Why Your Raise Is Finally Beating Out-of-Pocket Medical Costs

Episode 74 of Wages and Prices with Fexingo dives into a persistent pain point for most households: out-of-pocket medical expenses. Lucas and Luna examine fresh data showing that while healthcare inflation has cooled, the real burden of deductibles and copays has grown. They zero in on the 2026 employer-sponsored insurance landscape, where average deductibles for single coverage have hit $2,575 — up 6 percent from last year, even as wages rose 4.1 percent. But a surprising shift in pharmacy benefit design is creating a narrow pocket of relief for some workers. Lucas breaks down how a new wave of generic drug pricing and 'copay accumulator' program bans in 18 states are starting to tip the scales. The hosts also connect the dots to the latest Core PCE reading of 3.4 percent, the highest since late 2023, and what it means for the Fed's next move. If you've ever felt like your raise vanishes the moment you visit a doctor, this episode explains why — and where things are finally bending in your favor. #OutOfPocketMedicalCosts #HealthcareInflation #WageGrowth #Deductibles #Copays #EmployerInsurance #GenericDrugs #CopayAccumulator #PharmacyBenefits #CorePCE #FederalReserve #MedicalExpenses #Economics #WorkersPurchasingPower #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #WagesAndPrices #PodcastEpisode Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo