While use of inpatient, daycase and outpatient treatment has remained the same, Healix Health sees a jump in chronic condition workplace healthcare benefits usage.
There has been strong growth in claims linked to chronic conditions, neurodiversity and specialist digital healthcare pathways, as employees continue to rely on workplace benefits to access care.
Year-on-year analysis from independent corporate healthcare trust provider Healix Health has found that inpatient, daycase and outpatient treatment remained the most used benefits across the year – and unchanged since 2024 – accounting for 69% of total usage. While traditional hospital-based care continues to underpin workplace healthcare provision, growth is increasingly being driven by benefits supporting long-term and specialist needs.
But chronic conditions and neurodiversity see the fastest growth. Usage of chronic condition benefits rose by 142% year-on-year. These benefits support long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease. Women accounted for 61% of usage, with 20% of usage among those aged 30–39.
This increase comes as attention grows on the link between long-term health, work and economic participation.
“This data suggests workplace healthcare is increasingly being used to support long-term health, not just episodic care,” said Keira Wallis, Healix Health’s head of clinical operations.
“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,” she added.
A jump in neurodiversity benefits
Neurodiversity benefits usage increased by 69% compared with 2024, with 49% of usage coming from individuals aged 21 and under, with a relatively even gender split, reflecting continued demand for diagnostic assessments and ongoing support.
Digital, cancer and gender-specific pathways also continue to rise.
Use of digital healthcare pathways grew by 55% last year, with women accounting for 62% of claims, primarily aged 30-49. Self-referral cancer pathway usage increased 64%, with 87% of claims from women, most aged 40-49.
At the same time, gender-specific health benefits also continued to rise, up 16% year-on-year, with 87% of usage from women, largely in the 30-49 age group, highlighting sustained demand for targeted women’s health support.
Perhaps surprisingly, mental health benefits usage declined slightly, slipping from 4.3% to 3.9% of total benefits usage. In explanation, Healix Health pointed out that this reflects the way employees are accessing support, rather than a reduction in demand for mental health services, and aligns with a growing employer preference for earlier, lighter-touch interventions, particularly through Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and digital-first self-referral services.
“Across our client base, employers are increasingly focused on building integrated wellbeing ecosystems, where private healthcare complements rather than duplicates existing benefits. This reflects a more preventative and joined-up approach to health,” said Wallis.
