PwC warns US healthcare costs are becoming harder to tame

12 June 2026

PwC expects US commercial healthcare costs to remain high in 2027, with health plans facing pressure from provider billing, hospital reimbursement, pharmacy spending, behavioral health demand and out-of-network arbitration.

The consultancy projects medical cost trend of 9% for group plans and 8.5% for individual Affordable Care Act plans in 2027. It also restated its 2026 forecasts higher, to 9% and 8.5%, respectively.

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