We're evolving. Mercer is now part of the new, expanded Marsh brand

Making care affordable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) 

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with 250 or fewer employees, people are key assets. Knowing where to invest limited budgets to build a strong workforce is vital for a thriving business. 

Making healthcare more affordable

SME employees least confident about affording healthcare

Although our Health on Demand 2025 study found that employees from various organization sizes lack confidence that they can afford the healthcare they need, SME employees are the least confident among all cohorts.

Delay in seeking healthcare

SME employees also cite financial constraint as the most common reason they delayed seeking appropriate healthcare over the past two years — a decision that more than three-quarters of SME employees made. 
Unsurprisingly, given these financial challenges, SME employees value core health benefits — such as insurance for doctor appointments and prescription drugs — far more than general wellness and preventive benefits offered in larger organizations. 
SMEs that invest in supporting these basic yet fundamental healthcare needs go a long way. These organizations can help ease financial stress, build trust, and make their employees feel more secure about their health and well-being.

Reach out to our consultants on how you can provide value-based care for your employees. 

We help businesses from as little as two employees: 

  1. Lock in costs with fixed-rate or capped-rate-increase contracts for multiple years, despite inflation and claims performance.
  2. Gain access to a comprehensive range of insurance lines through our global network and partnerships.
  3. Enjoy fully digitized benefits and administration of benefits for better convenience. 
  4. Unlock proprietary benchmarking data on benefits and access discounts to health and wellness solutions through Benefits Club. 
Related products for purchase
Related Insights