Addressing 2026’s rising benefits costs

Benefits costs are rising fast

Here’s the deck your CFO actually wants to see.

Healthcare costs are spiking to a 14-year high, trending toward 8.5%. That's outpacing both wage growth and the already-thin margins retailers are working with heading into 2026. HR and finance leaders at retail brands, ecommerce companies, and brick-and-mortar operators are being asked to do the impossible: contain rising benefits spend, retain hourly and salaried talent through peak season and beyond, and stay ahead of renewals across every store, state, and entity.

Spoiler: doing nothing is the most expensive option.

That's why we built this deck. It's a board-ready and decision-ready toolkit built for retail HR and finance leaders, giving you the numbers, the tradeoffs, and the path forward. In 15 to 30 minutes, you'll walk your leadership team through the chaos and into clarity.

What’s inside

• The 2026 reality check: Medical cost trends and the biggest drivers of spend, including GLP-1 utilization, specialty Rx, and high-cost gene and cancer therapies

• Impact on your business: What rising costs mean for hourly retention, seasonal hiring, multi-state compliance, and margin per store

• Strategic options: n-house, broker, or PEO, with cost, risk, and value trade-offs framed for healthcare operators

• The recommendation: Why consolidation, automation, and data-informed plan design matter when benefits eligibility shifts every pay period

Why it matters

Because renewals are coming. Because CFOs hate surprises, especially heading into Q4 peak. Because in retail, "wait and see" doesn't just cost margin, it costs the frontline workforce that keeps stores open and orders shipping.