In our top 10 2026 insurance trends article last December, we mentioned the increasing 2026 cost trends insurance companies would likely have to deal with as a top trend for the industry. Agility made this assessment based on what we saw in the healthcare sector and what we hear from agents and insurance carriers as the top concerns they see in the industry.
The first evidence of the industry dealing with this increasing cost aspect is now in, with several employee layoff announcements from insurance companies during the first three months of 2026. In January alone, over 11,000 employees were laid off at insurance companies.
More layoffs have come in February and March, with several hundred more employees being laid off by insurance companies. The companies announcing layoffs include:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of California
- Blue Cross of Idaho
- Cigna
- Horizon BCBS New Jersey
- L.A. Care Health Plan
- MDwise, part of McLaren Healthcare
- Molina Healthcare
- Optum in New Jersey
- Point32Health, the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan
- Talcott Resolution Life Inc.
These layoffs are the first steps by these companies to address rising costs in 2026, and at this point, it’s unknown whether they will be sufficient to address the costs these insurance companies are facing. Agility will bring you the latest updates here as we receive information on these layoffs and other cost-saving measures the insurance companies will take in the coming months.
The Agility Difference
With the ongoing evolution of the insurance market, Agility empowers you to identify your defining characteristic through our team’s expertise, positioning you for growth. With Agility, you also get Dedicated Producer Support at (866) 590-9771 or support@enrollinsurance.com to answer any insurance questions and direct you to our Medicare, ACA, and ancillary experts.
They can also add you to our weekly email list for tips and updates. Let Agility empower you to evolve your capabilities and capture the opportunities in 2026.
If 2025 felt like a whirlwind, get ready, because 2026 will see even bigger shifts. Technology leaps, cost pressures, and changing customer expectations will reshape our world.
Here are the top trends Agility is hearing from industry insiders.
Ongoing Shift to Strategic Relationships
Finally, insurance isn’t just a product you buy once a year; it’s a continuous risk-management relationship. Real-time data sharing, proactive risk engineering, and regular check-ins are key to building trust between carriers and brokers.
Position yourself as a risk advisor, not just a policy seller. Shift your messaging in client interactions to focus on continuous risk management.
Regularly reach out with proactive advice, not just annual policy updates. In the coming year, agents will adopt the perspective of a strategic risk advisor committed to supporting clients’ evolving risk management needs on an ongoing basis.
There will be a divide between the agencies that thrive and those that tread water. If you lean into these trends, especially AI, embedded solutions, and cyber, you’ll be in the conversation when clients ask, “What’s next?”
Technology Differentiates Winners from Laggards
Industry outlooks indicate that carriers and agencies that adopt modern technology will gain market share. Those who don’t will fall behind.
Prepare a technology stack demonstration for clients that demonstrates how your tools accelerate service delivery, reduce errors, and improve the client experience. Schedule regular check-ins to reinforce this advantage.
Climate Risk and Alternative Risk Financing
Pressure from weather events remains, and insurers use cat bonds and parametric solutions to manage exposure. Learn the basics of cat bonds and parametric products. Schedule client meetings to explain these tools for each client’s specific risk scenarios.
Usage-Based and Parametric Products Gain Ground
Usage-based models aren’t just for auto, property, health, and commercial lines; they’re now expanding with real-time data and IoT. Parametric products with pre-defined triggers are expanding.
It’s a nifty way to demonstrate how real-world data can improve pricing and accelerate payouts.
Health Costs Keep Pressuring the Market
Employer health costs will rise sharply in 2026, with double-digit increases common. Initiate early discussions with clients about 2026 plan changes.
Provide clear cost management strategies and recommend achievable wellness incentives tailored to their needs.
Customer Expectations Demand Real Personalization
Customers want dynamic pricing, flexible coverage, and personalized products. One-size-fits-all policies are disappearing. Use specific client data to offer personalized coverage recommendations.
Illustrate cost and protection benefits in easy-to-understand examples for each client.
Cyber Coverage Isn’t Just IT’s Problem
Cyber threats continue to surge, and businesses want coverage that actually protects their operations, not just a boilerplate add-on. Surveys show clients are more likely to switch carriers if good cyber offerings aren’t there.
Brush up on cyber solutions and risk profiles, as they’re a conversation starter with commercial clients.
Modular Technology and Composable Cores
Legacy systems are finally being phased out in favor of modular platforms that enable carriers and brokers to innovate faster. Instead of big rip-and-replace projects, we’re seeing best-in-class microservices that integrate well.
Are your back-office systems holding you back when clients ask for speed or customization?
Embedded Insurance Goes Mainstream
APIs are no longer optional but are the backbone of embedded insurance. Insurance products are increasingly offered directly in customers’ applications, at checkout, and during transactions. That’s huge for distribution.
Explore partnerships with platforms that can embed your offerings at the point of purchase.
AI Moves From Toy to Table Stakes
AI is becoming core to business operations. In 2026, AI will not only assist but also orchestrate workflows across underwriting, claims, and customer care.
Think faster FNOL, smarter risk scores, and AI-assisted decisioning that actually reduces cycle times. Agents who understand where AI enhances service, not replaces it, can leverage that to boost client value.
The Agility Difference
With the ongoing evolution of the insurance market, Agility empowers you to identify your defining characteristic through our team’s expertise, positioning you for growth. With Agility, you also get Dedicated Producer Support at (866) 590-9771 or support@enrollinsurance.com to answer any insurance questions and direct you to our Medicare, ACA, and ancillary experts.
They can also add you to our weekly email list for tips and updates. Let Agility empower you to evolve your capabilities and capture the opportunities in 2026.
