"PwC's Health Research Institute (HRI) projects a 6 percent medical cost trend in 2020, a slight uptick over the past two years. After figuring in health plan changes, such as increased employee cost sharing and network and benefit changes, HRI projects a net growth rate of 5 percent.... Between 2020 and 2027, retail drug spending under private health insurance is projected to increase at a rate of 3 percent to 6 percent a year ... Obesity and Type 2 diabetes continue to produce high rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.... Nearly 75 percent of employers offer mental health disease management programs. Anytime access is expanded, costs will go up in the short term."  MORE >>