Compare: Population covered

Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage

The Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage systematically documents the reforms of its member countries and other countries that have expanded health coverage through demand-side financing. The case studies contained in these pages are brief, comparative and modular in nature, describing the key highlights and technical features of each program.


Compare various dimensions of country reform efforts using our interactive tool.


Program Target population Coverage Population covered
Mali: Mutuelles
  • Informal Sector
 400,000

The Mutuelle system is still voluntary, and thus steps must be taken to bring about large-scale enrollment of the people. Thus, the “national strategy to extend health coverage through Mutuelles” contains solutions for the slow pace at which Mutuelles grew in the past, for the poor capacities of the players involved in promoting the Mutuelle movement, the management of Mutuelle movement organizations, and the lack of information and awareness about the Mutuelle movement on the national level. It was found that the principal actors were not enlisted sufficiently at the local level in the past. Health care workers, the ASACOs, and the territorial governments were only marginally involved in promoting the Mutuelle movement. By organizing Mutuelles at the commune level, the strategy seeks to have the mayors and local elected officials play an active role in mobilizing the population.

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The Mutuelle system is still voluntary, and thus steps must be taken to bring about large-scale enrollment of the people. Thus, the “national strategy to extend health coverage through Mutuelles” contains solutions for the slow pace at which Mutuelles grew in the past, for the poor capacities of the players involved in promoting the Mutuelle movement, the management of Mutuelle movement organizations, and the lack of information and awareness about the Mutuelle movement on the national level. It was found that the principal actors were not enlisted sufficiently at the local level in the past. Health care workers, the ASACOs, and the territorial governments were only marginally involved in promoting the Mutuelle movement. By organizing Mutuelles at the commune level, the strategy seeks to have the mayors and local elected officials play an active role in mobilizing the population. The main challenge in promoting the Mutuelle movement for large-scale enrollment thus continues to be implementing a major information and awareness campaign for Mutuelles at the national scale. This is part of the national strategy and advocacy activities that also include local and national leaders .

Since the AMO is mandatory, beneficiaries are enrolled automatically by withdrawing dues from their wages. Benefit eligibility begins on May 1, 2011 for those who have paid dues for six months.

With regard to identifying the indigent for RAMED, the social services in each commune routinely conduct a social survey to assess the situation after interested parties submit an application. The social services or other persons may also prepare an application on behalf of someone else who has not taken the initiative to do so for several reasons. Based on the social survey, the communal authorities issue an indigent card that serves as physical evidence to enroll the member and to obtain the card from the National Medical Assistance Agency (ANAM – the management agency for RAMED) and to obtain care (including the beneficiaries whose applications are submitted to ANAM staff). The status of indigence is always considered temporary, so that the insured member’s card is annual.

Mutuelles

Population covered

Target Populations: Informal Sector
Coverage Level: 400,000

The Mutuelle system is still voluntary, and thus steps must be taken to bring about large-scale enrollment of the people. Thus, the “national strategy to extend health coverage through Mutuelles” contains solutions for the slow pace at which Mutuelles grew in the past, for the poor capacities of the players involved in promoting the Mutuelle movement, the management of Mutuelle movement organizations, and the lack of information and awareness about the Mutuelle movement on the national level. It was found that the principal actors were not enlisted sufficiently at the local level in the past. Health care workers, the ASACOs, and the territorial governments were only marginally involved in promoting the Mutuelle movement. By organizing Mutuelles at the commune level, the strategy seeks to have the mayors and local elected officials play an active role in mobilizing the population. The main challenge in promoting the Mutuelle movement for large-scale enrollment thus continues to be implementing a major information and awareness campaign for Mutuelles at the national scale. This is part of the national strategy and advocacy activities that also include local and national leaders .

Since the AMO is mandatory, beneficiaries are enrolled automatically by withdrawing dues from their wages. Benefit eligibility begins on May 1, 2011 for those who have paid dues for six months.

