ManipalCigna Health Insurance, one of India's leading health insurers, has released insights specific to South India from India Health Quotient (IHQ) 2026. The IHQ is a proprietary multi-dimensional index measuring self-assessed health across five dimensions: Physical, Mental, Financial, Occupational, and Social. The study covered urban Indians across 16 cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Coimbatore from the southern region.
India's overall health score stands at 65 out of 100, while South India recorded an overall score of 63 out of 100. Across urban Indians, physical health is leading at 68, while financial health trails at 62, the lowest score across all dimensions and a critical aspect requiring greater attention.
Interestingly, 72% of respondents from South India prioritize eating a healthy, balanced diet in their top 5 aspects of physical health vs 65% in rest of India. This is most notable in the new age tech metros of Bengaluru, Hyderabad (75%). It reflects a larger shift across urban India, where people are consciously moving towards healthier lifestyles and making food choices a part of how they manage their overall wellbeing. On the other hand, the findings also highlight opportunities to strengthen mental well-being, with only 49% reporting strong focus and clarity of mind and 47% feeling confident in their ability to adapt to sudden change.
The study also reveals that health insurance ownership is one of the most promising predictors of overall wellbeing in India. Indians with health insurance score 68/100 on the India Health Quotient, compared to 62/100 for uninsured urban Indians, a 6-point gap that remains consistent across every cohort, region, age group, gender, and stress level. Across the cohorts and stress level tested in the study, insured Indians reported higher wellbeing scores than their uninsured counterparts on physical, mental and financial dimensions alike.
This "Wellbeing Premium" is notably larger than the gender gap (men and women both score 65/100) and exceeds regional differences between major metros like Mumbai (62/100) and Bengaluru (63/100) and surpasses the gap between India's youngest and oldest age groups (63/100 vs 65/100). The gap does not diminish even when controlling for stress levels, suggesting that health insurance ownership is associated with meaningfully better wellbeing outcomes across all population segments.
Sapna Desai, Chief Marketing Officer, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, said, “The India Health Quotient asks a simple question: how does India actually feel? It shows that health is multi-dimensional, with people balancing physical, mental, financial, and work and social wellbeing, and gaps in one area often affecting the others. South India stands out for its focus on healthy eating, with 72% prioritizing a balanced diet, rising to 75% in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. However, this physical discipline does not fully offset everyday pressures. Across regions, we also see that health insurance ownership helps narrow wellbeing gaps, reinforcing that protection is an important part of overall wellbeing.”
As Karnataka continues its growth journey, the need for greater awareness around healthcare financing and financial protection remains important. With changing healthcare needs and rising medical costs, health insurance can play a critical role in helping individuals and families manage healthcare expenses while ensuring access to quality care when needed.
The ManipalCigna India Health Quotient 2026 underscores the company's commitment to going beyond traditional health insurance by developing a deeper, evidence-based understanding of how Indians experience wellbeing. With this, the company reaffirms its focus on building more responsive, holistic health solutions for a rapidly evolving India
For the complete report and insights, visit India Health Quotient 2026.
About India Health Quotient
The India Health Quotient (IHQ) is ManipalCigna Health Insurance’s proprietary research initiative that tracks the evolving health perceptions and behaviours of India. Designed as a multi-dimensional index, it evaluates self-perceived well-being across five key dimensions, physical, mental, financial, occupational, and social health, by combining the importance individuals assign to each dimension with their self-assessed performance. This approach offers a more holistic and real-world understanding of health, going beyond clinical measures to capture how people experience well-being in their daily lives, while also highlighting emerging trends, gaps, and opportunities for more informed and preventive health choices.
Disclaimer
*The India Health Quotient (IHQ) 2026 was conducted by YouGov India on behalf of ManipalCigna Health Insurance. The online survey was administered using YouGov’s proprietary research panel. Fieldwork was conducted between December 2025 and January 2026. The survey included robust 2,600 respondents drawn from 16 cities across India, with equal representation (25% each) from four geographic zones: North (Delhi NCR, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur), East (Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Bhubaneshwar), West (Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat/Vadodara), and South (Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi/Coimbatore). The Health Quotient score (0–100) is a composite measure combining self-assessed performance across five health dimensions (physical, mental, financial, occupational/educational, and social/relational health) with each respondent’s personal weighting of dimension and aspect importance. The Quotient is a measure of self-perceived and self-reported wellbeing; it is not a clinical assessment. All percentages are based on total respondent base (n=2,600) unless otherwise specified. No representation is made as to the completeness or accuracy of the findings. The results are indicative in nature and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. The Company disclaims any liability for reliance placed on this report.
About ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited
ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Manipal Group, an eminent player in healthcare delivery and higher education in India, and Cigna Healthcare, a global health services company with over 230 years of experience. ManipalCigna is headquartered out of Mumbai and has over 120 branch offices covering significant metros and towns. The company has built a strong multi-distribution network of over 1 lakh agents and 500+ distribution partners across the country. ManipalCigna also has presence in 500+ cities in India through its distribution network and has a network of over 16,000 hospitals across cities including tier I, tier II, and tier III towns in India. To learn more, visit
www.manipalcigna.com
About YouGov:
YouGov is a global research data and analytics group. Our mission is to offer unparalleled insight into what the world really thinks and does. With operations in the Americas, Mainland Europe, UK and Asia Pacific, we have one of the world's largest research networks. Above all, YouGov is powered by reality. That stems from a unique panel of millions of registered members across 64 markets, encapsulating some 18 million shopping trips and millions of interconnected data points. Our unique approach to recruiting and engaging with our panel, combined with our state-of-the-art technology platforms, enables us to deliver real-world, real-time insights that lead to better decision-making and a competitive advantage for our clients. As innovators and pioneers of online market research, we have a strong reputation as a trusted source of accurate data and insights. Testament to this, YouGov data is regularly referenced by the global press, and we are consistently one of the most quoted market research sources in the world.
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