Plum

🔴 India stands at a pivotal crossroads. Our workforce is young, ambitious, and poised to drive the country's next wave of economic growth. But beneath this promise lies a quiet crisis, one that threatens not only individual well-being but the future of India itself. Observations from our flagship Employee Health Report 2025 deliver a stark reality: employee health is no longer a personal issue; it is a strategic business imperative. Consider this: 🔴 71% of India's workforce faces moderate chronic disease risk, yet only 30% get regular health screenings. 🗓️ Poor health leads to up to 40 lost workdays per employee annually, driving significant costs through absenteeism, presenteeism, and reduced output. 😰 Just 14% of employees are thriving at work, and 30% experience loneliness, the highest rate globally. However, there is a clear business case for change: for every ₹100 invested in employee health benefits, employees realise ₹296 in healthcare savings. The opportunity before us is clear: companies that invest holistically in physical, mental, and social health will build resilience, improve engagement, and gain a decisive edge in talent attraction and retention. It's no longer enough to offer benefits; we must embed health into the very fabric of workplace culture. From redesigning the employee benefits stack to rethinking the culture and behaviours we tolerate, we must recognise the realities of today's workforce. Read our findings here: https://lnkd.in/gcfiWw6J

Sometimes, a comment from a pleasantly surprised user does a far better job at capturing the real impact of our efforts than anything we'd ever write. Thank you for the kind words, Kuldeep Dhankar. Wishing you the best of health. ✨

A few must-haves in your health insurance to ensure comprehensive cancer treatment coverage. 👇 After we published The Cost of Cancer, we had a few people, like Harnidh, discuss what elements of your policy protect you against a disease like cancer. Here are a few non-exhaustive suggestions from Dr. Sandeep Menon, who heads our panel of doctors: 🟢 A sum insured of 10 lacs, minimum. 🟢 A critical illness cover, in addition to a policy that covers cancer treatments across all stages. 🟢 Modern treatments (oral chemotherapy, immunotherapy etc) covered up to 100% of the sum insured. 🟢 Advanced treatments (Cyberknife surgery, gene cell therapy etc) covered 🟢 Coverage for palliative care and post-treatment rehab 🟢 An OPD cover, including coverage for early-stage screenings and genome testing, as well as HPV detection and vaccination coverage. Consider these benefits when you evaluate your health insurance policy. Also, speak to your HRBP about your health insurance policy. And while we're at it, a huge shoutout to companies like CRED, Swiggy, and Groww for building comprehensive healthcare policies that offer a majority of these benefits (if not all) to their teams.

Why we're launching Health Checkups at Plum. 👇 A majority of Indians today still rely on basic health checkups, which provide only a limited view of their health. Take heart health, for example. Traditional tests typically focus on LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, but this only offers a partial understanding of cardiovascular risk. Markers like ApoB and ApoA1 give a far clearer picture of potential heart disease. The same goes for metabolic health. It's not just about fasting glucose; markers like fasting insulin and HbA1c help reveal hidden risks like insulin resistance, a key driver of chronic conditions. But these biomarkers often go unnoticed in standard panels. This lack of comprehensive testing, coupled with reports filled with medical jargon, often leaves individuals feeling confused, not empowered. We wanted to change that. After months of research into biomarkers, understanding the end-to-end experience, and conversations with 100+ medical specialists, we present Plum Health Checkups. Key highlights: 🔴 200+ advanced biomarkers that are 2.2x more effective at detecting chronic conditions 📂 accessible test reports written in simple, readable language ✨ personalised care programmes covering doctor consultations, action plans, and periodic check-ins With 71% of working Indians at moderate risk of chronic disease, there is no better time than now to build proactive and intentional interventions that drive the best possible health outcomes while reducing the cost of care. I truly believe our health checkups are the best place to start proactively thinking about your health, and couldn't be prouder our team for building this. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/e_tQKh7G

We ran the numbers, and we're not surprised: Companies are writing India's insurance story. 🇮🇳 Look at the data for any developed country like the United States, Japan, or Korea, and you'll observe that health insurance penetration was driven by government schemes and employers working together. What's encouraging is that we are on the same trajectory. Consider this: ⚫ group health insurance is growing at a rate upward of 20% every year ⚫ at least 60% of working Indians experience insurance for the first time through their employer's policy This means Indian orgs have a greater responsibility - they're not only paving the path for penetration, but also building trust and awareness for insurance. In fact, 40% of Plum's Personal insurance buyers did so because of a good claims experience with their employer-sponsored healthcare scheme. More about the relationship between group and retail health insurance in this story by The Economic Times. Link in comments.

We unveiled Plum's Autumn Release last Friday, with nine features strengthening our users' healthcare access and experience—how people get care, how they pay for it, and how companies run benefits behind the scenes. Over the next few days, I will be sharing a few broader notes on each feature and why we feel it lays the foundation for the new standard of digital healthcare. First up: our partnership with RED Health, enabling users to book an ambulance with one click on the Plum app. When we spoke to users who were in medical emergencies, a common theme was how booking an ambulance was a harrowing experience. The entire process of finding the number, calling an ambulance, and walking a caller through the emergency was an overwhelming experience for most users, and the cognitive load of a crisis only made matters worse. In addition to this, giving the driver the exact directions, waiting in uncertainty, and not having a clear idea of where the ambulance was added to the stress. We wanted the experience of booking an ambulance to be as convenient as booking a cab. With our Book an Ambulance feature in partnership with Red Health, all you have to do is tap on the button on the Plum app. Within seconds, you will be on call with a concierge who will get the required details, dispatch an ambulance, and share a tracking link. If this is covered under your policy, attach the invoice when you file a claim, and we'll handle the rest. In this video, Adarsh and Pratyush walk you through the experience. Let us know how we can make this smoother.