New Designed for Health report: claims trends shaping workplace health

More plan members are turning to their benefits plans for support with mental health, chronic conditions, and overall well-being. Our latest Designed for Health report – Paramedical and drug claim trends, shows what’s changing in paramedical and drug claims – and what it means for your organization.

The report is based on claims data from more than 20,000 employer groups and several million plan members and dependents, offering a broad view of how benefits are being used today.

What the data shows

Claiming across paramedical services and major drug categories has increased significantly since 2019. This growth is largely driven by more plan members making claims, rather than more claims per person.

We believe this is a positive shift for employers and their organizations. When employees are engaged in their health and prioritize preventive care and mental health services, they invest in their own well-being while building healthier workforces, contributing to organizational performance.

This points to both a responsibility and an opportunity. Higher utilization can be a positive sign when it reflects better awareness, improved access, reduced stigma and proactive support. It also underscores the need for benefits plans that are easy to use, compassionate, and practical– helping employees find the right care at the right time, while supporting long-term plan value and sustainability.

Key insights

• Mental health needs continue to rise: The proportion of plan members making mental health practitioner claims doubled in 2025 compared with 2019, alongside increased claiming for depression-related medications.
• Chronic condition support remains critical: Diabetes, cholesterol and depression-related medications are among both the most utilized and fastest growing drug categories.
• Emerging health needs are changing plan usage: Claims for chronic weight management drugs, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs, and hormone replacement therapy have grown significantly.

The report can help you better understand where plan members need support, identify opportunities for earlier intervention, and make informed decisions about solutions that create value for employees and your benefits plans.

Download the latest Designed for Health report to explore the claims trends shaping workplace health. We’re committed to working with you to discover opportunities to support employees while managing plan sustainability.

Questions? We’re here to help.

Please contact your Sun Life Group Benefits representative