With regard to identifying the indigent for RAMED, the social services in each commune routinely conduct a social survey to assess the situation after interested parties submit an application. The social services or other persons may also prepare an application on behalf of someone else who has not taken the initiative to do so for several reasons. Based on the social survey, the communal authorities issue an indigent card that serves as physical evidence to enroll the member and to obtain the card from the National Medical Assistance Agency (ANAM – the management agency for RAMED) and to obtain care (including the beneficiaries whose applications are submitted to ANAM staff). The status of indigence is always considered temporary, so that the insured member’s card is annual.
Rwanda: Mutuelles de Sante
  • Below Poverty Line
  • Informal Sector
 7.9 million

Enrollment in the Mutuelle system is voluntary and is primarily coordinated at the district and sector level. Each community-based Mutuelle is responsible for increasing enrollment, maintaining re-enrollment, educating the population about the program, verifying the number of participants in each household, and collecting membership contributions. Outreach is done most frequently at the community level via church services, radio broadcasts, etc, and tends to focus largely on the rural and informal sector in order to most effectively target those individuals unable to access formal health insurance through other means.

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Enrollment in the Mutuelle system is voluntary and is primarily coordinated at the district and sector level. Each community-based Mutuelle is responsible for increasing enrollment, maintaining re-enrollment, educating the population about the program, verifying the number of participants in each household, and collecting membership contributions. Outreach is done most frequently at the community level via church services, radio broadcasts, etc, and tends to focus largely on the rural and informal sector in order to most effectively target those individuals unable to access formal health insurance through other means.

Enrollment for Rwanda Health Insurance Scheme (La Rwandaise d’Assurance Maladie or RAMA) and Military Medical Insurance (MMI) are coordinated through the government and employers. Initially only civil servants and their families were covered with RAMA, however, in 2003 coverage expanded to all those employed in both the public and the private sector. In 2006 RAMA only covered approximately 2.2% of the population. Coverage through MMI is provided for all members of the Rwandan Defense Force. Family members of MMI affiliates are covered under the same conditions as in RAMA. The exact number of beneficiaries is difficult to calculate due to national security issues but an estimated figure of 100,000 individuals or approximately 1.1% of the total Rwandan population is estimated to be covered. Combined, these programs insure less than 5% of the population.

The result of these health insurance programs has been an incredible upsurge in health insurance enrollment. USAID estimates that in 2010 approximately 92% of the population had health coverage, up from about 10% in 1999 since the implementation of the Community-Based Health Initiatives (CBHI). Geographically, enrollment has expanded from about 4 provinces to all 11 provinces. After national expansion of CBHI, participation increased coverage to 5.8 million persons, about 70% of the population. The Ministry of Health has stated that the rapid uptake seen in the early years of the program undoubtedly speaks to the communal and grassroots dynamics of the country.

Enrollment uptake in Health Insurance System from 2002 to 2006

Mutuelles de Sante

Population covered

Target Populations: Below Poverty Line, Informal Sector
Coverage Level: 7.9 million

Enrollment in the Mutuelle system is voluntary and is primarily coordinated at the district and sector level. Each community-based Mutuelle is responsible for increasing enrollment, maintaining re-enrollment, educating the population about the program, verifying the number of participants in each household, and collecting membership contributions. Outreach is done most frequently at the community level via church services, radio broadcasts, etc, and tends to focus largely on the rural and informal sector in order to most effectively target those individuals unable to access formal health insurance through other means.

Enrollment for Rwanda Health Insurance Scheme (La Rwandaise d’Assurance Maladie or RAMA) and Military Medical Insurance (MMI) are coordinated through the government and employers. Initially only civil servants and their families were covered with RAMA, however, in 2003 coverage expanded to all those employed in both the public and the private sector. In 2006 RAMA only covered approximately 2.2% of the population. Coverage through MMI is provided for all members of the Rwandan Defense Force. Family members of MMI affiliates are covered under the same conditions as in RAMA. The exact number of beneficiaries is difficult to calculate due to national security issues but an estimated figure of 100,000 individuals or approximately 1.1% of the total Rwandan population is estimated to be covered. Combined, these programs insure less than 5% of the population.

The result of these health insurance programs has been an incredible upsurge in health insurance enrollment. USAID estimates that in 2010 approximately 92% of the population had health coverage, up from about 10% in 1999 since the implementation of the Community-Based Health Initiatives (CBHI). Geographically, enrollment has expanded from about 4 provinces to all 11 provinces. After national expansion of CBHI, participation increased coverage to 5.8 million persons, about 70% of the population. The Ministry of Health has stated that the rapid uptake seen in the early years of the program undoubtedly speaks to the communal and grassroots dynamics of the country.

