Healthcare costs overtake job security, EMIs as top financial worry for corporate India

Rising healthcare costs have overtaken job security and EMIs as the biggest financial concern for corporate India, according to a new survey.

Nine in 10 respondents to Tata AIG’s The Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026 survey said unexpected medical expenses cause them financial stress, while nearly seven in 10 said they could sustain themselves financially for six months or less in the event of a job loss.

While 84% consider additional health coverage beyond employer-provided insurance important, nearly half do not have personal health insurance apart from their employer-provided group medical cover (GMC).


“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,” said Santosh Puri, head of retail-health underwriting at Tata AIG General Insurance.

The study highlights the growing financial burden of healthcare on India’s workforce and shows that many corporate employees may not be prepared to withstand a prolonged loss of income. Hospitalisation costs, lifestyle diseases, health cover for family, mental health and a lack of emergency savings emerged as the top five healthcare-related concerns among corporate employees.

The survey also found a significant awareness gap. While 88% consider uninterrupted health insurance coverage during a job change important, only 40% are aware of solutions that ensure continuity of medical cover. This points to a need for greater awareness of insurance options during job transitions.

“While group medical cover remains an important pillar of employee well-being, 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,” Puri said.

The study also points to a protection gap. While a significant number of employees are satisfied with their GMC, they are not necessarily confident about the adequacy of the coverage. Nearly 75% agreed that employer-provided GMC alone would not be sufficient in the event of an emergency hospitalisation.

Only 41% of corporate employees said they were fully aware of all the features and benefits of their employer-provided GMC, highlighting the need for greater awareness of the cover.

The study surveyed 748 corporate employees aged 28-55 years across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kolkata. All respondents were covered under a GMC policy provided by their employer.