09/07/2026
Why Employees Dislike Employer Health Plans
Employee satisfaction with traditional employer health plans has been declining, with average satisfaction scores dropping to just 37 in 2026—and some major carriers even reporting scores as low as 11 or below zero. As someone who’s spent years in the financial services and insurance field, I’ve noticed a shift: more Americans are turning to alternatives like healthshares. These aren’t governed by federal insurance regulations, and they can exclude pre-existing conditions, but their focus on lower-risk pools helps keep contributions down. Advocates point to transparent guidelines and a shared-cost approach, which has led to nearly perfect approval rates for eligible medical expenses once members cover their initial unsharable amount. The healthshare model also allows members to choose their own doctors and shop around for affordable care—like picking a $500 clinic MRI instead of a $5,000 hospital scan. Many leaders are now weighing options such as reimbursement plans, individual coverage arrangements, or healthshares, seeking to cut monthly spending by about 30–50% while aiming for a better member experience. In my work helping clients protect their income and plan for retirement, exploring these evolving solutions is becoming increasingly important.
