CBIZ Releases 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook Highlighting Rising Costs, Regulations, and Workforce Trends

Rhea-AI Summary

CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ) released its 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook on December 10, 2025, offering guidance for employers facing rising costs, regulatory change, and shifting workforce priorities.

Key findings: projected 10% healthcare cost increase per employee in 2026; an 81% surge in GLP-1 medication costs since 2023; 70% of employees say customizable benefits boost loyalty; major regulatory changes including SECURE 2.0 Roth catch-up and new tax credits under OBBBA; and accelerating use of AI and automation in HR with rising need for AI governance.

Positive

• Published 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook on December 10, 2025
• Identifies AI and automation as operational trend for HR and benefits

Negative

• Projected 10% healthcare cost increase per employee in 2026
• GLP-1 medication costs up 81% since 2023
• 70% of employees want customizable benefits, increasing employer cost pressure
• Major regulatory shifts (SECURE 2.0 Roth catch-up, OBBBA tax credits, pay transparency expansion) add compliance burden in 2026

Key Figures

Healthcare cost increase 10% per employee Projected increase in 2026 employer healthcare costs

GLP-1 cost surge 81% increase Increase in GLP-1 medication costs since 2023

Customization impact 70% of employees Share saying customizable benefits increase loyalty

Outlook year 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook focus year

Reference year 2023 Baseline year for GLP-1 cost surge comparison

Market Reality Check

$53.45 Last Close

Volume Volume 301,708 is at 0.44x the 20-day average volume of 679,655, indicating lighter trading activity before this release. low

Technical Shares at $50.66 are trading below the 200-day moving average of $65.20 and are 43.79% below the 52-week high of $90.13, while sitting 5.8% above the 52-week low of $47.885.

Peers on Argus

CBZ was down 0.76% pre-news with subdued volume, while key peers showed mixed, generally modest moves: FA +0.07%, UNF -0.30%, ABM +0.47%, AZZ +0.78%, TIC +2.85%. This points to stock-specific dynamics rather than a uniform sector move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 08	IR leadership change	Positive	-2.6%	Appointment of new VP for investor relations and corporate finance.
Nov 12	Tax guide release	Positive	-0.8%	Publication of 2026 Tax Planning Guide outlining key OBBBA provisions.
Nov 04	Business sentiment report	Neutral	-0.1%	Mid‑Market Pulse survey on cost pressures and policy uncertainty for 2026.
Oct 29	Q3 2025 earnings	Positive	-1.8%	Strong revenue and EBITDA growth with updated full‑year 2025 guidance.
Oct 15	Earnings date notice	Neutral	-0.4%	Announcement of timing and webcast details for Q3 2025 results.

Pattern Detected

Over the last five news events, CBIZ has often seen modest negative price reactions even to generally neutral-to-positive announcements, with three positive items followed by declines.

Recent Company History

In the past few months, CBIZ has focused on communication and thought-leadership content alongside strong reported growth. Recent items include an investor relations leadership change on Dec 8, 2025 and a 2026 Tax Planning Guide release on Nov 12, 2025. Earlier, a Q4 2025 Mid‑Market Pulse survey highlighted cost and policy pressures, while Q3 2025 results on Oct 29, 2025 showed substantial revenue growth and updated 2025 guidance. Today’s 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook continues this pattern of forward-looking guidance for clients.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement outlines CBIZ’s 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook, highlighting a projected 10% increase in employer healthcare costs and an 81% surge in GLP‑1 medication costs since 2023. It also emphasizes regulatory shifts and growing roles for AI and automation in HR. In context with recent surveys and planning guides, the report reinforces CBIZ’s positioning as an advisor on cost pressures, compliance, and workforce expectations, while underlying financial trends come from prior Q3 2025 filings and earnings.

