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The Michael Report: 5 Minutes on Employer-Sponsored Healthcare
July 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
With 10 years of experience in the insurance and healthcare industry, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest minds in the field.
Over the years, I’ve met with over 500 different organizations and personally consulted with more than 100 companies, ranging in size from 30 employees to 5,000. My passion for what I do drives me to continuously find innovative solutions that help businesses take care of their most important asset – their people.
My goal for this newsletter is to keep it brief and to give you 2-3 valuable takeaways every other week, helping you stay informed and make the best decisions for your business and your employees.
ICHRA Adoption Increases Among Large Employers
Adoption of Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) increased by 34% from 2024 to 2025 among employers with 50 or more full-time employees, according to a new report from the HRA Council. Under an ICHRA, an employer reimburses their employees for all or a portion of their health insurance premiums, and employees select their own health plans from the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Since they were introduced in 2020, ICHRAs have provided an opportunity for employers to gain more control over their benefits costs while allowing employees to choose a plan based on their personal needs. Read more about ICHRAs here.
The Latest in the GLP-1 Market
GLP-1 medications continue to drive pharmacy costs. They are the top drug category by total spending and the fastest-growing segment in the market, according to a 2025 report by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. While GLP-1s are currently being used for weight loss and diabetes, many drug manufacturers are pursuing expanded uses for these medications.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic to treat chronic kidney disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, researchers are investigating other uses for GLP-1s, such as treating neurodegenerative diseases, according to the American Academy of Neurology Journals. Learn more about the growing GLP-1 pipeline and what employers should consider when deciding whether to cover these popular yet costly medications.