Enrollment uptake in Health Insurance System from 2002 to 2006
Chile: National Health Fund (FONASA)
  • All populations
 11 million

Enrollment into FONASA or ISAPREs tends to be tied to income, with lower income individuals joining FONASA and higher income individuals enrolling in an ISAPRE. In 2003, the mean income of ISAPRE members was four times higher than that of FONASA members. Formal sector workers must enroll by allocating 7% of their monthly income or pension (2,000USD monthly maximum) to healthcare. Those who do not work in the formal sector have the option to enroll by allocating 7% of their monthly income, but are not required to do so. These groups can enroll with either FONASA or an ISAPRE of their choice. The indigent and the unemployed are entitled to free coverage by FONASA.

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Enrollment into FONASA or ISAPREs tends to be tied to income, with lower income individuals joining FONASA and higher income individuals enrolling in an ISAPRE. In 2003, the mean income of ISAPRE members was four times higher than that of FONASA members. Formal sector workers must enroll by allocating 7% of their monthly income or pension (2,000USD monthly maximum) to healthcare. Those who do not work in the formal sector have the option to enroll by allocating 7% of their monthly income, but are not required to do so. These groups can enroll with either FONASA or an ISAPRE of their choice. The indigent and the unemployed are entitled to free coverage by FONASA.

FONASA divides its beneficiary population into four categories based on income. Category A is composed of the indigent, category B is composed of the very low income population, category C is composed of the lower-middle income population, and category D is composed of the higher-middle income population. Copayment rates are based on these categories.

In 2005, FONASA enrollees numbered 11,329,481, about 70% of the population. ISAPRE enrollees accounted for 2,660,338 during the same year, equaling 17% of the population. In 2006 there were 15 ISAPREs, but over two thirds of members belonged to the three largest: Banmedica, Consalud, and ING Salud. Open ISAPREs are available to the population at large, while closed ISAPREs are only available to particular groups of individuals such as professional associations.

Table 1: Individuals covered per category

InsurerIndividuals coveredPopulation covered (%)
FONASA11,329,48169.65
Open ISAPREs2,521,44415.50
Closed ISAPREs138,8940.85
Uninsured1,701,64810.46
Others575,7713.54
Total population16,267,278100.00

Source: Bitran, R., Urcullo, G., 106

National Health Fund (FONASA)

Population covered

Target Populations: All populations
Coverage Level: 11 million

Enrollment into FONASA or ISAPREs tends to be tied to income, with lower income individuals joining FONASA and higher income individuals enrolling in an ISAPRE. In 2003, the mean income of ISAPRE members was four times higher than that of FONASA members. Formal sector workers must enroll by allocating 7% of their monthly income or pension (2,000USD monthly maximum) to healthcare. Those who do not work in the formal sector have the option to enroll by allocating 7% of their monthly income, but are not required to do so. These groups can enroll with either FONASA or an ISAPRE of their choice. The indigent and the unemployed are entitled to free coverage by FONASA.

FONASA divides its beneficiary population into four categories based on income. Category A is composed of the indigent, category B is composed of the very low income population, category C is composed of the lower-middle income population, and category D is composed of the higher-middle income population. Copayment rates are based on these categories.

In 2005, FONASA enrollees numbered 11,329,481, about 70% of the population. ISAPRE enrollees accounted for 2,660,338 during the same year, equaling 17% of the population. In 2006 there were 15 ISAPREs, but over two thirds of members belonged to the three largest: Banmedica, Consalud, and ING Salud. Open ISAPREs are available to the population at large, while closed ISAPREs are only available to particular groups of individuals such as professional associations.

Table 1: Individuals covered per category

InsurerIndividuals coveredPopulation covered (%)
FONASA11,329,48169.65
Open ISAPREs2,521,44415.50
Closed ISAPREs138,8940.85
Uninsured1,701,64810.46
Others575,7713.54
Total population16,267,278100.00

Source: Bitran, R., Urcullo, G., 106
Nigeria: National Health Insurance System
  • All populations
 5 million

Health insurance is obtained either through private insurers or the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). About 5 million people are enrolled in the 3 NHIS Programs, which represents just about 3% of the population. In the Formal Sector Program, employees in the formal sector who pay premiums are covered, in addition to their spouse and up to 4 dependants. Companies that employ more than 10 workers are responsible for enrollment of their employees.

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Health insurance is obtained either through private insurers or the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). About 5 million people are enrolled in the 3 NHIS Programs, which represents just about 3% of the population. In the Formal Sector Program, employees in the formal sector who pay premiums are covered, in addition to their spouse and up to 4 dependants. Companies that employ more than 10 workers are responsible for enrollment of their employees.

