Clarity for 2026 Renewals in a Changing Landscape

Regulatory Changes on the Horizon: Preparing for 2026 Renewals

As the market heads into 2026, employers, brokers, and TPAs are preparing for a new year shaped by new rules, tighter compliance demands, and the same challenges driving stop-loss pricing higher. The market is changing fast, but clarity is possible when you know what to watch for and how to prepare.

Transparency Rules Tighten

Federal cost-reporting and disclosure requirements are expanding. For 2026, the pressure isn’t just on what data you share, it’s on consistency, accuracy, and how clearly it’s communicated to plan sponsors and members. This is especially true around Rx, mental health parity, and gag clause attestations.

For brokers and TPAs, this means helping employers meet standards without being buried in red tape. With compliance moving from “check the box” to “prove it,” partners who simplify the process will stand out.

Compliance Pressure Meets Market Uncertainty

Compliance doesn’t exist in isolation. Political shifts and court decisions, particularly around surprise billing and behavioral health, could reshape expectations again in 2026, adding a level of uncertainty to renewals.

The practical outcome? Plan designs will need to be flexible. Cost-sharing models may need adjustment, plan document language will likely need updates, and renewal strategies must account for tougher underwriting and rising stop-loss premiums. This is where trusted partners who bring creative solutions, even when the market isn’t helping, make the difference.

Action Steps to Stay Ahead

Here’s how brokers and TPAs can prepare now:

  • Audit compliance processes to find reporting and transparency gaps early.
  • Educate plan sponsors now to minimize surprises at renewal.
  • Work with A+ rated carriers to ensure stability and confidence.
  • Plan for tough cases, not just the clean ones, because that’s where the right partners prove their value.

Our Commitment at RMTS

At RMTS, we know the number on the spreadsheet is just the beginning. What matters is the partnership and resourcefulness behind it.

We bring quoting creativity, experienced underwriting, and sustainable stop-loss solutions with strictly A+ rated carriers. That means predictability you can count on, as you work to retain clients and win new business.

We step up not just for the straightforward cases, but for the complex, challenging ones where other partners fall short. At RMTS, we understand that the best partnerships aren’t built when the market is easy; they’re built when the market is tough.