“Investing in prevention also means investing in human capital.”
Faced with rising healthcare costs and new HR challenges, prevention is becoming a strategic lever for companies. Eline Palmieri, Group Insurance Underwriter – Brokerage at AXA, discusses the role of insurers in prevention and how innovative solutions support employers and employees alike.
Faced with rising healthcare costs and new HR challenges, prevention is becoming a strategic lever for companies. Eline Palmieri, Group Insurance Underwriter – Brokerage at AXA, discusses the role of insurers in prevention and how innovative solutions support employers and employees alike.
What is your role at AXA Insurance?
I work on health-related matters — particularly supplementary health insurance — as well as income protection. My main role is to support brokers, but also, when necessary, client companies along with their employees and families. In particular, I am involved in presenting our solutions and the associated services.
AXA notably offers the Angel + solution, which is strongly prevention-focused. How is it structured?
Our offering is built around three fundamental pillars: prevention, access to healthcare, and employee support beyond contractual guarantees.
All our clients benefit from a core range of services called Angel, accessible online. On top of this, additional services — symbolized by the “+” — are available, along with two optional guarantees: support in the event of serious illness and assistance for caregivers.
Why is prevention now such a central issue in your view?
Prevention has become a major concern for all stakeholders in the healthcare system: public authorities, Social Security, and insurers. Yet it is still not deeply embedded in habits in France, where people often seek medical attention only once illness has already developed.
Historically, the strong reimbursement levels for healthcare expenses likely contributed to this situation. But we are now entering a new phase: an aging population, rising supplementary health insurance costs, and lower mandatory reimbursements are reshaping the landscape.
In this context, prevention is becoming essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system and control costs. It is also a key issue for companies, as it helps reduce absenteeism and sick leave. Finally, for insurers, it strengthens our social role.
In practical terms, how is this approach reflected in the Angel + solution?
We offer several highly practical services. The flagship service is “My Prevention Appointment.” Employees complete an online questionnaire about their lifestyle habits, receive personalized recommendations, and then benefit from a consultation with a preventive care physician. This helps identify potential risks, such as certain chronic or cardiovascular conditions.
Other services complement this approach: a medical-social chat service to answer questions, a dedicated mental health space — with content on stress, anxiety, and burnout — as well as a mobile app, “My Angel Coach,” focused on well-being and quality of life at work.
Today, prevention is particularly strategic for businesses. It addresses several major challenges: first, controlling costs related to absenteeism; second, employee retention and engagement. Human capital is now at the heart of business performance, and prevention directly contributes to preserving it.