A survey of 6,000 U.S. employees conducted by benefits company Willis Towers Watson (WTW) found that worker financial security reached a seven-year low in 2026. According to the report, the percentage of employees who felt financially secure dropped from 46% to 36% over the past year.
The decline in financial confidence comes despite reported improvements in workers' physical health and social connections. WTW found that financial pressures are impacting how employees access healthcare and how they view their long-term retirement prospects.
Approximately one-third of surveyed employees reported they delayed or skipped medical or dental appointments in the past year due to cost concerns. Courtney Stubblefield, a health and benefits practice leader at WTW, stated that high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs are acting as barriers to care, even for individuals who have health insurance coverage.
The survey highlighted age-specific disparities, with workers in their 40s reporting the lowest levels of financial security at 30%. More than 40% of this group delayed or skipped medical care, the highest rate among all age brackets. In contrast, 50% of workers aged 60 and over reported feeling financially secure. Stubblefield noted that mid-career workers often face higher obligations, such as family healthcare coverage and caring for both children and aging parents.
A person experiencing these shifts may notice a greater portion of their income being consumed by household obligations, leaving less for routine checkups or necessary dental work. This financial strain extends to long-term planning, as two-thirds of employees told WTW they expect to be financially worse off in retirement than their parents' generation. The survey indicates that healthcare costs are directly competing with retirement savings, meaning workers may see smaller balances in their 401(k) or other savings accounts as they prioritize immediate bills.
The long-term impact involves a potential decline in workplace performance and health outcomes if preventative care is routinely skipped. The report also highlights a wealth gap between generations; while younger and mid-career workers report high levels of stress, Federal Reserve data shows the median net worth for households headed by those 75 or older reached $504,000 in 2025. What happens next depends on how employers and insurers respond to these identified barriers. While no specific legislative deadlines were reported, the survey suggests that without changes to deductible structures or cost-of-living adjustments, the trend of deferred medical care among the "sandwich generation" may persist.