Microinsurance: A Case Study of an Example of the Mutual Model of Microinsurance Provision - UMASIDA
This study reviews the Mutual Model of health care financing. It presents an understanding of the mechanisms and practicalities of the model, as well as the satisfaction level of the partners and the market. The study identifies benefits and problems, thus aiding in the identification of further potential applications. It reviews the process by which the product was developed, tested, and implemented to provide information on the process itself and to identify issues in the product cycle.
As a case study of the Mutual model, the paper cites the example of Umoja wa Matibabu kwa Seckta Isiyo Rasmi Dar es Salaam (Dar es Salaam Association for Health Care Services in the Informal Sector) UMASIDA, Tanzania.
The author concludes that the objectives of UMASIDA were based on an ideal of creating a member-owned health care financing model to improve quality of employment and life in general for the clients. In general, the reason the objectives remain unmet is a mismatch between:
- What the poor in this market want: an efficient health care financing mechanism, and;
- What they have been provided: a model that requires a very heavy administrative burden, forced reliance on corrupt leaders, and poor oversight from a higher level organization/body.
