The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans compiled responses from 300 corporate/single employers, public employers/governmental entities and multi-employer benefit funds. Respondents were asked to name one primary reason for cost increases. Here are the top five answers:
1. Catastrophic claims (17 percent)
2. Medical provider costs (14 percent)
3. Utilization due to chronic conditions (13 percent)
4. Utilization due to delayed preventive/elective card during the pandemic (12 percent)
5. Specialty/costly prescription drugs (10 percent)
