Employers across Kolkata are preparing for another year of rising employee healthcare expenses, as India’s medical trend rate is expected to reach 11.5% in 2026, according to Aon’s latest Global Medical Trend Rates Report. The projection marks a slight moderation from 13% in 2025 but still remains above the global average of 9.8%.
Local HR managers and insurance brokers say this rise is already influencing budgeting discussions in major Kolkata business districts such as Sector V and Dalhousie. Companies are reassessing benefit plans as cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal issues and cancer continue to be the biggest cost drivers. Hypertension and poor nutrition remain among the leading risk factors.
Aon noted that employers nationwide are shifting toward flexible benefit structures and cost-containment tools. Kolkata-based firms, especially in IT and financial services, are increasingly adopting analytics-led strategies to manage utilisation and negotiate more efficiently with insurers. Shortage of skilled medical professionals and advanced treatments are adding pressure on medical inflation, a trend visible in rising hospital bills across the city’s private healthcare sector. The moderation in trend rate is encouraging but caution that sustained investment in preventive health and wellness programmes will be key for Kolkata’s workforce in 2026.