Rising healthcare costs have overtaken job security as the biggest financial worry for corporate employees in India. A new survey found 94 per cent say unexpected medical bills cause financial stress.

The Tata AIG General Insurance Corporate Health Protection Pulse 2026 covered 748 employees aged 28 to 55 across eight cities. All respondents had employer-provided group medical cover.

Despite this, 45 per cent have no personal health insurance beyond their employer's plan. Hospitalisation, lifestyle diseases and inadequate emergency savings emerged as top concerns.

The survey also exposed wider vulnerability. Nearly seven in ten respondents said they could sustain themselves financially for six months or less if they lost their jobs. Only 12 per cent could manage beyond a year.

Experts say medical inflation is pushing families toward debt. They advise employees to build emergency funds and consider top-up health covers beyond office policies.

Financial planners say a medical emergency is the most common reason families fall into debt. They recommend an emergency fund covering six months of expenses.