Tata AIG General Insurance Company, today released the findings of its latest study on the evolving healthcare concerns of corporate employees titled The Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026. The study found that rising healthcare costs have emerged as one of the foremost concerns for corporate employees, surpassing concerns about job security, EMI obligations, global instability among other concerns.
The study also underscores the growing financial burden of healthcare on India’s workforce. Nearly 94% of respondents said unexpected medical expenses cause them financial stress, making it a bigger concern than job loss or career stagnation. At the same time, financial resilience remained limited, only 12% believed they could manage financially for more than a year without a job. The findings show that many corporate employees may not be prepared to withstand a prolonged loss of income. Nearly seven in ten respondents said they could sustain themselves financially for only six months or less during a job loss. The cost of hospitalisation, lifestyle diseases, health cover for family, mental health and lack of savings for emergencies emerged as the top 5 healthcare-related concerns for corporate India, reflecting the growing need for stronger financial preparedness and health protection.
The study further identifies healthcare expenses as the biggest financial concern during job transition, surpassing loss of income and EMI. The concern is exacerbated by a stark awareness gap amidst respondents. While 88% consider uninterrupted health insurance coverage during a job change important, however, only 40% are aware of solutions that ensure continuity of medical cover. This implies a strong need for raising awareness about insurance during the critical phase of job transition.
Sharing his perspective on the study, Dr. Santosh Puri, Head of Retail – Health Underwriting at Tata AIG General Insurance said, “Our aim with this study was to better understand how corporate employees perceive their employer-provided health insurance and to identify the gaps that continue to exist in awareness and preparedness. While Group Medical Cover remains an important pillar of employee wellbeing, the findings show that many individuals are still uncertain about the extent of their coverage and whether it would be adequate during a medical emergency or a job transition. As healthcare costs continue to rise, we believe awareness and financial preparedness will become increasingly important. We hope these insights encourage employees to make informed decisions about their health protection needs and foster greater collaboration between employers, insurers and policymakers to build a more financially resilient workforce.”
A deeper look at employer-provided Group Medical Cover (GMC) reveals a significant protection gap. While 84% of respondents believe it is important to have additional health coverage alongside their employer-provided GMC, yet nearly half (45%) do not have any additional health insurance beyond their employer-provided cover. Lack of awareness and a ‘will buy later’ attitude emerged as key barriers to purchasing additional health insurance, especially amongst the age group of 28-34 years.
Another key finding from the study points to a protection gap – while a significant number of employees are satisfied with their Group Medical Coverage (GMC), they are not necessarily confident about the adequacy of the coverage, with nearly 75% agreeing that employer-provided GMC alone would not be sufficient in the event of an emergency hospitalisation.
The survey brings to light critical gaps in employees’ understanding of the scope and limitations of employer-provided health insurance. Only 41% of corporate employees said they are fully aware of all the features and benefits of their employer-provided GMC, highlighting the need for raising awareness about GMC.
Family protection continues to be the strongest driver for purchasing additional health insurance. Respondents cited higher sum insured, coverage for family members and continuity of coverage during job transitions as the most important features they would look for while evaluating a top-up plan, reflecting a growing preference for protection that complements GMC.
Collectively, the findings reinforce that meaningful health protection extends beyond employer-provided insurance to include adequate coverage, informed decision-making and continuity of protection. Closing these gaps will be essential to building a healthier, more financially resilient workforce.
The study surveyed over 748 corporate employees aged 28–55 years across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kolkata. All respondents were covered under a Group Medical Cover (GMC) policy provided by their employer.