June 27, 2025
More than 78 percent of employees in the US now have at least one chronic condition, an increase of 7 percent since 2021. Surprisingly, disability claims decreased by more than 20 percent, according to new research by the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI). This surge in chronic conditions threatens workforce productivity, cost efficiency, and business continuity—making strategic employer action critical.
The crisis hidden in plain sight. IBI's analysis of 47,450 workers reveals employees with three or more chronic conditions miss 7.8 days annually versus 2.2 days for healthy workers—a 4-fold increase. Most prevalent conditions: musculoskeletal issues (59.5 percent), obesity (34.4 percent), and anxiety/depression (22.5 percent).
“Despite rising chronic conditions, we see disability improvements—suggesting that targeted interventions work,“ said Carole Bonner, MSAS, MSET, Lead Researcher at IBI stated. “But the real crisis is access: 60 percent of employees skip medications due to cost, leading to surges in chronic pain and mental health challenges.“
The healthcare access crisis. Unmet care has significant consequences for workers, leading to a 121 percent increase in chronic pain and a 78 percent rise in anxiety and depression. This situation contributes to workforce instability and productivity loss. Research indicates that both overtime and unmet healthcare needs pose distinct health risks, suggesting that the latter has a more systemic impact across various conditions.
Employees facing healthcare barriers take 72 percent more sick days and are 41 percent more likely to file short-term disability claims. Approximately 14.6 percent of employees report unmet medical needs, with those with chronic conditions facing higher prescription affordability challenges. Additionally, there is a concerning trend toward higher-cost care, with emergency visits up 11.7 percent and urgent care visits up 16.3 percent, while virtual care usage has declined by 24.1 percent.
The disability paradox. Despite increasing chronic condition prevalence, short-term disability claims decreased 27.0 percent and long-term disability claims dropped 21.1 percent from 2021 to 2023. Return-to-work rates improved by 24.8 percent, and the rate of short-term disability claims converted to long-term disability fell dramatically by 40.4 percent.
Source: Integrated Benefits Institute.
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