The usage of chronic condition benefits rose by 142% year-on-year in 2025, according to research by Healix Health.
Its full-year 2025 benefits usage data also found that women accounted for 61% of this usage, with 20% of this group aged between 30–39 years. These benefits support long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease.
Benefits for inpatient, day case and outpatient treatment were the most used across the year at 69%, unchanged from 2024.
Neurodiversity benefits usage also increased by 69% from 2024, with 49% of usage coming from those aged 21 and under, and a relatively even gender split.
Usage of digital healthcare pathways grew by 55% in 2025, with women accounting for 62% of claims, primarily aged 30-49 years. Self-referral cancer pathway usage increased by 64%, with 87% of claims from women and most aged 40-49 years.
Gender-specific health benefits rose by 16% year-on-year, with 87% of usage from women, largely in the 30-49 age group.
Mental health benefits usage declined slightly in 2025, falling from 4.3% to 3.9% of total benefits usage.
Physiotherapy accounted for 7.1% of total benefits usage, up from 6.9% in 2024. Usage was evenly split between genders, with nearly three-quarters aged 30–59 years. Dental benefits accounted for around 4% of total benefits usage.
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.
“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. 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.”