Key Terms

glp-1 medications medical

"especially GLP-1 medications, which have seen an 81% cost surge"

GLP-1 medications are drugs that copy a natural gut hormone to help the body release insulin, lower blood sugar and reduce appetite by slowing how quickly the stomach empties. For investors, they matter because their strong clinical benefits have driven rapid sales growth, reshaped demand for diabetes and weight-loss treatments, and created regulatory, patent and pricing dynamics that can significantly affect healthcare companies’ revenues and profitability.

ai governance technical

"the need for strong AI governance is on the rise"

AI governance is the set of rules, oversight and practices a company uses to design, test, deploy and monitor artificial intelligence tools so they behave reliably, safely and fairly. Think of it as a vehicle’s maintenance schedule, road rules and driver checks for software: it reduces the chance of costly errors, legal penalties or reputation damage and helps investors judge whether a business can scale AI responsibly and protect value.

pay transparency laws regulatory

"and the expansion of pay transparency laws, employers will face"

Pay transparency laws require employers to disclose salary ranges or pay information in job listings, offer letters, or public reports so applicants and workers know what positions pay—like putting prices on a restaurant menu instead of asking each waiter. Investors care because clearer pay practices can affect a company’s labor costs, ability to hire and keep talent, legal and reputational risk, and financial forecasting; consistent disclosure also makes comparing compensation policies across companies easier.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Resource offers guidance for employers on managing cost pressures, meeting demands, and responding to employee priorities.

Cleveland, Dec. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CBIZ, Inc., a leading national professional services advisor, today announced the launch of its 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook, aimed at helping employers prepare for another year of increasing healthcare costs and rising employee expectations. The report outlines key trends shaping the benefits and insurance sector and offers employers straightforward steps for the future.

"Employers are trying to balance rising costs with the need to offer benefits that resonate with their workforce,” said Polly Thomas, Chief Operating Officer of CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services. “This Market Outlook gives leaders a clear direction on where to put their focus in 2026.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Employer Healthcare Costs Set to Hit Historic Highs
  • Projected 10% healthcare cost increase per employee in 2026, driven largely by skyrocketing prescription and specialty drug expenses — especially GLP-1 medications, which have seen an 81% cost surge since 2023.
• Employees Demand Personalization
  • 70% of employees say customizable benefits increase loyalty, putting pressure on employers to deliver more flexible, tailored total rewards to stay competitive.
• 2026 Will Bring Major Regulatory Shifts
  • From the SECURE 2.0 Roth catch-up mandate for high-earning employees to new tax credits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and the expansion of pay transparency laws, employers will face significant compliance changes in 2026.
• AI and Automation Are Reshaping HR Operations
  • Organizations are increasingly leveraging automation to streamline recruiting, onboarding, payroll, and benefits administration — and the need for strong AI governance is on the rise.
• Risk Exposures Continue to Expand Across Commercial Insurance
  • Organizations must prepare for an increase in risks, including natural disasters, cyber threats, social inflation, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical instability, and workforce continuity challenges.

The 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook brings everything together in one clear view. By connecting workforce expectations, healthcare costs, and evolving risks, CBIZ gives employers a fundamental understanding of the pressures shaping the year ahead. This resource reflects the real challenges facing today’s businesses and offers straightforward actions to address them.

About CBIZ

CBIZ, Inc. is a leading professional services advisor to middle-market businesses and organizations nationwide. With unmatched industry knowledge and expertise in accounting, tax, advisory, benefits, insurance, and technology, CBIZ delivers forward-thinking insights and actionable solutions to help clients anticipate what's next and discover new ways to accelerate growth. CBIZ has more than 10,000 team members across more than 160 locations in 22 major markets coast to coast. For more information, visit www.cbiz.com.

Amy McGahan
CBIZ, Inc.
amy.mcgahan@cbiz.com

FAQ

What did CBIZ announce in the 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook on December 10, 2025?

CBIZ published a report outlining trends and guidance for employers, including a 10% projected healthcare cost increase and regulatory changes for 2026.

How much are employer healthcare costs projected to increase for 2026 according to CBIZ (CBZ)?

The report projects a 10% increase in healthcare cost per employee in 2026.

What does CBIZ say about prescription drug trends in the 2026 outlook for CBZ investors?

CBIZ highlights an 81% surge in GLP-1 medication costs since 2023 as a major driver of rising healthcare expenses.

How many employees value customizable benefits in the CBIZ 2026 outlook (CBZ)?

The report states 70% of employees say customizable benefits increase loyalty.

Which regulatory changes in 2026 does CBIZ highlight that may affect employers and CBZ clients?

CBIZ cites the SECURE 2.0 Roth catch-up mandate for high earners, new tax credits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and expanded pay transparency laws.

What operational trend does CBIZ identify in the 2026 Benefits & Insurance Market Outlook?

CBIZ reports growing use of AI and automation across recruiting, onboarding, payroll, and benefits administration and an increased need for AI governance.