Most of us have done it. A symptom appears, but work is busy, money is tight and taking time out for an appointment feels difficult. So we decide to give it another week.
Bupa calls this the cost of coping. Its 2026 Wellbeing Index looks at what happens when people keep putting their health behind everything else. One finding stands out: 22% of adults surveyed said they had needed urgent medical attention after ignoring early symptoms.
People are not necessarily waiting because they think their health does not matter. They may be worried about losing pay, concerned about how time off will be viewed at work, or simply struggling to fit an appointment around everything else. In Bupa’s research, 56% of employed respondents said they had delayed seeking help for a physical or mental health concern because they did not want to take time off work.
The trouble is that waiting does not always make a problem go away. It can mean a later diagnosis, a condition that is harder to treat and a longer recovery. That may bring more time off work and more financial pressure – the very things someone was trying to avoid in the first place.
The cost reaches employers too
Bupa also surveyed 500 business leaders. Half said employees were citing wellbeing as a primary reason for leaving their jobs, while 42% said they had seen this increase over the past year. And 86% agreed that delaying healthcare ultimately affects workplace productivity.
Those findings will feel familiar to many employers. Someone can be at work every day and still be struggling. They may be exhausted, distracted or working through an illness because taking time off feels like the harder option.
Employers cannot remove every pressure people face. But they can make getting help feel easier than putting it off.
That starts with a culture where attending a medical appointment does not feel like something to apologise for. Managers need to know how to respond when someone raises a concern, and employees need to know what support is available and how to use it. Even a good benefit will have little impact if people cannot find it when they need it.
There is also the practical question of access and cost. For some businesses, company health insurance can help employees access diagnosis and treatment sooner. Other options, such as GP services, mental health support or health cash plans, may suit different needs and budgets.
For employees who are uninsured or whose cover is limited, Santé Care provides nurse-led support to help them understand their options and navigate the next steps. It gives employers another way to support people who might otherwise be left wondering where to turn.
There is no single benefit that solves every health concern. The aim is to remove as many barriers as possible, particularly the worry about cost and the delay in finding the right help, so people feel able to act sooner.
If you are unsure whether your current benefits are giving your team that support, Santé Group can help you review what is in place and where the gaps may be.
