Cost management
Employer medical costs are projected to rise 9% in 20271 and pharmacy costs are expected to climb 11.5%2 — a surge fueled in part by increased behavioral health utilization, rising specialty medication spend and escalating out-of-network payment disputes under the No Surprises Act.1
Managing this unprecedented cost trend can be a balancing act, but working with UnitedHealthcare — a carrier committed to driving greater affordability at every step of the health care journey — can be a game changer for employers.
Managing cost trend while delivering on quality
Video transcript
Upbeat electronic music plays throughout. The video opens on a white background with a blue UnitedHealthcare logo element animating across the screen. An older woman with short grey hair sits at a desk in a bright office, working on a laptop and reviewing documents.
Narrator: Healthcare affordability has become a growing challenge for employers.
A woman with glasses and curly hair stands in a glass-walled conference room, writing on a glass whiteboard while her team listens. On a white background, a line graph trends upwards. On the right, bullet points appear sequentially.
On-screen text: Specialty medications
and GLP-1s
Increased utilization
Clinical complexity
Provider costs
As the graph line climbs, percentage ranges appear above the data points.
On-screen text: 4-5%
9-11%
Internal analysis, 2026. Optum Insight HCTA: Insights based on quarterly reporting.
Narrator: Medical and pharmacy costs keep climbing, driven by forces that are complex and connected.
Small text at the bottom displays source details: A white screen appears with dark blue text appearing word by word, followed by a transition to a blue background.
On-screen text: Connected
cost challenges
require a
connected approach
Narrator: Connected cost challenges require a connected approach...
An animated paper airplane made of money flies onto the screen from the left.
Narrator: ...one that's built to help make every healthcare dollar go further.
The paper airplane flies past cartoon clouds on a dark blue background. Text appears on the left.
On-screen text: More value from
Day 1
Narrator: At UnitedHealthcare, it starts with delivering more value from Day 1.
A healthcare provider measures a woman's blood pressure with a cuff in a medical office.
Narrator: Before an employee even makes a claim capabilities like payment integrity and clinical and care management are working behind the scenes to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and ensure healthcare dollars are spent appropriately.
A female doctor wearing a white coat and headset sits at a desk writing notes in front of a computer. A woman sits at a dining table holding a card while looking at her tablet. A man in a purple sweater presents to colleagues at a whiteboard in an office.
The man works at a computer station in a modern office environment. On a white background, a teal arrow points downward next to large text.
On-screen text: ↓ 11%
lower total cost of care
compared to national benchmarks
Milliman Analysis of Total Cost of Care Benchmarks, March 2026. Based on UnitedHealthcare allowed medical claims and enrollment data using 2022 service dates compared to Merative™ MarketScan® industry benchmarks across 50 U.S. regions, adjusted for difference in health status, demographics, geographic mix and excess large claims. Actual results may vary. Full white paper available https://www.milliman.com/en/insight/total-cost-care-benchmarks-ppo-health-claim-costs.
On a white background, a dark blue padlock with a yellow shackle unlocks. Text appears below it.
On-screen text: Strategic benefit
and network design
Narrator: From there, we work with employers to unlock additional value through strategic benefit and network design aligned to their unique workforce insights to help employees access quality care while addressing the complex conditions and other drivers of spend across their group.
A key icon unlocks three white horizontal bar graphs with icons on the left. Icons of blue people slide onto the bars. On a dark blue background, large white text appears.
On-screen text: 20-61%
contracted discount savings through
a Center of Excellence
Optum internal analysis, Q2 2026.
A cartoon hand clicks a smartphone showing a question mark icon. Text appears on the right.
On-screen text: More informed
employee
choices
Narrator: And when employees make more informed choices, value can go even further.
The smartphone icon changes to the UnitedHealthcare shield logo, and a checklist appears on the right.
On-screen text: ✔ Digital tools
✔ Advocacy
✔ Rewards programs
Narrator: At UnitedHealthcare, digital tools, advocacy, rewards programs and more work together to help boost employee engagement and help them take their next best steps.
On a white background, large blue text appears.
On-screen text: Up to 2-4%
in medical cost of care savings for employers
with UnitedHealthcare Enhanced Advocacy
2022-2023 UnitedHealthcare employer study analysis of 837 customers migrating from Core Advocacy in 2022 to Enhanced Advocacy confirmed the estimated savings that were reported in an early study (2012-2020). Analysis completed on a continuous medical enrollment basis. Medical costs risk adjusted for age and gender. Value impact based on comparing clients by the adoption platform features vs. not (e.g., Enhanced vs. Core Advocacy).
Two colleagues sitting at their desks fist-bump each other while smiling.
Narrator: That's the power of a more connected approach to cost management, a benefits investment that goes further
A man sits at a desk in front of a monitor displaying a multi-person video call.
A team of diverse colleagues collaborates at a table in a bright, modern office.
Narrator: ...creating more healthcare value for employers...
A man walking outdoors smiles while looking down at his smartphone.
Narrator: ...and the people they support.
A white screen appears with dark blue text.
On-screen text: Talk to your broker, consultant or
UnitedHealthcare representative
to learn more
The screen transitions to three blue horizontal stripes on a white background that form the UnitedHealthcare logo. The music fades.
On-screen text: UHC
The Centers of Excellence (COE) program providers and medical centers are independent contractors who render care and treatment to health plan members. The COE program does not provide direct health care services or practice medicine, and the COE providers and medical centers are solely responsible for medical judgments and related treatments. The COE program is not liable for any act or omission, including negligence, committed by any independent contracted health care professional or medical center.
Advocate services should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The information provided through Advocate services is for informational purposes only and provided as part of your health plan. Wellness nurses, coaches and other representatives cannot diagnose problems or recommend treatment and are not a substitute for your doctor's care. Your health information is kept confidential in accordance with the law. Advocate services are not an insurance program and may be discontinued at any time.
Employee benefits including group health plan benefits may be taxable benefits unless they fit into specific exception categories. Please consult with your tax specialist to determine taxability of these offerings.
Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by UnitedHealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates.
Stop Loss only: Stop-loss insurance is underwritten by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York (in NY) and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company (in all other states and DC).
Level Funded: Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates, and UnitedHealthcare Service LLC in NY. Stop-loss insurance is underwritten by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or their affiliates, including UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company in NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York in NY.
© 2026 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 26-6531900-E
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Delivering upfront value and maximizing health care dollars
There are many elements that can influence employer health care costs, but working with the right carrier is all about looking beyond unit cost and network discounts. At UnitedHealthcare, it’s the behind-the-scenes efforts like helping navigate members to more cost-efficient sites of care, prioritizing value-based care and reducing unnecessary spend that produce costs more than 11% lower than national benchmarks.3
Designing plans and networks that help make quality care more affordable and accessible
Understanding and choosing the right medical plan and network configuration for your employee population can help ensure you and your employees get the most out of their health insurance at the lowest possible cost. From fully insured, level funded and self-funded medical plans to a wide variety of network configurations, UnitedHealthcare has options designed to balance choice, access and costs for just about every employer.
Driving engagement with targeted programs and solutions
Targeted programs and solutions can help employers address their most significant health care cost drivers — from chronic and complex conditions to rising behavioral health utilization and accelerating pharmacy costs. UnitedHealthcare can help employers by providing access to programs that empower employees to get more engaged in their health and well-being and support them on their individual health journeys. And that engagement is important: 60% lower health care costs are associated with higher health care activation scores as measured by the proprietary UnitedHealthcare Health Activation Index® (HAI®) tool.4