AXA Global Healthcare Report: How AI is Bridging the Mental Health Care Gap

High costs and social stigma are driving a significant portion of the global population toward AI-driven mental health tools rather than professional medical consultations. For health insurers and employee benefits providers, these findings from AXA Global Healthcare highlight a critical gap in traditional coverage and a growing demand for accessible, technology-led intervention strategies.

What was announced

The AXA Global Healthcare 2026 Mind Health Report, titled ‘Reaching the right support’, highlights a significant global disparity in how mental health care is accessed and funded. A primary finding is that 33% of individuals with mental health concerns who have not consulted a professional are deterred by the cost of medical treatment. Additionally, 15% cite the fear of being stigmatized or judged negatively as a major barrier to seeking help.

The financial burden varies significantly by geography. In Mexico and the Philippines, 50% and 49% of respondents respectively identified cost as a barrier, whereas in Germany and Turkey, these figures drop to 15% and 17%. The research links these differences to national funding models, noting that barriers are higher where patients must pay directly rather than through public funding or compulsory health insurance.

Stigma also plays a critical role, particularly in the UK, South Korea, and Hong Kong. In the UK, 25% of respondents cited stigma as a barrier, and only 36% of those with a condition felt it was well managed. Conversely, in Thailand, where stigma was cited by only 13%, over half (52%) of those with a condition reported it was well managed. The data suggests that where cost is a higher barrier, the use of AI tends to be higher. In the Philippines, 71% of people use AI tools for their mental health. Furthermore, 60% of those deterred by stigma use AI to search for management information, compared to 52% of those who do not feel stigmatized.

The research also highlights a significant gap in workplace support. While 80% of employees expressed a willingness to join mental health support programmes at work, two-thirds reported that such programmes are either unavailable or that they are unaware of them. This discrepancy suggests that while demand for professional support is high, distribution and awareness within the corporate environment remain major hurdles.

"As a physician, I do not see AI as a replacement for therapists, psychologists or psychiatrists. I see it as a potential gateway to care. For many, it may provide a first, accessible step towards seeking help. But its future in mental health should be measured by whether it helps people access appropriate care earlier, identifies risk sooner and improves outcomes safely,"

Dr Anne Lepetit, Chief Medical Officer, AXA Health Business

The companies involved

AXA Global Healthcare is a specialized division within the AXA group that focuses on providing international private medical insurance (IPMI) for individuals and businesses. The organization is designed to support globally mobile clients, including expatriates and frequent business travelers, by providing access to a global network of healthcare providers and navigating diverse regulatory environments across different countries.

AXA Health Business, which operates in conjunction with AXA Health International, focuses on the corporate health and wellness sector. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Alain Zweibrucker and Chief Medical Officer Dr Anne Lepetit, the entity provides employers with mental health awareness training, self-check tools, and confidential support services. Its strategy involves integrating mental health into the standard employee benefits package, moving it from a peripheral benefit to a core business priority.

Also operating within the broader health and insurance ecosystem is Lime International Health. As a provider in the health insurance space, Lime focuses on delivering accessible and affordable health coverage. The presence of such firms in the market highlights a broader industry trend toward addressing the affordability gaps identified in AXA’s research. These companies collectively represent the shift toward more flexible, technology-integrated health solutions that cater to both native and non-native populations across various global markets.

What this means from an insurtech perspective

From an insurtech perspective, the high adoption of AI tools in regions like the Philippines suggests that digital-first mental health support is no longer a peripheral feature but a primary entry point for care. For carriers and MGAs, this shift necessitates a move away from legacy core systems that only track traditional clinical claims toward platforms that can integrate and validate AI-driven triage. If AI acts as a gateway, insurers face the challenge of ensuring these tools improve loss ratios by identifying risks earlier, rather than increasing costs through over-diagnosis. Brokers are under pressure to curate benefits packages that bridge the gap between employee demand and current corporate offerings, focusing on confidential, tech-enabled solutions that bypass social stigma.