Improving Access to Health for Rural Populations

This report looks at CRS’ health microinsurance (HMI) pilot in Atacora, Benin. The pilot links mature savings groups to a national insurance company. The goal of the study was to better understand the HMI program rollout and to generate ideas about how to integrate the HMI into Benin's universal health insurance program. The findings show that there is a strong demand for HMI at the savings-group level and that users observe benefits of decreased costs, increased access to health care, decreased worries related to health, improved ability to follow treatment and increased group solidarity.