Understanding How Premium Dollars Are Used

Health care costs continue to rise, impacting premium rates and putting pressure on small businesses. With the complexity of the health care system, it can be challenging for employees to understand just how their premium dollars are put to use.

We want to help. Click on the video below to learn how premium dollars are used.

We remain committed to improving the health of our members while collaborating across our entire health system to make health care as affordable as possible. Learn more about health care costs trends and what we’re doing to improve health outcomes while managing increasing costs.

To download our cost-savings toolkits, which include resources and prewritten emails to share with employees, visit excellusforbusiness.com

Health care costs continue to rise

In 2025, we spent $7 billion on medical and drug benefits for our members.*

Discover more: 9 ways we’re supporting your health while tackling rising costs

Disclaimer

A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
*The $7 billion in spending includes medical and prescription drug claims in 2025 for all fully insured health plans.
**“Top medical costs by condition” and “Examples of what’s driving health care spending” include medical claims for fully insured health plans, excluding prescription drug claims. The cost data in this section reflects claims incurred for a 12-month period ending October 2025 (paid through December 2025). Medical costs are also compared to the same period from the previous year.
***Prescription drug spending includes prescription drug claims in 2025 for all fully insured health
plans. Drug costs are also compared to 2024.