In the Informal Sector Program, the self-employed and individuals living in rural communities enroll themselves. The self-employed must join with at least 500 other members who are occupation based (ie: taxi drivers) to qualify. Rural dwellers have a similar modus operandi, but participants need to belong to the same community rather than the same occupational group. These Social Health Insurance Schemes are self-governed, with elections held to determine who will represent the community. In order to stay enrolled, members are expected to make a monthly contribution actuarially determined based on the benefits package of their choice. Participants requiring specialist or longer treatment would need to pay for the balance from what they are entitled from the common pool. These schemes are expected to cover more than 60% of the rural and self-employed population, though due to poor data collection, the exact population enrolled is difficult to determine.

The enrollment levels in private insurance is uncertain, but based on submissions from private insurers to NHIS, less than 1 million people are privately insured.

The NHIS utilizes 61 Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) as health managers for paying healthcare providers, quality assurance, and registration of enrollees and sensitization of participants as part of improving transparency of the system. HMOs contract with the NHIS to manage the enrollment of individuals in health insurance schemes; to collect their payments; pay the healthcare providers; and to provide basic quality management of the health insurance scheme that covers formal employees.

National Health Insurance System

Population covered

Target Populations: All populations
Coverage Level: 5 million

Health insurance is obtained either through private insurers or the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). About 5 million people are enrolled in the 3 NHIS Programs, which represents just about 3% of the population. In the Formal Sector Program, employees in the formal sector who pay premiums are covered, in addition to their spouse and up to 4 dependants. Companies that employ more than 10 workers are responsible for enrollment of their employees.

In the Informal Sector Program, the self-employed and individuals living in rural communities enroll themselves. The self-employed must join with at least 500 other members who are occupation based (ie: taxi drivers) to qualify. Rural dwellers have a similar modus operandi, but participants need to belong to the same community rather than the same occupational group. These Social Health Insurance Schemes are self-governed, with elections held to determine who will represent the community. In order to stay enrolled, members are expected to make a monthly contribution actuarially determined based on the benefits package of their choice. Participants requiring specialist or longer treatment would need to pay for the balance from what they are entitled from the common pool. These schemes are expected to cover more than 60% of the rural and self-employed population, though due to poor data collection, the exact population enrolled is difficult to determine.

The enrollment levels in private insurance is uncertain, but based on submissions from private insurers to NHIS, less than 1 million people are privately insured.

The NHIS utilizes 61 Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) as health managers for paying healthcare providers, quality assurance, and registration of enrollees and sensitization of participants as part of improving transparency of the system. HMOs contract with the NHIS to manage the enrollment of individuals in health insurance schemes; to collect their payments; pay the healthcare providers; and to provide basic quality management of the health insurance scheme that covers formal employees.
Philippines: PhilHealth
  • All populations
 75 million

PhilHealth coverage is theoretically available to the entire population. The enrollment process differs based on the population group. For example, all formal sector workers must enroll at the start of employment.

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PhilHealth coverage is theoretically available to the entire population. The enrollment process differs based on the population group. For example, all formal sector workers must enroll at the start of employment. The poor are identified and enrolled by the local government.

The population is tagged to one of the four major population categorizations:

  • Formal sector
  • Indigents that are financed by central and local governments
  • Retirees (non-paying members) who have already paid 120 months of membership
  • The individual paying program (IPP) for those not eligible for the other three categories

The benefits package is essentially the same for each population group. The exception is for indigents and the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who have additional outpatient primary care benefits (with the providers paid by capitation) however these benefits are available only through public providers.

However, the enrollment process for each population category differs. For the formal sector, employees are enrolled upon the start of employment. It is mandatory that all employees enroll in health insurance. No exceptions are allowed for the size of the company. For the poor, the local government determines “poorness” and enrolls those who are determined poor. For the rest of the population there is open enrollment—one can walk into a local enrollment office anytime to enroll.

While enrollment is mandatory only for the formal sector, for the remainder of the population, it is “construed” as voluntary although the law can be interpreted as being mandatory. There is an ongoing debate on the issue of mandated versus voluntary enrollment.

Enrollment in PhilHealth is by family so the premium paid covers the member, the spouse, eligible children (those less than 21 years of age), and eligible parents (those 60 years and above and who depend financially on the member). Given that enrollment is by family, documentation of proof of marriage and birth(s) are required before spouses and children are enrolled. This is a problem for indigenous population as they usually do not have marriage and birth certificates.

