Healthcare under control
Health remains at the core of French people’s concerns, but 58%1 believe that the healthcare system is functioning poorly. Medical deserts, medicine shortages and hospital overcrowding have all become more acute since the COVID crisis.
This perception is due in particular to the difficulty in securing timely access to care. Although everyone theoretically has access to the most advanced care, either free or almost free of charge, this access is becoming more unequal: 47% of French people say they have experienced difficulties, long waits or only partial access to healthcare services. This perception is higher in rural areas and small towns, but also below a certain level of education, because resorting to and being able to access care sensibly and at the right time relies on having the right information in advance. Remote consultation appears to be one of the solutions. It has become a firm favourite with the French, with one million teleconsultations a month, or 2 to 3% of all consultations.
The worrying increase in healthcare costs
There are also economic issues at play. Healthcare spending was extremely dynamic in 2023. The increase was fuelled in particular by a review of caregivers’ wages and rates and by a higher consumption of care. This situation is increasing the debt burden not only of the social security system, but also of the supplementary healthcare providers who play an essential role in financing the zero co-pay (Reste à charge zéro) system for eyes, dental and hearing care. This is especially true as the transfer of spending from the public to the private sector accelerates with the rollout of this system. Mutual insurers’ tariffs are expected to increase by 8.1% on average in 2024, according to Mutualité Française forecasts. This represents a higher increase in premiums than in 2023 (+4.7%).
The French people understand that the healthcare system needs to evolve if it is to function properly, particularly as the ageing of the population accelerates: there will be 6.1 million people aged between 75 and 84 in 2030.
New healthcare expectations and behaviours
Be it stress, fatigue musculoskeletal disorders or something else, the impact of working conditions on our health is no longer in doubt. Quality of life at work is actually the primary concern of workers, especially now that the widespread use of remote working has provided a better work-life balance. People are feeling less attached to their work, and personal fulfilment is becoming a priority. More broadly, French people expect more flexibility from their companies, particularly with regard to more personalised management of working hours and the organisation of working time.
Mental health is also becoming a key factor for a growing portion of the population. This is particularly true of younger generations, it being the main concern for 53%2 of them.
The French are also putting their faith in a preventive approach to their health in order to reduce long-term risks and spend less: two thirds3 of them think that looking after one’s health means being proactive in adopting good practices and a healthy lifestyle. Healthcare is also becoming increasingly digital with the widespread adoption of remote consultation, which according to the CNAM has more than one million users every month. Many French people also give credence to alternative therapies. According to an Odoxa survey conducted in May 2023, 57% believe that alternative therapies are, from a general standpoint, at least as effective as conventional medicine. Osteopathy, homoeopathy and acupuncture are the alternative therapies most used by French people.
Markers
- Connected health is appealing: 76% of French people say they are prepared to use these services even if some obstacles remain (source: connected health survey by the market research company IPSOS in 2022).
- The perception of healthcare professionals remains very positive: 95% favourable opinion for nurses and 91% for general practitioners (source: Les Français et le système de santé [The French and the healthcare system], Elabe for Institut Montaigne, 2023).
- 82% of French people believe that prevention is effective for keeping in good health (Toluna for Reworld Media, 2023).
1 Les Français et le système de santé [The French and the healthcare system], Elabe for Institut Montaigne, 2023
2 – Diplomeo 2022.
3 Preventive health care: What do French people think about it? (BVA, 2022)
-
A safe taxi ride home
As a responsible and committed insurer, Groupama offers its members holding a car insurance policy to pay for their taxi ride home, as well as that of their passengers, if they are unable to get back behind the wheel safely. This “Taxi joker” cover can be used up to three times a year within a 50 km radius of the home or holiday stay location of one of the drivers named in the policy or of one of the passengers.
-
An equity fund that invests in health and well-being
Responding to societal challenges has always been part of Groupama’s history. True to its identity, Groupama Asset Management offers G Fund Health and Wellness, a SICAV investing in companies that create value in the world of prevention, a healthy longer life and lifelong well-being. This is an investment that combines social responsibility with a performance perspective, given the growth dynamic of companies in the sector.
-
Cutting-edge surgical technology for Groupama policyholders
The Visible Patient start-up provides surgeons with a secure online service for re-creating patients’ organs in 3D, based on MRI or CT images.
