India Fit Report 2025 raises red flag: Healthcare affordability crisis spirals into national emergency

New Delhi: GOQii, India’s leading smart preventive healthcare company, has released the India Fit Report 2025, highlighting a growing national crisis in healthcare affordability.

Titled “Beyond the Brink: Confronting India’s Healthcare Affordability Crisis,” the report reveals that soaring medical costs are now a national emergency impacting millions across the country.

Based on insights from over 6 million GOQii users and findings from a nationwide insurance survey of 2000 individuals—both within and beyond the GOQii ecosystem, the report confirms a stark reality: even insured households are delaying or skipping treatment due to unaffordable costs.

Key findings include:

• 71% of respondents say medical expenses have skyrocketed

• 36% have cut back on doctor visits despite having insurance

• Nearly 1 in 5 Indians have skipped essential treatment altogether due to affordability

“The rising cost of healthcare is not just a statistic—it’s a silent emergency unfolding in households across India,” said Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO of GOQii. “We must rewrite the rules to ensure health is a right, not a privilege.”

The report documents stories from across India: diabetic patients rationing insulin, elderly citizens postponing surgeries, and parents avoiding care for sick children. As per the GOQii survey, 36% have reduced the frequency of their medical visits, likely as a cost-saving measure. 12.3% of respondents have delayed seeking medical treatment due to financial constraints.  

With middle-class professionals struggling with overwhelming treatment bills to individuals in the lower income group forced to choose between medicine and food, the crisis is widespread.

Even the insured are vulnerable. The survey points to frequent claim denials, limited coverage, and excessive exclusions as key contributors to the erosion of trust in health insurance. Households are increasingly relying on out-of-pocket expenses, often resulting in the sale of assets or accumulation of debt.

Health Outcome Declines Nationwide 

The report also highlights a worrying decline in the nation’s overall health. There has been a 3.84% increase from last year in the ‘unhealthy’ population.

According to the GOQii data, there is a worsening gender gap in health, with 64% of women now classified as unhealthy compared to 40% of men.

Another area of concern is that lifestyle diseases continue to be on the rise. Lifestyle diseases impact people of all ages and from all walks of life. These conditions affect children, adults, and the elderly, however, they are most commonly linked with those in their later years. The senior age group suffers the most from lifestyle-related ailments. Blood pressure is the most common condition in this age group with almost 48.7% of the population having high blood pressure, followed by diabetes at 39% and cholesterol at 24%.

The public is growing increasingly vocal in demanding action. According to the report, 60% of respondents believe that stronger government regulation is essential to controlling healthcare costs.

Despite the crisis, there are signs of progress through innovation. The report highlights the potential of preventive healthcare and wellness-linked insurance models. 

GOQii’s SAFE model (Sedentary, Active, Fit, Elite) rewards healthy behaviour with insurance benefits. 54% of survey respondents indicated they would opt for wellness-linked insurance plans that include preventive care, coaching, and regular screenings. Users participating in such programs have reported fewer hospital visits and reduced medical expenses.

The India Fit Report 2025 calls for immediate and coordinated national action. Have comprehensive reforms to make insurance coverage broader, simpler, and more inclusive. Have a greater focus on the mass adoption of preventive healthcare including digital coaching, screenings, and behaviour-based incentives. There is a call to regulate rising medical costs and treatment pricing and integrate of AI and wearable technology to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.