1、Howden Employee BenefitsThe changing face of global employee healthGlobal employee health report 2026Right now,someone in your organisation is trying to navigate the healthcare system.Theyre weighing up whether to book an appointment for symptoms that worry them,wondering if their insurance will cov
2、er what they need,or deciding if they can afford to miss work for treatment.IntroductionHealth benefits are about people,not policiesFor them,the health benefits you provide arent an HR policy or a line in a compensation package.Theyre personal.Theyre the difference between getting help and sufferin
3、g in silence.Between early treatment and a worsening condition.Between feeling supported and feeling alone.Of course,healthcare is one of the most expensive parts of any benefits package and the cost keeps rising:When budgets are tight,its tempting to view health plans as just another cost to manage
4、.But health benefits are more than just a line on a balance sheet.They help shape how people feel about their jobs,their employers and their future.Behind every policy is a person making impossible choices about their health.When you see health benefits only as a cost centre,youre measuring the wron
5、g thing.The challenge and the opportunity is to close the gap between what we think were providing and what employees actually experience.This report looks at the human side of health how people experience care,what drives cost and complexity,and how better alignment between value,cost and care can
6、lead to stronger,more sustainable health systems for everyone.Our Global Employee Health Employer survey says 93%of employers expect the cost of health benefits to increase again in 2026.Howden Global Employee Health Report2The gap between coverage and careDifferent priorities,shared pressuresEmploy