U.S. Employers Will Cut Health Benefits in 2027

Large corporations plan to reduce coverage and shift rising medical costs onto their employees starting in 2027.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Healthcare

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of tilted medical scales with a heavy industrial weight, representing strained healthcare systems. — Major U.S. corporations, including Starbucks and Deloitte, are planning significant reductions in employee health benefits and coverage starting in 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Major U.S. employers are preparing to implement significant benefit reductions and coverage changes in 2027. Companies including Walt Disney, Starbucks, Bloomberg LP, and Deloitte are moving to restrict eligibility and cut specific perks to combat rising medical costs.

Why it matters

Companies are reining in spending as commercial healthcare costs are projected to rise by 9% in 2027. As employers adjust their budgets, employees face higher out-of-pocket expenses and reduced access to formerly standard health benefits.

U.S. employer healthcare costs are expected to increase 9.5% in 2027, driven by a 9% rise in commercial healthcare expenses. Currently, 59% of employers plan to enact cost-cutting measures, affecting a landscape where 42% of surveyed adults can afford less than $100 per month for health insurance.

The players

Walt Disney

The multinational entertainment and media conglomerate employs hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.

Starbucks

This global coffeehouse chain is implementing significant changes to its employee health insurance pricing and drug coverage.

Bloomberg LP

The financial services and media company is introducing new monthly premium contributions for its employees.

Deloitte

This professional services network is reducing certain leave benefits and eliminating specific reimbursement programs for its workforce.

The details

Firms are restricting spousal coverage, eliminating plan options, and cutting drug benefits to manage expenses. Specific policy shifts include Starbucks ending coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs and Deloitte reducing paid parental leave to eight weeks while eliminating a $50,000 adoption and surrogacy reimbursement program.

October 2026: Starbucks ends coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
December 31, 2026: Deloitte ends pension accruals for specific workers.
January 1, 2027: Deloitte reduces paid parental leave for specific workers.
2027: Major U.S. firms implement widespread healthcare benefit cuts.

Market Landscape

These benefit reductions reflect a broader effort by major firms to stabilize balance sheets against the 9.5% projected increase in U.S. employer healthcare costs in 2027. This move intensifies the competition for talent, as 87% of employees currently prioritize health plans when choosing where to work.

Employees at major corporations should prepare for reduced flexibility and higher monthly out-of-pocket costs starting in 2027. Households should review their specific benefit enrollment documentation to account for potential changes in spousal eligibility and drug coverage.

The takeaway

As employers push more healthcare costs onto workers, employees should prioritize re-evaluating their household budgets to prepare for potential premium increases. Checking the specific status of family coverage and medication benefits is essential for navigating these upcoming corporate policy changes.