at the weekend.

Tehran

Iran parliament slams reimposed UN sanctions as 'illegal'

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Russia for the new wave of attacks, which killed at least four in Kyiv, including a child, and accused them of deliberately targeting civilian positions to incite fear and terror. At least 70 others were injured.

Kyiv

At least four killed as Russia launches major offensive on Kyiv

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Saturday (September 27) in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Tamil Nadu

Dozens killed in political rally stampede in India

Hezbollah has commemorated one year since the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel during their conflict. At a gathering in Beirut, the group's secretary-general Naim Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah's refusal to disarm, despite ongoing Israeli attacks and a ceasefire agreement.

Beirut

Lebanon's Hezbollah refuses to disarm

Colombian President Gustavo Petro brushed off reports that his U.S. visa had been revoked, saying, “I don’t care.” The leader was filmed outside United Nations headquarters in New York, where he joined thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters during the General Assembly.

Manhattan

‘I don’t care’: Colombia’s Petro dismisses U.S. visa revocation

Surveillance video obtained by CBS News showed the moments a gunman shot at detainees and agents who were in a van at a Dallas ICE facility on Wednesday. One of the victim's pregnant wife also speaks out.

Dallas

Video shows gunman shooting at detainees, ICE agents

The Trump administration will ask the Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality of the president's executive order on the 14th Amendment, which seeks to curtail birthright citizenship, according to reports. Willie James Inman has the latest.

Supreme Court to decide on birthright citizenship

Powerful monsoon rains in the Southwest are blamed for several deaths in Arizona. The fast-rising water caused flash flooding and chaos. Meteorologist Andrew Kozak has the latest.

Globe

Deadly flooding in Arizona as intense weather sweeps across U.S

Dozens of people have been killed in Gaza on Saturday, as Israel's assault on Gaza City intensifies. In New York this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about prominent U.S. allies formally recognizing a Palestinian state.

Dozens killed in Gaza as Israel's assault intensifies

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Karur

According to the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, a store, ten retail outlets, two apartment buildings, and several non-residential premises were damaged.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine goes dark as Russian drone attacks damage facilities

A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly, at least 44 people have been killed in attacks across Gaza. Ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza City are forcing more Palestinians to flee.

Trump talks of Israel-Gaza deal as IDF strikes refugee camp

U.S President Donald Trump has signed an executive order outlining the terms of a deal to sell TikTok’s American operation to a group of stateside investors. CBC’s Ashley Fraser breaks down the deal and what it could mean for the social media platform's algorithm.

Toronto

Breaking down Trump’s TikTok deal

UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal are set to come back in force, essentially killing the landmark agreement. The inability to find a common ground – on all sides - is raising fears of further confrontation.

Sanctions against Iran set to resume after UN vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly in New York City on Friday. The leader made defiant statements about the countries that recently recognized the Palestinian state, while U.N. delegates walked out.

New York

Netanyahu makes bold address as U.N. amid delegate walkouts, protests

UN sanctions are set to be reimposed on Iran on Saturday - after a failed bid by Russia and China to delay them. Only four countries voted in favour of the draft resolution.

UN set to reimpose sanctions on Iran on Saturday

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more files turned over by the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Breakdown