A report by employee benefits platform Pazcare, based on 77,000 insurance claims and 12,000 health screenings across 4 lakh covered lives, found early signs of metabolic disorders increasingly prevalent among employees aged 20 to 35.
The analysis shows that one in four men aged 31–35 has abnormal HbA1c levels, indicating a higher risk of pre-diabetes, while employees in this age group account for 63% of all cholesterol abnormalities.
The study also highlights that nearly half of male employees under 35 show abnormal blood pressure levels, pointing to a rising incidence of hypertension at younger ages. Researchers attribute these trends to changing work environments, sedentary lifestyles, and delayed preventive care.
At the same time, healthcare costs for employers are being driven by maternity-related claims.
The report notes that maternity accounts for about 20% of all hospitalisations under group health insurance, with over 60% of deliveries conducted via caesarean section, costing significantly more than normal deliveries. Maternity care expenses are also 42–48% higher in metro cities compared to non-metros.
Beyond employees, dependents, particularly parents, are contributing to high-value claims, often linked to chronic conditions such as cardiac disease, cancer, and kidney disorders. This trend is increasing pressure on employer-sponsored health insurance programmes.
Separately, a study by 1 Finance highlights growing concerns around health insurance service quality. Based on an analysis of nearly 36,000 customer reviews across 23 insurers, the study found that complaints in the health and general insurance segment rose 41% year-on-year to 1.37 lakh in FY25.
Notably, 69% of grievances were related to claims, including delays, rejections, and lack of clarity in communication—issues that often arise during medical emergencies. The findings align with concerns raised by Ajay Seth, who had earlier flagged that the nature of complaints is shifting towards more serious failures at critical moments.
The study further shows wide variation in customer experience among insurers, despite similar claim settlement ratios. It found that factors such as speed of cashless approvals, transparency in claim decisions, and overall financial impact on policyholders play a key role in shaping customer sentiment.