Businessolver

2026 BENEFITS INSIGHTS REPORT

Anticipatory AI is moving HR from hindsight to always-on strategy

Benefits complexity is rising. Costs are unsustainable. Expectations are through the roof. The organizations pulling ahead aren’t reacting faster, they’re seeing signals earlier.
This report shows what those early signals look like—and how leading organizations are acting on them.

50%

of gen x describe themselves as "healthy" (lowest of all generations)      

93k

benefits literacy surveys
reveal warning signs

91%

instant chat resolution
drives “always on” support

45k

employees feel “panicked”
by a $6,000 ER bill

Get the report

See the latest insights from 19 million employees and dependents across 850+ clients, including 5.7 million AI interactions.

Inside the report

doodle divider line
benefits insights report cover image
AI becomes HR’s 24/7 engine
91% instant chat resolution, with 33% happening after hours
Why low benefits literacy is risky business
93,000 employee surveys reveal widespread confusion and financial anxiety
Where generational risk is shifting
Gen X emerges as a sleeper risk; Gen Z demands family-driven benefits
Eight macro trends shaping benefits strategy
Designed for brokers, advisors, and HR leaders

2026 trends for brokers, advisors, and employers

Bending the
cost curve
$280k
in cost-savings 
 (Businessolver's own case study)
AI governance
under scrutiny
90%
increase in AI assessments
More custom
communications
43%
increase in client demand for tailored communications
Agent-to-agent
future
76%
HR leaders want one platform for all benefits programs
See full analysis in the report

“Benefits complexity is rising. Cost pressures are rising. Expectations are through the roof. We’re not just in the benefits business—we’re in the foresight business.”

Jon Shanahan, Businessolver President and CEO

For me, it’s just about connecting things and getting in front of our employees in ways that make sense. AI is another way we can do that, and if you’re not on board with AI yet, I’d say: get on board and just start small. Start having those conversations—with your leadership, with your IT team—because that’s exactly where we started..

Candy Wimmer, Director of Benefits, TK Elevator

Businessolver’s eighth annual Benefits Insights Report captures data from across the Benefitsolver platform to provide a comprehensive view of employee benefits behavior and engagement. We analyzed decision support usage, enrollment patterns, communications engagement, AI interactions, and in-platform survey feedback to understand and bring forward emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities.
  • 19 million employees and dependents
  • 850+ clients
  • 5.7 million AI interactions
  • 2 million enrollment surveys
  • 87K benefits preference surveys
  • 93K benefits literacy surveys
  • 1,500 executive and HR leadership surveys
BIR Findings 2

Key questions this report answers:

  • How is AI changing the way employees use benefits support?
  • What early warning signs predict rising benefits cost and employee financial stress?
  • Which employee populations represent the greatest emerging risk?
  • How can HR leaders act earlier instead of reacting after costs rise?

Why this report matters now

This year's report reveals growing financial vulnerability across today’s workforce and highlights how anticipatory insights—realtime signals across engagement, service, and behavior—can help HR leaders shift from reactive benefits administration to proactive risk and cost management.
Download the 2026 Benefits Insights Report or schedule a briefing to meet with our team.
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benefits insights report cover image

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