While the country has achieved significant strides in moving towards universal enrollment, covering the poor and informal sectors remains a challenge, with methods to enroll these populations through organized groups gaining very little traction. There is much ongoing discussion regarding the need for the central government to finance and/or subsidize the enrollment of the nation’s entire poor population. Leaving financial responsibility for insuring the poorest to local governments, coupled with a refusal to outright declare insurance as mandatory for all populations, makes it nearly impossible for the government to reach universal health coverage. It also forces PhilHealth to invest heavily in marketing campaigns for the program to local governments.

PhilHealth

Population covered

Target Populations: All populations
Coverage Level: 75 million

PhilHealth coverage is theoretically available to the entire population. The enrollment process differs based on the population group. For example, all formal sector workers must enroll at the start of employment. The poor are identified and enrolled by the local government.

The population is tagged to one of the four major population categorizations:

  • Formal sector
  • Indigents that are financed by central and local governments
  • Retirees (non-paying members) who have already paid 120 months of membership
  • The individual paying program (IPP) for those not eligible for the other three categories

The benefits package is essentially the same for each population group. The exception is for indigents and the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who have additional outpatient primary care benefits (with the providers paid by capitation) however these benefits are available only through public providers.

However, the enrollment process for each population category differs. For the formal sector, employees are enrolled upon the start of employment. It is mandatory that all employees enroll in health insurance. No exceptions are allowed for the size of the company. For the poor, the local government determines “poorness” and enrolls those who are determined poor. For the rest of the population there is open enrollment—one can walk into a local enrollment office anytime to enroll.

While enrollment is mandatory only for the formal sector, for the remainder of the population, it is “construed” as voluntary although the law can be interpreted as being mandatory. There is an ongoing debate on the issue of mandated versus voluntary enrollment.

Enrollment in PhilHealth is by family so the premium paid covers the member, the spouse, eligible children (those less than 21 years of age), and eligible parents (those 60 years and above and who depend financially on the member). Given that enrollment is by family, documentation of proof of marriage and birth(s) are required before spouses and children are enrolled. This is a problem for indigenous population as they usually do not have marriage and birth certificates.

While the country has achieved significant strides in moving towards universal enrollment, covering the poor and informal sectors remains a challenge, with methods to enroll these populations through organized groups gaining very little traction. There is much ongoing discussion regarding the need for the central government to finance and/or subsidize the enrollment of the nation’s entire poor population. Leaving financial responsibility for insuring the poorest to local governments, coupled with a refusal to outright declare insurance as mandatory for all populations, makes it nearly impossible for the government to reach universal health coverage. It also forces PhilHealth to invest heavily in marketing campaigns for the program to local governments.
India: RSBY
  • Below Poverty Line
 40 million

RSBY aims to cover all below-the-poverty-line residents of participating Indian states. An electronic list of eligible BPL households is provided to the insurers by each state’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE). Enrolled members receive Smart Cards, which acts as the enrollment, identification, and record-keeping mechanism for the scheme.

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RSBY aims to cover all below-the-poverty-line residents of participating Indian states. An electronic list of eligible BPL households is provided to the insurers by each state’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE). Enrolled members receive Smart Cards, which acts as the enrollment, identification, and record-keeping mechanism for the scheme.

RSBY aims to cover all below-the-poverty-line residents of participating Indian states. An enrollment schedule for each village, along with dates, is prepared by the insurance company with the help of district officials. The insurance companies are provided a maximum of four months to enroll BPL families in each district.

To communicate and market the RSBY scheme and enrollment camps, insurance companies are required to hire intermediaries to provide grassroots outreach prior to enrollment. (These organizations could also be used to provide assistance to members in utilizing services after enrollment.) In addition, the BPL list is posted in each village at the enrollment station and prominent places prior to the enrollment camp. The date/location of the enrollment camp are also publicized in advance.

Mobile enrollment stations are established at local centers (e.g., public schools) at each village at least once a year. These stations are equipped by the insurer with a printer to print SmartCards, as well as hardware to collect biometric information (fingerprints) and photographs of household members to be covered. A SmartCard is given to each BPL family at the time of enrollment in the scheme. Fingerprints of all beneficiaries are collected during enrollment at the village level. One thumb impression of each of the household beneficiaries is stored in the SmartCard. This fingerprint is used to verify the identity of the beneficiaries at the hospital.

