Mutual Insurance - DHAN’s Experience

Publication Date: Nov 2006
Published by: DHAN Foundation
Document Type: Presentation

View this Document   Email this Document

Presentation on micro health insurance at “Developing Pro-Poor Health Insurance in India” conference, November 1- 2, 2006, New Delhi, India.

This presentation profiles the work of “Development of Humane Action (DHAN) Foundation” in the area of community health insurance.

The presentation provides information about the various programs of the DHAN Foundation, as well as the genesis and evolution of insurance in its microfinance programs.

It goes on to describe the following features of DHAN Foundation’s “People Mutuals” (PM), which are people institutions promoted by federations of poor, stating that PM :

• Provides social security through the concept of mutuality;
• Sustains development through livelihood intervention efforts by providing cover against risk;
• Facilitates community-based insurance programs at federations and ensures their viability and sustainability;
• Links mainstream insurance providers to the poor;
• Believes in:
  • Mutuality as the basis of community-based insurance programs,
  • Zero levels of anti-selection,
  • Affordable price,
  • Graduation from life to health, assets and then pension;
• Intervenes in the areas of:
  • Insurance literacy to people,
  • Capacity building of stakeholders,
  • Pro-poor product development,
  • System development,
  • Policy advocacy for mutual insurance.

The presentation explains the role of ‘member administration’ in the administration of products and benefits, focusing on the Kalanjiam Hospital’s work in these areas.

It concludes with a detailed look at the Community Health Insurance Program of “Kadamalai Kalanjia Vattara Sangam”.