-
his is a valuable technology for facilitating the most complex interventions and better explaining to patients their pathology and the operation that they will be undergoing. Groupama has partnered with Visible Patient so that all its individual and group health policyholders can benefit from this 3D modelling, if their surgeon uses it, without any additional charge. This is a partnership that puts scientific innovation within everyone’s reach.
-
130,000 people trained in first aid
In 2023, Groupama’s Life-Savers programme crossed the symbolic threshold of 130,000 people trained. This free training, which lasts several hours, is available to anyone who wants to learn how to save lives, whether they are a member or not. Over time, Groupama has set itself the goal of training 1 million people free of charge. This is an essential contribution, because if the entire French population were trained, 20,000 lives could be saved every year.
-
The Group’s foreign subsidiaries have also been rolling out these training courses since 2022. In Romania, the Life Savers programme was awarded GOLD certification by Community Index 2023, a tool dedicated to the evaluation of investment projects in communities. The communication campaign rolled out by the subsidiary was also recognised for its creativity and impact in the promotion of first-aid techniques to a wide audience. Groupama Bulgaria was also rewarded for the Life Savers programme by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum at the annual Responsible Business Awards.
-
Focus on prevention
Risks are not inevitable. This is why Groupama implements prevention actions to better protect you, your loved ones, your property and your business. Key to these actions are numerous resources available online, such as the Gestes d’Agri educational videos on YouTube to raise farmers’ awareness of different agricultural risks or the page dedicated to Flood risk on the groupama.fr website, which is full of tips to reduce the vulnerability of your home. Prevention services are also integrated into the Health Kiosk to help you eat better, improve your sleep, stop smoking or learn to meditate.
-
Operation “10 rural driving” in New Caledonia
The “10 rural driving” training initiative, offered for many years by the Group in mainland France, was rolled out for the first time in the New Caledonia territory in 2023, on the initiative of Groupama Pacifique.
-
In partnership with the Michel Rocard agricultural high school, the New Caledonia Chamber of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Gendarmerie, three sessions were organised to raise awareness among employees of agricultural companies concerning good practices for the safe movement and use of tractors and agricultural machinery on roads and on farms. The overall objective of this action is to help to reduce accidents linked to use of this machinery.
-
Raising awareness of risk management among Italian secondary-school students
With Giochiamo d’Anticipo, Groupama Assicurazioni offers an awareness-raising and educational course on risk management for secondary-school students. Designed with a partner specialising in educational content, La Fabbrica, this kit was rolled out in 370 secondary schools and 500 classes during the 2023–2024 school year.
-
It confronts young people with situations from everyday life, in the fields of housing, mobility, health, savings, well-being etc., and invites them to find solutions. This is a fun way to prepare them for making the right decisions when they are adults.
-
Life-saving skills: gold for Romania
The Group’s foreign subsidiaries provide training in life-saving skills. In Romania, the Life Savers programme was awarded GOLD certification by Community Index 2023, a tool dedicated to the evaluation of investment projects in communities. The communication campaign rolled out by the subsidiary was also recognised for its creativity and impact in the promotion of first-aid techniques to a wide audience.
-
Everyday cyclists
More and more French people use their bicycles to get to work, do their shopping, take their children to school or simply get around. A major player in French cycling, providing support to professionals and amateurs alike, Groupama is also eager to contribute to the safety of all these everyday cyclists. For the third year running, the Group carried out several prevention operations across France, distributing fluorescent armbands and visibility kits.
-
Six Group companies certified as Top Employers
Groupama Loire Bretagne, Groupama Nord-Est, Groupama Assicurazioni (Italy), Groupama Asigurari (Romania) have again been certified as Top Employers. This roll of honour has also been supplemented by two new companies: Groupama Grand Est and Groupama Asfalistiki (Greece). With these certifications, our companies are identified as employers of choice in their sector. The Top Employer certification is an audit of HR practices, which are compared to the best practices recognised in each country.
-
Solidarity walks
Each year, the Groupama Foundation’s Solidarity Walks raise awareness about rare diseases and support patient associations, while discovering France’s loveliest landscapes. The 2023 edition brought together more than 22,000 participants and raised more than €420,000 for 57 associations and 4 research projects.
