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Large employers trim health benefits ahead of 2027 renewal wave
Walt Disney plans to stop covering working spouses who can get coverage elsewhere, while Starbucks will end GLP-1 weight-loss drug coverage from October.
Five major US employers announced or confirmed health and benefits cutbacks as part of a broader cost-containment push that will feed into the 2027 renewal cycle, Insurance Business reports. The changes give brokers new reference points as employers move to reduce healthcare spending and shift more costs to workers.
Walt Disney will end healthcare coverage for working spouses under its plan starting in 2027 if those spouses already have access to employer-sponsored coverage elsewhere. The update applies to the company’s more than 200,000 US employees and was communicated through an internal memo, which framed the move as part of Disney’s “Total Rewards” benefits overhaul in response to rising healthcare costs nationwide.
Bloomberg LP said employees will begin making monthly premium contributions for the first time in company history, citing rising healthcare costs and a market-wide shift toward different funding models. Starbucks confirmed it will stop employer-sponsored coverage for GLP-1 medications when used for weight loss starting in October, while coverage will remain for GLP-1 prescriptions tied to diabetes and other approved conditions.
Other changes highlighted include Deloitte ending paid parental leave for certain employees in its “Center” talent segment effective January 1, 2027, cutting leave from 16 weeks to eight, and discontinuing its adoption and surrogacy reimbursement program for that group. The article also notes Zoom Video Communications cut paid par benefits, though additional details were cut off in the provided text.