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Managing Health Benefit Cost: A Practical Guide for Employers Across the Globe

Smarter strategies to manage health benefit cost.

Download the guidebook

Health benefit costs are rising, with medical trend forecast to exceed 11% globally in 2026, but cutting benefits is not the only answer.

This guidebook helps HR, benefits and total rewards leaders take a more strategic approach — one that controls costs, protects employee value and reflects local market realities.

To address health benefit cost challenges, focus on three key steps:

Align benefits to strategy: Define philosophy before redesigning. Measure trade-offs before cutting.
Optimise operations and financing: Right-size financing (fully insured vs. self-insured), eliminate vendor duplication, simplify administration.
Improve outcomes: Shift to prevention and early intervention. Connect employees to appropriate care.

How can you use the guidebook?

This guidebook is designed for global, regional and local leaders who need real-world evidence-based guidance they can apply across markets. It shows how data, governance and clear communication can help turn insight into action.

You’ll receive:

A practical framework for a more effective health benefit cost management strategy
Actionable cost management strategies to better preserve the value of benefits, covering plan design, vendor management, financing and workforce health investment

Are you ready to take the next step?

Discuss the pressures affecting your benefits programme and the practical options available to manage cost more effectively.

If you are responsible for benefits strategy, cost containment or workforce well-being, this guidebook will help you:

Unlock immediate savings through better spending
Make smarter, long-term cost management decisions
Identify where to act now

Complete the form to access your copy and speak to a consultant to start your benefits strategy review

Guide FAQs

The Managing Health Benefit Cost: A Practical Guide for Employers Across the Globe is a critical resource for employers who require real-world evidence-based guidance around managing health benefit cost that they can apply across markets. It shows how data, governance and clear communication can help turn insight into action. It is an essential resource for those involved in the growth and success of their business, helping to inform decision-making around managing cost more effectively.

The Managing Health Benefit Cost guidebook is a resource for HR, Benefits and Total Rewards professionals with responsibility for managing benefits strategy, cost containment or workforce well-being. It is of relevance to global, regional and local leaders, as well as those in more traditional Claims, Insurance, Human Resources (HR), Benefits, Total Rewards, Well-being roles where managing benefit cost is key.

This guidebook equips HR, Benefits and Total Rewards functions with actionable insights needed to unlock immediate savings through more effective spending; steers them to make smarter, long-term cost management decisions; and help them to identify where best to act now.

The Managing Health Benefit Cost: A Practical Guide for Employers Across the Globe provides Risk and Human Resources (HR) professionals, and those responsible for benefits strategy, cost containment or workforce well-being, move from reactive budgeting to active, evidence-based management to achieve a sustainable approach. This guidebook will help you sharpen your priorities and identify where to act next.

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Important notices

This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or solicitation or invitation to sell by either Marsh or Mercer to provide any regulated services or products in any country in which either Marsh or Mercer has not been authorised or licensed to provide such regulated services or products. You accept this document on the understanding that it does not form the basis of any contract. The availability, nature and provider of any services or products, as described herein, and applicable terms and conditions may therefore vary in certain countries as a result of applicable legal and regulatory restrictions and requirements. Please consult your Marsh or Mercer consultants regarding any restrictions that may be applicable to the ability of Marsh or Mercer to provide regulated services or products to you in your country.

Managing Health Benefit Cost: A Practical Guide for Employers Across the Globe

Health benefit costs are rising, with medical trend forecast to exceed 11% globally in 2026, but cutting benefits is not the only answer.

To address health benefit cost challenges, focus on three key steps: