What is the "benefits divide?"

Coined in Healthee's inaugural research report from 2025, the "benefits divide" is the growing gap between key players in the U.S. healthcare system. Employers and employees increasingly have differing expectations and understandings of one another. Patients and insurers are each trying to contain costs while ensuring access to care. Advisors and clients are attempting new ways to meet the demands of the modern benefits landscape. In sum, the benefits and healthcare industry is defined by the gaps in transparency and insight. Healthee's research helps to bridge this gap and clearly identify the divide and proactively suggest ways we can all move forward toward a healthier future.

What is Healthee's "Benefits Divide" research methodology?

"The 2026 Benefits Divide" utilizes proprietary data collected by Healthee's Data Science team from internal sources between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. All trend analyses were rigorously vetted to ensure accuracy. In compliance with HIPAA regulations, the report contains no personal health information (PHI); all data have been de-identified to maintain confidentiality and uphold the highest standards of data privacy.

How is this year's "Benefits Divide" different from the last?

This year, everyone is concerned about costs. "The 2026 Benefits Divide" is very focused on what's driving these costs and providing proactive solutions to these questions for the coming plan year.

The 2026 Benefits Divide

The benefits landscape is at a critical turning point. Following 15-year high premium increases and market-altering events like the FDA lifting the semaglutide shortage, HR leaders, plan sponsors, PEOs, TPAs, and advisors face unprecedented cost pressures heading into 2026.

In Healthee’s annual industry research report, The 2026 Benefits Divide, we dive into the complex economic and policy shifts of 2025 that have defined today’s challenges, from changes to the ACA to the rising cost and demand of GLP-1 drugs.

Discover the context behind these trends to understand why navigating benefits has never been more challenging (and more vital) for controlling costs and supporting employees.

Download the report today

HDHP adoption grew year over year

During open enrollment for 2026 plans, Healthee saw a significant portion of enrollees opt into high deductible health plans (HDHPs), many of which were eligible for health savings accounts (HSAs).
This HDHP + HSA combo is a well-known mechanism for yearlong cost savings, both for the enrollee and their employer.

People are prioritizing preventive care

The most-searched care categories in the Healthee platform all had to do with preventive care.
This shows a vote of confidence in the value of preventive care services and their path toward containing costs for employees and plan sponsors.

Multi-agent AI is the next frontier in benefits navigation

If 2025 was the year that agents took center stage, 2026 is the year that multi-agent AI will take over the top-line discussion.
Artificial intelligence has become an expected facet of modern benefit technologies. It’s time everyone was using multi-agent AI like Healthee’s Zoe in their everyday healthcare decision-making.

Who is Healthee?

New to The Benefits Divide and Healthee? Here’s an overview of who we are and why we’re on a mission to make access to a healthier life effortless using AI.