KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 6 -- Employers across Asia are bracing for a significant financial hit as the region is forecast to see a 12.5 per cent average medical trend rate in 2026, according to the new Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB) 2026 Health Trends report.

This widespread increase - the sixth straight year of double-digit trends - has forced many insurers to consider cutting coverage, raising alarms about employee protection and talent retention.

Malaysia's medical trend rate could go as high as 15 per cent in 2026, according to MMB's forecast, nearly seven times the country's projected inflation rate. The medical trend rate is the predicted year-on-year healthcare cost for a given population after factoring in elements like medical inflation...