If left unaddressed, rising rates of chronic illness, mental health struggles, and unresponsive benefits systems will erode productivity, retention, and long-term growth. The data reveals an urgent need for integrated, preventive, and inclusive healthcare strategies that go far beyond the limitations of traditional insurance.
A silent health crisis is brewing within corporate India, and Plum’s latest report reveals the alarming extent of the problem.
Plum’s “Employee Health Report 2025” reveals a systemic crisis in corporate India, offering a front-row view into the nation’s escalating health challenges and the urgent need for proactive intervention.
Plum, an employee health benefits platform in India, has partnered with over 6,000+ corporates and 6 lac+ users, analysed data from more than 100,000 telehealth consultations, representing 6% of its user base, alongside 25,000 insurance claims, 1,998 health camp participants, and 512 survey responses.
This comprehensive analysis, cross-referenced with extensive secondary research, decodes the evolving health landscape of corporate India.
Long known for focusing on traditional health insurance, Indian companies must now redefine “value” in employee benefits, prioritising prevention, holistic care, and addressing the unique needs of their workforce. In FY’25, Plum’s report reveals that employee health is not just a cost; it’s a critical factor in productivity, engagement, and India’s economic future.
The economic time bomb: India’s workforce potential is threatened by the rise of preventable diseases
With over 600 million Indians under age 35, India should be reaping the benefits of a demographic dividend. Instead, the report shows:
Chronic illnesses are striking a decade earlier than in developed nations, often by age 45 or sooner
The median age for cardiology consults is just 33, underscoring a troubling trend of early-onset chronic illnesses among India’s working population. Plum’s data reveals a consistent pattern across the onset of major health conditions:
32 – Heart disease
33 – Cancer
34 – Diabetes
35 – Chronic kidney disease
36 – Cerebrovascular disease (strokes, ischemia)
This early onset not only threatens individual well-being but also puts long-term pressure on workforce productivity, healthcare costs, and India’s economic potential.
The result is staggering: chronic disease costs companies up to 30 days per employee every year in productivity losses and disengagement. 40% of employees take at least one sick day each month for mental health reasons, and 1 in 5 are considering quitting due to burnout.
The screening shortfall: Why India’s silent crisis remains unseen
Despite the growing burden of disease, only 20% of companies offer regular health check-ups, and even when available, just 38% of employees use them
From Plum’s health camps:
63% had high or elevated blood pressure (31% Stage 1, 18% Stage 2 hypertension)
38% had high cholesterol, 17% were clinically obese, and 11% were pre-diabetic
71% were found to be at moderate risk of NCDs, while 5% required urgent medical attention
Mental health, burnout and a workforce in crisis
Mental health issues are escalating quickly:
20% of Plum’s telehealth consults are mental health-related, with anxiety being the leading concern
Only 14% of the workforce is thriving, compared to a global average of 34 % – Gallup’s State of the Workplace report.
The data also shows a gender divide in access and stigma:
Men dominate healthcare utilisation (58%) in the 30–49 age group, yet are less likely to seek mental health support
Women in the 50–59 age group account for 68% of benefit utilisation — a trend shaped by both biology and society.
On one hand, this is the typical age for menopause and perimenopause onset, bringing a surge in health needs.
On the other, years of deprioritising their own health due to caregiving roles often leads to late detection and more severe conditions, finally pushing them to seek treatment.
Men are not speaking up until it’s too late
Chronic Health: A Silent Early Onset
Men are disproportionately at risk for early-onset chronic diseases
Heart disease is appearing in men as early as 32 years, highlighting a need for early detection and proactive care
Despite the data, preventive screenings and early interventions remain low across both genders, particularly among men
Mental Health: The Cost of Stigma and Inaction
Men make up 47% of insurance claims, yet only 46% of telehealth users, indicating a significant reluctance to seek help early
When men do seek mental health support, they report 54% higher symptom severity in their first session—suggesting delayed intervention
The drop-off rate after the first consultation is 42% higher among men compared to women
Men are overrepresented in high-stigma conditions like OCD (69%), ADHD (63%), and addiction (89%), yet often don’t pursue sustained care—further deepening the mental health gap
Women are underserved on reproductive and hormonal health
23% of women’s telehealth consults were related to reproductive health, 32% to hormonal health, and 18% to menstrual issues
42% of women work through period pain without accommodations
70%+ of women say current health benefits do not meet their real needs
Rethinking value: Insurance alone won’t solve this
India Inc has made progress, with a 100% increase in startups and enterprises investing in preventive and flexible healthcare, but gaps remain:
Only 34% of companies offer benefits aligned with what employees truly value
1 in 3 employees say they don’t even have the time to care for their health
Plum calls for a shift from “coverage” to “care”, through a preventive, personalised and participatory model
For every ₹100 invested in health, companies generate ₹296 in healthcare savings for employees, proving that employee health is not just ethical, it’s economic.
“We need to urge companies to think of healthcare beyond the transactional nature of insurance,” says Abhishek Poddar, Co-founder of Plum.
“True employee well-being lies in providing access to holistic healthcare solutions that encompass mental, physical, and social well-being. Our report underscores the urgency for a comprehensive approach that empowers employees to take charge of their health journey, including addressing the specific mental health needs of different demographics within the workforce.”
“Improving healthspan, not just lifespan, must become a strategic priority for every organisation,” says Saurabh Arora, Co-founder of Plum.
“The link between employee health and productivity is no longer theoretical. Our report shows that when people delay care or remain unsupported, the costs to business and wellbeing are immediate and measurable. With the right interventions, especially personalised AI-powered ones, we can proactively guide employees toward healthier behaviours, close critical care gaps, and make frameworks like the 14-hour health week not only achievable but transformative.”
More than just a health audit, Plum’s report is a clarion call: India Inc. can no longer afford to treat employee health as a cost centre. As the country enters its most economically promising decade—powered by a young and growing workforce—poor employee health has emerged as the biggest threat to realising this demographic dividend.
The data reveals an urgent need for integrated, preventive, and inclusive healthcare strategies that go far beyond the limitations of traditional insurance.
If left unaddressed, rising rates of chronic illness, mental health struggles, and unresponsive benefits systems will erode productivity, retention, and long-term growth. To truly unlock the potential of India’s workforce, companies must embrace a culture of proactive well-being. Plum is committed to partnering with businesses on this transformative journey, helping redefine employee health as a strategic priority—not an expense.