The SmartCard is prepared and printed on-the-spot in the village by the insurer and handed over to the beneficiary. This SmartCard can be used by the beneficiary in any empanelled hospital across India to obtain treatment. The SmartCard given to each enrolled household also contains a new national unique ID for each family—a program the Government of India is implementing nationwide. The SmartCard, along with an information packet describing benefits, hospitals in network, and other relevant information is provided to all enrollees once they have paid the Rs. 30/- registration fee. The process normally takes less than 10 minutes.

Another unique feature of the scheme is its key management system which helps in reducing enrollment fraud and improves accountability. A government official from the district (field key officer—FKO) needs to be present at the camp and must insert his/her own government-issued SmartCard and provide his/her fingerprint to verify the legitimacy of the enrollment. This way each enrollee can be tracked to a particular government official. The details of each BPL family who is authenticated by the FKO gets transferred to the FKO’s SmartCard; the data is also transferred from the FKO’s card to the government server at the district level. In addition to the FKO, an insurance company/SmartCard agency rep is present at the enrollment camp.

At the end of the enrollment camp, a list of enrolled households is sent to the state nodal agency by the Insurer. The list of enrolled households is maintained centrally and the insurer is paid once data provided from the insurer and FKO card has been reconciled.

The aim of the scheme is to use technology not only for controlling fraud and monitoring utilization, but also to find innovative solutions to insurance-related problems. For example, enrollment software has been designed to ensure that male heads of households must insure their spouses. In addition, since the scheme aims to provide quality treatment to all beneficiaries, technology has been implemented to ensure that every beneficiary receives needed treatment. For example, if a patient is not in a condition to validate his/her identity at the hospital then any family member who is on the SmartCard can validate the identity of the patient by providing his/her fingerprint.

Currently, the Government of India is considering how the SmartCard can be used for other social sector schemes and how the RSBY technology platform can be used to provide other services to the below-the-poverty-line population.

RSBY

Population covered

Target Populations: Below Poverty Line
Coverage Level: 40 million

RSBY aims to cover all below-the-poverty-line residents of participating Indian states. An electronic list of eligible BPL households is provided to the insurers by each state’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE). Enrolled members receive Smart Cards, which acts as the enrollment, identification, and record-keeping mechanism for the scheme.

RSBY aims to cover all below-the-poverty-line residents of participating Indian states. An enrollment schedule for each village, along with dates, is prepared by the insurance company with the help of district officials. The insurance companies are provided a maximum of four months to enroll BPL families in each district.

To communicate and market the RSBY scheme and enrollment camps, insurance companies are required to hire intermediaries to provide grassroots outreach prior to enrollment. (These organizations could also be used to provide assistance to members in utilizing services after enrollment.) In addition, the BPL list is posted in each village at the enrollment station and prominent places prior to the enrollment camp. The date/location of the enrollment camp are also publicized in advance.

Mobile enrollment stations are established at local centers (e.g., public schools) at each village at least once a year. These stations are equipped by the insurer with a printer to print SmartCards, as well as hardware to collect biometric information (fingerprints) and photographs of household members to be covered. A SmartCard is given to each BPL family at the time of enrollment in the scheme. Fingerprints of all beneficiaries are collected during enrollment at the village level. One thumb impression of each of the household beneficiaries is stored in the SmartCard. This fingerprint is used to verify the identity of the beneficiaries at the hospital.

The SmartCard is prepared and printed on-the-spot in the village by the insurer and handed over to the beneficiary. This SmartCard can be used by the beneficiary in any empanelled hospital across India to obtain treatment. The SmartCard given to each enrolled household also contains a new national unique ID for each family—a program the Government of India is implementing nationwide. The SmartCard, along with an information packet describing benefits, hospitals in network, and other relevant information is provided to all enrollees once they have paid the Rs. 30/- registration fee. The process normally takes less than 10 minutes.

Another unique feature of the scheme is its key management system which helps in reducing enrollment fraud and improves accountability. A government official from the district (field key officer—FKO) needs to be present at the camp and must insert his/her own government-issued SmartCard and provide his/her fingerprint to verify the legitimacy of the enrollment. This way each enrollee can be tracked to a particular government official. The details of each BPL family who is authenticated by the FKO gets transferred to the FKO’s SmartCard; the data is also transferred from the FKO’s card to the government server at the district level. In addition to the FKO, an insurance company/SmartCard agency rep is present at the enrollment camp.

