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Download Cleo’s 2026 Family Health Index Annual Report for the most up-to-date picture of caregiving and family health burden driving healthcare and workforce costs today.
March 20, 2026
For years, the conversation around caregiving in the workplace has focused on logistics—finding child care, managing eldercare, or navigating leave policies. But new data from Cleo’s Family Health Index™ (FHI) reveals a deeper, more insidious threat to both employee wellbeing and the corporate bottom line: the profound isolation and health deterioration of high-risk caregivers.
The data: A stark divide in caregiver health
The FHI identifies a pattern where isolation and poor health perception aren’t just complaints—they are leading indicators of a person’s overall health status. The disparity between low-risk and high-risk caregivers is staggering:
- Isolation as a health risk: High-risk members are 11 times more likely to feel lonely or isolated most or all of the time. This confirms medical research that mental and social wellbeing is the single biggest predictor of severe health risk. The U.S. Surgeon General has even equated the risk of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, noting it increases the risk of heart disease by 29%.
- The burnout engine: High-risk members are 4.6 times more likely to report burnout and a decreased ability to complete tasks. Burnout isn’t just causing productivity problems; it can drive employees into the most costly health categories.
- Deteriorating health perception: High-risk members are 6 times more likely to rate their own health as “poor” or “fair.” This signals a population that is acutely aware of their declining health but may be too overwhelmed to seek care.
Why this is a “mental health tax” for employers
Caregiver burnout is a financial consideration for organizations. Cleo’s 2025 healthcare claims analysis quantified exactly how caregiving strain correlates with employer expenditure.
- Higher healthcare costs: High-risk working caregivers identified through the FHI incur significantly higher medical costs—averaging $1,000 PMPM—compared to $600 PMPM for lower-risk members.
- The productivity gap: The difference in reported needs between high- and low-risk members is vast. High-risk employees are 200% more likely to be at risk for depression or anxiety and 128% more likely to report burnout that hinders task completion.
The FHI data confirms that mental and social wellbeing is the single biggest predictor of severe health risk and subsequent costs associated with absenteeism.
Breaking the cycle: From reactive to proactive support
To mitigate these risks, employers must move beyond reactive solutions and toward a strategy that addresses the root causes of caregiver burnout. Top reported needs of high-risk caregivers:
- 88% report insufficient time for self-care
- 85% screen positive for depression or anxiety
- 75% report limited social participation
- 62% rarely get exercise or eat healthy
The data shows that when caregivers feel supported, they are 4 times more likely to utilize their mental health benefits and 40% more likely to be compliant with preventive primary care.
Caregiving is no longer a peripheral benefits issue; it is a leading indicator of workforce health and performance risk. It’s time to bring caregivers out of the silo and provide the integrated support they—and your bottom line—depend on.
