If we actually want to lower what people pay at the pharmacy counter, we need transparency, accountability, and real guardrails on the gatekeepers who control access to medicines. I negotiated inside this system for years. The math doesn’t lie — and until we fix how the money flows, patients will keep paying the price.

Between skyrocketing premiums, narrower provider networks, and rising employee frustration, many organizations are finding themselves caught in a perfect storm. And when your team is struggling with denied claims, delayed care, or medical debt, that stress inevitably shows up at work — in morale, in performance, and in retention. The good news? You’re not powerless here. In fact, your leadership and your employees’ experiences together can be a real force for change.

The cost of health insurance rose steeply for the third year in a row in 2025, reaching just under $27,000 for a family plan, according to an annual survey from the nonprofit KFF, which provides the broadest picture of U.S. employer health coverage. The cost is rising faster than inflation, and economists and business leaders said it could bite into employment and wage growth.