At the end of the enrollment camp, a list of enrolled households is sent to the state nodal agency by the Insurer. The list of enrolled households is maintained centrally and the insurer is paid once data provided from the insurer and FKO card has been reconciled.

The aim of the scheme is to use technology not only for controlling fraud and monitoring utilization, but also to find innovative solutions to insurance-related problems. For example, enrollment software has been designed to ensure that male heads of households must insure their spouses. In addition, since the scheme aims to provide quality treatment to all beneficiaries, technology has been implemented to ensure that every beneficiary receives needed treatment. For example, if a patient is not in a condition to validate his/her identity at the hospital then any family member who is on the SmartCard can validate the identity of the patient by providing his/her fingerprint.

Currently, the Government of India is considering how the SmartCard can be used for other social sector schemes and how the RSBY technology platform can be used to provide other services to the below-the-poverty-line population.
Mexico: Seguro Popular
  • Below Poverty Line
  • Informal Sector
 48 million

Enrollment in the SP takes place on a per-family basis. A family is composed of the father and/or mother, children and adopted children younger than eighteen or minors younger than eighteen who are dependents and live in the same household, those older than sixty-four years of age who live in the same household, single student children up to age twenty-five, and disabled children. Upon enrollment, families receive a pamphlet with their rights and duties that outlines the health interventions and services to which they are entitled.

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Enrollment in the SP takes place on a per-family basis. A family is composed of the father and/or mother, children and adopted children younger than eighteen or minors younger than eighteen who are dependents and live in the same household, those older than sixty-four years of age who live in the same household, single student children up to age twenty-five, and disabled children. Upon enrollment, families receive a pamphlet with their rights and duties that outlines the health interventions and services to which they are entitled. The SP was intended to be rolled out at the health center level. Regions were permitted to enroll individuals only if they had sufficient facilities and human resources to provide adequate care under the program. Enrollment took place at the municipal level, which meant that many municipalities without adequate facilities were not initially able to accommodate large-scale enrollment. State ministries of health are responsible for promotion of the SP program. Voluntary affiliation takes place on a quarterly basis, but enrollees must wait until the following trimester to begin receiving services. Due to the voluntary nature of the program, enrollees must choose to re-enroll annually.

At the start of the program, the primary strategies for enrollment focused on large-scale affiliation campaigns for vulnerable families. Strategies that have been used to aid in the enrollment and re-enrollment process have included the following: coordinating enrollment activities with other programs targeted to poor populations; promoting enrollment in public gathering places like markets and health clinics; communicating with state and local governments to help identify priority populations; collaborating with local governments to speed the processing of official documentation; re-enrollment invitations through mass-mailings to current enrollees; using mass-marketing campaigns to motivate re-enrollment; and launching special brigades for special enrollment campaigns in localities with low levels of enrollment or re-enrollment. However, due to the fact that there were annual quotas on the number of new enrollees, certain states limited the size of their communication campaigns.

During the first years of the SP targeted populations were given priority affiliation. These included those living in rural regions, those who belonged to poverty alleviating programs such as Oportunidades, and indigenous populations. As of 2009, special targeted populations included newborns and pregnant women. Moreover, the last few years have seen the growth of unemployment leading many families to lose their rights to public services such as IMSS or ISSSTE, which has led to an expansion of the enrollment goals for SP beyond what had previously been established.

During the two years of the pilot program between 2001 and 2003, 614,000 families were affiliated. By the end of 2006, this number had increased to 4 million families. In terms of percentages, in 2005 the SPSS covered approximately 14% of the previously uninsured population. By 2009, this number had reached in excess of 90% of the uninsured.

Table 1: Affiliation Coverage per State, 2009

StateFamilies Eligible to AffiliateAffiliated FamiliesPercent Coverage
Guerrero453,086356,84078.76
Sonora220,580186,38584.5
Baja California287,255246,87285.94
Puebla600,167533,98588.97
Durango136,791122,13389.28
Michoacán431,638385,90689.41
Zacatecas213,695196,83592.11
Oaxaca604,530562,69293.08
México1,145,9861,069,50999.33
Tamaulipas348,392335,759 96.37
Colima91,64488,59496.67
Chiapas697,769681,71197.7
Nayarit143,256140,16097.84
Nuevo Leon228,323223,68297.97
Morelos222,175218,28698.25
Sinaloa245,675243,38699.07
Hidalgo338,799335,72999.09
Distrito Federal420,901417,83499.27
Baja California Sur45,06042,54594.42
Quintana Roo109,337108,68399.4
Tlaxacala180,006179,14799.52
Guanajuato673,749676,987100.48
Chihuahua244,316246,155100.75
Yucatán200,2842,002,097100.91
Jalisco572,002577,856101.02
Campeche117,869119,281101.2
Querétaro159,642163,407102.36
Aguascalientes123,148126,070102.37
Veracruz700,126719,806102.81
Coahuila157,516161,955102.82
Tabasco433,397445,920102.89
San Luis Potosi271,271282,282104.06

