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Microinsurance and Gender

Experiences at VimoSEWA

Self Employed Women’s Association, (SEWA)

India
ADB, November 12, 2010
 Outline of Presentation

• Introduction to SEWA

• Introduction to VimoSEWA

• Processes in insurance programme and their

gender implications

2
 Self Employed Women’s
Association (SEWA)
• National union of 1.56 million poor self-employed
women workers (in the informal economy) started
in 1972

• Headquartered in Gujarat, India - operations in 8

states

• Activities include livelihood promotion, banking,

advocacy for workers’ rights, social security -
capacity building 3
4
 SEWA’s GOALS
1. FULL EMPLOYMENT
• Work Security
• Income Security
• Food Security
• Social Security
2. SELF- RELIANCE

SOCIAL SECURITY
• Health Care
• Insurance
• Child Care
• Housing
5
• Pension
Some SEWA Members

6
 VimoSEWA
• Insurance started in 1992

• Registered as a cooperative in 2009 – first

national women’s coop. for insurance

• Bundled and unbundled products – life,

accident, hospitalization, and asset loss

• Members include women, spouses and children

• Membership in September 2010 -103,362 7

Most popular insurance package
(All figures in Indian Rupees)

Women Men Children

(All)
Premium 175 125 100

Life 10,000 10,000 -

Health 2,000 2,000 2,500
House 10,000 - -

Accidental 40,000 40,000 -

Death 8
 Insurance Products
• Bundled product developed in response to
multiple risks faced by poor self-employed
women

• Fixed deposit method developed to promote

asset building.

• Once familiar with concept, and benefits, women

want coverage extended to families

9
 Stages in implementing a
microinsurance programme

Implications for Gender

 Concept of insurance
• Concept of insurance new – risk protection not a
felt need

• Want something back

Non – claimants and renewal issues

• Once members see benefits, demand grows

• Concept of solidarity fund – matches concept of

union as solidarity group 11
 Product Development

• SEWA’s product developed in response to

need of women - bundled product for
holistic protection

• New products with inputs from SEWA

members and aagewans

• Women primary policy holders

12
 Distribution (1)
Two components – member education and
marketing

• Women primary target of education and

marketing efforts

Trade off between focusing on women for

education vs. educating both

• SEWA members decide singly or jointly 13

 Distribution (2)

• Sales force drawn from SEWA’s

membership

Women aagewans market to women AND

their spouses

• Income source for aagewans

14
 Claim Processing (1)
• Claim processing involves formalities
• insurance receipt
• collecting documents from hospital
• informing the extension worker

• Members learn formal systems

around claim processing - learning
curve
15
 Claim Processing (2)
• Claims Committee comprises SEWA
members
– Capacity building in insurance
– Trust increases among members

• Claims Documents
– Aagewans help with claims documents
– Aagewans do cashless servicing – interacting
with doctors, hospital administrators
16
 OF INTEREST…
Almost all the recommendations made in
2009 paper (ILO) established practice at
SEWA

(next two slides)

17
Product
1.Extended health insurance cover for the whole
family.
2.Extended life coverage for the death of a
spouse.
3.Property and assets insurance, including
marital property, that assures that the title is in
the woman’s name.
4.Coverage that ensures that children benefit
after a woman’s death. Giving women a
choice of the nominated beneficiary
5.Affordable coverage for health problems faced
by women, especially maternity coverage. 18
Delivery
1.Coverage accessible to borrowers and non-
borrowers of microfinance institutions (MFIs).

2.Life coverage that is voluntary and flexible.

3.Gender-sensitive communication, education

and marketing strategies deployed by women
sales agents.

4.Claims support for women who may require

assistance in generating required
documentation or in managing other aspects19of
the claims process.
Paper Reference

Microinsurance that works for women: making gender-

sensitive Microinsurance programs

Anjali Banthia, Women’s World Banking

Susan Johnson, Centre for Development Studies, University of
Bath
Michael J. McCord, The MicroInsurance Centre
Brandon Mathews, Zurich Financial Services

Led by Women’s World Banking and the Zurich Insurance Company.

Supported by the ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility and Swiss
Development Cooperation. 2009

20
THANK YOU

21