Rising healthcare expenses have overtaken job security and EMIs as the biggest financial concern among corporate employees in India, according to Tata AIG’s Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026 survey. The findings highlight growing concerns over medical costs, inadequate health coverage and limited financial preparedness among India’s working population.
The survey found that 9 in 10 respondents experience financial stress due to unexpected medical expenses. At the same time, nearly 7 in 10 employees said they could sustain themselves financially for six months or less if they lost their jobs, highlighting the vulnerability of households facing both income disruption and healthcare expenses.

Hospitalisation expenses, lifestyle diseases, family health coverage, mental health and inadequate emergency savings emerged as the five leading healthcare-related concerns among respondents. Although 84% considered additional health insurance beyond employer-provided coverage important, nearly half did not have a personal health insurance policy apart from their employer-provided group medical cover.
The study also identified a significant gap in insurance continuity during job changes. While 88% of respondents considered uninterrupted health insurance coverage during a job transition important, only 40% were aware of solutions that could maintain medical coverage during such transitions. Further, nearly 75% agreed that employer-provided group medical insurance alone would not be sufficient during an emergency hospitalisation.

Awareness of existing employer-provided coverage also remains limited. Only 41% of employees said they were fully aware of all the features and benefits available under their company’s group medical insurance policy, indicating a gap between insurance availability and employees’ understanding of their actual protection.
The Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026 survey covered 748 corporate employees aged 28–55 years across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kolkata. All respondents were covered under employer-provided group medical insurance.

The findings underscore the growing importance of comprehensive health insurance, personal emergency savings and greater awareness of policy benefits among India’s corporate workforce. As medical expenses continue to influence household financial planning, experts believe employers and insurers will need to focus not only on providing group coverage but also on helping employees understand coverage gaps and prepare for healthcare costs beyond workplace insurance.