3 weeks ago
Rising healthcare costs overtake job security as top financial worry
A new survey asked workers at companies in India about their money worries.
It found that the cost of healthcare is now their biggest worry — even bigger than losing their job.
Almost all of them, 94 out of 100, said surprise medical bills stress them out.
Many people are also worried about hospitalisation, lifestyle diseases, family health coverage and not having enough emergency savings.
Most workers get health insurance from their employer, called Group Medical Cover.
But three out of four people said this insurance might not be enough if they end up in the hospital.
Lots of them want extra insurance, yet 45 out of 100 have no personal health insurance of their own.
Many people don't even know exactly what their work insurance covers.
The survey says workers should learn more about health insurance options and plan ahead, especially before switching jobs.
Rising healthcare costs overtook job security, EMIs and other pressures as the biggest financial worry for corporate employees in India, per Tata AIG General Insurance's Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026 survey.
94% of respondents said unexpected medical expenses cause them financial stress.
Nearly seven in 10 respondents could financially sustain themselves for six months or less if they lost their jobs, while only 12% could manage for more than a year.
Almost 75% said their employer-provided Group Medical Cover alone may not be adequate for emergency hospitalisation, and 84% said additional health insurance matters, though 45% have no personal cover.
Only 41% were fully aware of their GMC features, and while 88% called uninterrupted coverage during job changes important, just 40% knew of solutions to maintain cover during a transition.
- Who
- Corporate employees in India aged 28-55 who are covered by their employer's Group Medical Cover; the survey was conducted by Tata AIG General Insurance.
- What
- The Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026 survey found healthcare costs have overtaken job security as the biggest financial worry for employees, with 94% stressed by unexpected medical expenses.
- Where
- India — across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kolkata.
- When
- Reported as part of the Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026 survey; no specific release date was given in the article.
- Why
- Concerns about the adequacy of employer health coverage, gaps in cover during job changes and insufficient emergency savings are driving financial stress among employees.
Key facts
- Survey
- Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026
- Conducted by
- Tata AIG General Insurance
- Respondents
- 748+ corporate employees aged 28-55
- Geographic coverage
- Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata
- Stressed by unexpected medical expenses
- 94%
- Think employer GMC alone may be inadequate
- Nearly 75%
- Without personal health insurance beyond GMC
- 45%
- Fully aware of GMC features
- 41%
Quotes
Dr Santosh Puri
Head of Retail – Health Underwriting, Tata AIG General Insurance
“"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,"”
livemint.com
Sources
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