US FAMILY HEALTH PREMIUMS HIT RECORD $28,303

The average annual premium for family health coverage in the US climbed 5% this year to a record $28,303, according to KFF's 2026 employer health benefits survey. That increase outpaced both the 3.7% rise in workers' wages and 2.7% inflation. Over the past five years, family premiums are up 28%, compared with 26.9% wage growth and 24.4% inflation since 2021. Health insurers and pharmacy benefit names inside $XLV face mounting pressure as premium growth keeps beating paychecks.