It is indisputable that energy is the lifeblood of every civilization. We are reminded of that truth daily at the gas pumps and when it’s time to recharge the latest iPhone. Another indisputable truth is that the availability and affordability of energy are as delicate as the fiber-optic cables that supply our homes with Wi-Fi.

Cancer, mental health, diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy and newborn costs are the five conditions shaping 2026 benefits planning decisions.Total plan-paid costs reached $613.30 per member per month (PMPM) in 2025, a 7.1% increase over 2024, driven by key cost drivers across medical and Rx spend.Specialty and brand-name drugs accounted for nearly half of the $40.50 PMPM year-over-year increase, with Rx spend growing at nearly twice the rate of medical spend.