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Employer Benefits IQ

Benefits Benchmark Analyzer

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Enter your plan metrics and compare them against industry benchmarks across cost, pharmacy, utilization, plan design, and compliance.

Rules-Based™
Benchmark data: August 2026

Enter your plan's actual metrics below. Benchmarks are based on 2025–2026 industry data from SHRM, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Milliman. Adjust any value to see how it affects your overall score.

Enter your metrics

Cost & Trend

Per-employee per-year total health plan cost (employer + employee)

90/100
Benchmark: $12,800(lower is better)

Year-over-year premium/cost increase

70/100
Benchmark: 7%(lower is better)

Employer's share of total premium

92/100
Benchmark: 72%(lower is better)

Enter your metrics

Pharmacy

Per-employee per-year pharmacy spend

79/100
Benchmark: $2,200(lower is better)

Percentage of prescriptions filled with generics

82/100
Benchmark: 90%(higher is better)

Specialty drugs as % of total pharmacy spend

88/100
Benchmark: 42%(lower is better)

Enter your metrics

Utilization

Emergency room visits per 1,000 members annually

73/100
Benchmark: 160(lower is better)

Hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge

67/100
Benchmark: 8%(lower is better)

Members using annual preventive care services

72/100
Benchmark: 72%(higher is better)

Enter your metrics

Plan Design

Individual in-network annual deductible

72/100
Benchmark: $1,800(lower is better)

Individual in-network out-of-pocket maximum

73/100
Benchmark: $5,500(lower is better)

Enter your metrics

Compliance

Mental Health Parity comparative analysis completeness

60/100
Benchmark: 100%(higher is better)

Machine-readable files and price comparison tool compliance

70/100
Benchmark: 100%(higher is better)

Overall Benchmark Score

77

Moderate

Moderate vs. Benchmarks

Your plan performs well against industry benchmarks. Focus on maintaining performance and addressing remaining gaps.

Performance by area

Category Scores

Cost & Trend83/100
Pharmacy83/100
Utilization71/100
Plan Design73/100
Compliance65/100

Ranked by gap to benchmark

Top Opportunities

1

MHPAEA Analysis Current

Yours: 60% · Benchmark: 100%

Good
2

30-Day Readmission Rate

Yours: 12% · Benchmark: 8%

Good

Get your actual benchmark report

The 126-Point Benefits Benchmark uses your real plan data — not estimates — to produce a detailed findings report with specific recommendations and savings projections.

Your Analysis Is Ready

Benchmark comparison: 77/100

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Your PDF includes

Executive SummaryEmployer RequirementsWeighted ScoresStrengths & WeaknessesContract ConsiderationsImplementation IssuesQuestions to Ask FinalistsRecommendationSources & Methodology

What should I do next?

Benchmark comparison

77/100

Guided journey

My renewal is too high

A step-by-step plan to fight back against your renewal increase.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good total health plan cost PEPY benchmark?

The national median total health plan cost (employer + employee) is approximately $12,800–$14,000 per employee per year (PEPY) for 2025–2026, depending on plan design, region, and industry. Self-funded employers with strong cost containment programs often achieve $10,000–$12,000 PEPY. Fully-insured employers typically pay 15–25% more than self-funded peers for equivalent benefits.

What is a reasonable annual health plan trend rate?

The national average health plan trend rate is 7–9% annually for 2025–2026. Employers with active cost containment programs — reference-based pricing, direct primary care, specialty pharmacy management, and high-performance networks — can achieve 3–5% trend. Trend above 10% is a strong signal that cost containment intervention is needed.

How do I benchmark my pharmacy costs?

Key pharmacy benchmarks include: total Rx PEPY ($2,000–$2,500 national average), generic fill rate (88–92% benchmark), specialty drug spend as % of total Rx (40–50% is typical), and mail order utilization (25–35% benchmark for maintenance medications). Employers significantly above these benchmarks should evaluate PBM contract terms, formulary management, and specialty pharmacy strategy.

What is a benchmark employer cost share for health insurance?

The national average employer contribution is approximately 70–75% of single coverage premium and 65–70% of family coverage premium. Employers contributing less than 60% of single coverage may face ACA affordability issues. Employers contributing more than 85% may have opportunity to shift cost-sharing to improve employee engagement in plan selection.

Where does benchmark data come from?

The Benefits Benchmark Analyzer uses data from the Employer Benefits IQ national benchmark database, which aggregates published data from the Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey, HCCI Health Care Cost and Utilization Report, Milliman Medical Index, and UBA Health Plan Survey. Benchmarks are updated annually.

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Tool outputs are for informational and comparison purposes only. Results do not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of any vendor or approach. Verify all data independently and consult a qualified benefits advisor before making procurement or plan decisions. AI policy

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