Delayed care, a rebound in elective procedures, new claims linked to remote working, ongoing COVID-19 issues, PPE costs—all this and more will play into costs in the next few years.

The COVID-19 pandemic will have a major impact on health care benefits for years to come, a new study said. This news is probably not surprising to most, but the study outlines strategies around cost containment and holistic approaches to health that may allow employers to reduce the burden of rising costs.

Overall, the sixth annual Mercer Marsh Benefits Health Trends study found that significant disruption, both in the delivery of health care and the way work is conducted, will continue to pose challenges for employers—primarily because costs are rising at about three times the rate of inflation.

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