Report: Americans falling ill earlier, more often
UnitedHealthcare and Health Action Council unveil new report that identifies opportunities to combat health risks and improve care affordability.
UnitedHealthcare and Health Action Council (HAC), a nonprofit employer coalition representing large and midsize employers, recently released their 9th annual white paper highlighting emerging health trends linked to workforce health and affordability. Based on data from more than 225,000 HAC members with health plans administered by UnitedHealthcare, the report finds that younger generations are experiencing serious health issues earlier in life, with substantial implications for employer-sponsored health plans. As part of its commitment to creating a simpler, more supportive health care experience, UnitedHealthcare outlines ways employers can help their employees live healthier lives.
Why this matters
Costs for employer-sponsored health care benefits are rising faster than general inflation and wage growth, affecting both employers and their employees. KFF’s 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey reports a 6% increase in per‑employee benefit costs in 2025, with a projected 6.5% rise in 2026.1 These trends reflect the continued affordability pressures facing the American health system.
The report outlines emerging trends shaping today’s employer health cost landscape, and how employers and UnitedHealthcare can work together to build solutions for better health, including.2
1. Health care claims for younger adults are increasing
Although Millennials and Gen Z still have lower health care claims than older generations, their claims are rising at a much faster pace. Between 2023 and 2025, their year-over-year growth rate was nearly double that of Baby Boomers, challenging traditional views on age and health care spending. These younger groups are developing chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity earlier in life, visiting emergency rooms more frequently and engaging with primary care providers less often than any other generation, all of which contribute to higher costs over time.
Solution: Rethink benefit strategies for Millennials and Gen Z by emphasizing preventive care, early screenings and easier access to primary care
Encourage younger employees to get regular checkups and screenings before small concerns grow into larger issues. Offer evidence-based programs designed to help improve access and lower total cost of care. One example is Surest, a modern plan that helps empower people to comparison shop for health care, leading them to make more informed decisions that result in fewer surgeries and ER visits, and increased use of urgent and virtual care.
2. Major health events are becoming more frequent
Major health events — defined as medical claims exceeding $100,000 annually (also referred to as high-cost or catastrophic claims) — are now about twice as common as they were 5 years ago. Average monthly claims for these events, such as heart attacks, strokes, complex surgeries, or high-cost conditions like cancer or genetic disorders, have jumped nearly 40% since 2020.
Solution: Use early intervention programs and predictive analytics to flag people at risk for health complications
When someone shows early signs of a high-risk condition, encourage use of digital health tools, condition support programs and care management outreach that can engage an employee when early indicators of rising risk appear. These programs can help guide someone to the right next step, such as scheduling a primary care visit, connecting with a nurse support team or enrolling in an employer-supported health program before a serious health event occurs.
3. Primary care matters
People who see a primary care provider regularly experience 27% lower claims for major health events, fewer emergency room visits and reduced hospital admissions. For people with chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, regular primary care visits can help cut major health costs by about 20%.
Solution: Incentivize consistent primary care relationships, especially for younger adults and those with chronic conditions
Make it easier for people to stay connected to a primary care provider by lowering copays for office visits or offering simple rewards for completing recommended checkups. Allow paid time during the workday for preventive visits and routine screenings to help reduce barriers to care.
4. Metabolic conditions drive higher long-term costs, especially among men
Men often skip preventive care well into their early 60s, contributing to the earlier onset of chronic and metabolic diseases and higher long-term health costs. Men with metabolic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, are 7 times more likely to experience a heart attack, stroke or other major health event than men without these conditions. When such events occur, claims escalate sharply, reaching up to 150% higher for men in their 40s and nearly 160% higher for those over age 65.
Solution: Prioritize a health strategy for men over 40
Help men in midlife stay engaged in their health by emphasizing health improvement programs such as screenings, lifestyle coaching and weight-management support. Use targeted communications or employee resource groups to boost engagement and reduce stigma around seeking care.
Insights to help drive better health
UnitedHealthcare provides insights from de-identified claims data to help employers respond proactively to changing health needs across their workforce, enabling them to act sooner to improve outcomes and lower costs.
“These trends highlight why employers need deeper, more actionable insights to identify emerging risks and gaps in care,” said Craig Kurtzweil, chief data and analytics officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual. “By analyzing claims data alongside geographic and community health factors, we can help employers identify at-risk populations sooner and take targeted steps to help improve outcomes and lower costs.”
Implementing data‑driven strategies has been shown to help slow rising costs. Since 2021, HAC member employers have outperformed the PwC industry trend3 by more than 12%, resulting in $292M in paid‑claims savings.
“Employers are seeing health issues show up earlier and feeling the cost impact sooner,” said Patty Starr, president and CEO of Health Action Council. “This report gives plan sponsors the transparency and insight they need to spot health problems earlier, help people stay on top of basic and preventive care, and help them stay healthier while keeping benefits affordable.”
Share
