WHAT WORKS. Gen Z employees look for holistic healthcare
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xavierarnau
Twenty-four-year-old Ravi* knows that the treatment for the ligament tear in his knee could cost several lakhs, more than what he can afford early in his career. While his employee health insurance covers it, what he seeks goes beyond hospital bills. Mental health support and preventive screenings, he says, outlining what young employees today look for — to stay healthy, and not just recover.In a recent report by MediBuddy-CII, over 90 per cent of the under-25 employees surveyed said they experienced symptoms of anxiety, yet fewer than half go for annual health check-ups.As the Gen-Z cohort in their 20s enters India’s workforce, healthcare providers will need to find the right language to communicate with them. Young employees across income groups who spoke with Pulse expressed their need for engaging and affordable healthcare programmes, in a language that is not complicated or intimidating.As 28-year-old Kumaran explains, “The complex jargon in insurance forms put me off from buying one for a long time. The fine print ran for pages, which wasn’t easy to understand without ChatGPT. So I stuck with the corporate insurance provided by my company, which is what I could afford too. Only when I fell sick and had to get a lot of tests done did I discover the benefits that were offered and those that were not.”His experience echoes that of many middle-class Gen Z professionals, for whom employer-provided insurance is often the first, and sometimes the only interaction with formal healthcare financing.Varying needsCorporate India’s wellness programmes range across requirements such as health insurance, annual check-ups and therapy sessions. But participation remains low, the MediBuddy report found.The problem is with the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach for a workforce that spans four generations, each with varying health priorities and expectations, the report added. “The mental health app that resonates with a 24-year-old Gen Z hire feels clinical to a 60-year-old Baby Boomer. Most corporate wellness programmes are designed for one generation and inflicted on all four,” the report notes.Chandan Agarwal, MediBuddy Vice-President (Consumer Business and Marketing), says, “They (early-career employees) expect a connected wellbeing ecosystem that supports every dimension of their health — physical, mental and preventive — across different stages of their lives and careers. Mental health remains a primary concern, but Gen Z’s definition of wellbeing extends to fitness, nutrition, yoga, lifestyle management and preventive care. They expect healthcare to be accessible, personalised and continuous, with support that is available throughout the year rather than only during moments of illness.”Ravi agrees that the conversation should move beyond hospitalisation. “Expanding coverage for mental health consultations, therapy, psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation and preventive care would encourage people to seek help earlier,” he says. Twenty-five-year-old Soorya* adds, “Broader coverage for managing chronic diseases, including regular screenings, medications and follow-up care could help prevent complications.” The challenge is in designing products that are affordable and encourage healthy behaviour through wellness incentives, he says.As lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems are increasingly reported among younger people, companies and insurers will need to rethink how they connect with young employees, long before they need to make a claim.(*Names changed on request)Published on August 10, 2026
