Allianz Partners, a leader in B2B2C assistance and insurance services, debunks some popular myths about the Millennial generation and reveals key insights about their attitudes, expectations and frustrations thanks to its proprietary Customer Lab research.

Millennials, those 25-40 years old, are an often-misunderstood group who have gone through a period of massive transformation. Shaped by technological empowerment through their frequent use of social media and e-commerce, they have experienced both boom & bust (Great Recession and COVID), regulation & social responsibility, and life stage delay. They are concerned about health & wellness, financial stability, climate change and they are oriented towards lifelong learning, goals and objectives, as well as activities designed to promote self-improvement, self-discovery and creativity. They are also an interesting target consumer group for insurance companies.

Reality: They are an incredibly diverse generation, in need of nuanced understanding and marketing

There is a tendency to view Millennials as a homogenous bloc, with common interests, shared characteristics, and similar needs and behaviours. However, demographic realities mean that Millennials find themselves in quite radically different contexts depending on whether they have a child or not. The arrival of a child is a major tipping point in terms of behaviors and attitudes for Millennials, and their interest for assistance & insurance services increases drastically.

For example, since the pandemic, family millennials, those who have at least one child, are bigger consumers of mobility than childless millennials, including shared mobility and electric vehicles, with 15% of family Millennials owning an electric or hybrid vehicle (vs 6% Young Millennials) and 37% using a bike or scooter sharing (vs 23%).  In addition, family Millennials are more likely to work from home (73% vs 54%) since the pandemic, and are almost twice as likely to try teleconsultation (27% vs 13%).

Reality: They are realists concerned about their health and wellbeing

Millennials have endured two global crises (2008 financial crash and the COVID-19 pandemic) in little over a decade, and many have concerns about their health and wellness (both physical and mental). Looking to changes brought on by COVID-19, 63% of Millennials want to take a more active role in the management of their health & well-being. They also expect support in managing their health, with 58% of Millennials expecting more from their employer in terms of holistic health, hygiene and well-being solutions than pre-pandemic.

In addition, their own parents are now moving into later life, so they are increasingly conscious of the need to provide care, with 43% of family Millennials stating that they need medical care or assistance for a family member.

Reality: They are settling into a more established mid-life groove
A combination of getting older, new responsibilities and the world-stopping pandemic have led Millennials to reflect on putting down roots. They are also very brand-loyal, given that a brand delivers on its promise. We see that 64% of family Millennials, and 47% of childless Millennials are loyal to their insurance companies, while 67% of family Millennials and 51% of childless Millennials feel well covered by their insurance policies or assistance contracts.  

In addition, their own parents are now moving into later life, so they are increasingly conscious of the need to provide care, with 43% of family Millennials stating that they need medical care or assistance for a family member.

Reality: They are the most engaged and active generation around social and environmental change

The popular media-driven perception has characterised them as an egocentric, “me me me” generation, focused on individual fulfilment, self-improvement, and self-care.  While it is true that they remain committed to self-betterment, Millennials are, by far, more socially and environmentally-conscious than their predecessors, out-indexing both GenXs and Boomers on views on social justice (BLM, LGBT rights, income equality etc.) and ecological topics.

 However, they are also arguably more likely to turn their convictions into action, able to make purchasing decisions with the power to change corporate behaviour. In terms of the environment, 57% of all Millennials try to make significant efforts to limit the impact of their lifestyle on the environment. Around travel, 59% of Millennials are more sensitive to the environmental impact of their travels, with 55% planning to travel less and 57% closer to their home. And they have taken some action to reduce the environmental impact of their mobility, with 26% of family Millennials having bought a bike since the pandemic (vs 16% of childless Millennials).