Marvin OnumonuHealix Health reported a sharp increase in workplace healthcare benefits usage for 2025 compared to 2024, with claims for chronic conditions up 142%.
Usage was higher among women, who made up 61% of claims, with 20% coming from people aged 30 to 39.
Research found that neurodiversity benefits rose by 69% year on year.
Nearly half of these claims came from those aged 21 and under, with a balanced gender split.
The data pointed to increased demand for diagnostic checks and ongoing support.
Digital healthcare pathway usage also went up by 55%, with women aged 30 to 49 making 62% of claims.
Self-referral cancer pathway claims were up 64%, with 87% from women, mainly aged 40 to 49.
Gender-specific health benefits increased 16% year on year, again mostly used by women aged 30 to 49.
Mental health benefits made up a smaller part of the total in 2025, dropping from 4.3% to 3.9%.
Healix Health noted this was due to changes in how employees accessed support, with more using employee assistance programmes and digital self-referral options.
Physiotherapy made up 7.1% of total usage, up from 6.9% in 2024, with an equal split between men and women.
Most users were aged 30 to 59.
Dental benefits stayed at around 4% of usage, making up the largest part of the cash plan.
Keira Wallis, head of clinical operations at Healix Health, said: “This data suggests workplace healthcare is increasingly being used to support long-term health, not just episodic care.
“While hospital treatment still accounts for most benefits usage, the strongest growth is now in chronic conditions, neurodiversity and targeted pathways where access can be more challenging.
“Across our client base, employers are increasingly focused on building integrated wellbeing ecosystems, where private healthcare complements rather than duplicates existing benefits.”
Wallis added: “This reflects a more preventative and joined-up approach to health.
“Rather than acting solely as a safety net when something goes wrong, workplace healthcare is becoming part of a broader wellbeing strategy – helping people access the right level of support at the right time.”