Source: Secretaria de Salud

Seguro Popular

Population covered

Target Populations: Below Poverty Line, Informal Sector
Coverage Level: 48 million

Enrollment in the SP takes place on a per-family basis. A family is composed of the father and/or mother, children and adopted children younger than eighteen or minors younger than eighteen who are dependents and live in the same household, those older than sixty-four years of age who live in the same household, single student children up to age twenty-five, and disabled children. Upon enrollment, families receive a pamphlet with their rights and duties that outlines the health interventions and services to which they are entitled. The SP was intended to be rolled out at the health center level. Regions were permitted to enroll individuals only if they had sufficient facilities and human resources to provide adequate care under the program. Enrollment took place at the municipal level, which meant that many municipalities without adequate facilities were not initially able to accommodate large-scale enrollment. State ministries of health are responsible for promotion of the SP program. Voluntary affiliation takes place on a quarterly basis, but enrollees must wait until the following trimester to begin receiving services. Due to the voluntary nature of the program, enrollees must choose to re-enroll annually.

At the start of the program, the primary strategies for enrollment focused on large-scale affiliation campaigns for vulnerable families. Strategies that have been used to aid in the enrollment and re-enrollment process have included the following: coordinating enrollment activities with other programs targeted to poor populations; promoting enrollment in public gathering places like markets and health clinics; communicating with state and local governments to help identify priority populations; collaborating with local governments to speed the processing of official documentation; re-enrollment invitations through mass-mailings to current enrollees; using mass-marketing campaigns to motivate re-enrollment; and launching special brigades for special enrollment campaigns in localities with low levels of enrollment or re-enrollment. However, due to the fact that there were annual quotas on the number of new enrollees, certain states limited the size of their communication campaigns.

During the first years of the SP targeted populations were given priority affiliation. These included those living in rural regions, those who belonged to poverty alleviating programs such as Oportunidades, and indigenous populations. As of 2009, special targeted populations included newborns and pregnant women. Moreover, the last few years have seen the growth of unemployment leading many families to lose their rights to public services such as IMSS or ISSSTE, which has led to an expansion of the enrollment goals for SP beyond what had previously been established.

During the two years of the pilot program between 2001 and 2003, 614,000 families were affiliated. By the end of 2006, this number had increased to 4 million families. In terms of percentages, in 2005 the SPSS covered approximately 14% of the previously uninsured population. By 2009, this number had reached in excess of 90% of the uninsured.

Table 1: Affiliation Coverage per State, 2009

StateFamilies Eligible to AffiliateAffiliated FamiliesPercent Coverage
Guerrero453,086356,84078.76
Sonora220,580186,38584.5
Baja California287,255246,87285.94
Puebla600,167533,98588.97
Durango136,791122,13389.28
Michoacán431,638385,90689.41
Zacatecas213,695196,83592.11
Oaxaca604,530562,69293.08
México1,145,9861,069,50999.33
Tamaulipas348,392335,759 96.37
Colima91,64488,59496.67
Chiapas697,769681,71197.7
Nayarit143,256140,16097.84
Nuevo Leon228,323223,68297.97
Morelos222,175218,28698.25
Sinaloa245,675243,38699.07
Hidalgo338,799335,72999.09
Distrito Federal420,901417,83499.27
Baja California Sur45,06042,54594.42
Quintana Roo109,337108,68399.4
Tlaxacala180,006179,14799.52
Guanajuato673,749676,987100.48
Chihuahua244,316246,155100.75
Yucatán200,2842,002,097100.91
Jalisco572,002577,856101.02
Campeche117,869119,281101.2
Querétaro159,642163,407102.36
Aguascalientes123,148126,070102.37
Veracruz700,126719,806102.81
Coahuila157,516161,955102.82
Tabasco433,397445,920102.89
San Luis Potosi271,271282,282104.06

Source: Secretaria de Salud
Thailand: Universal Coverage Scheme
  • All populations
 50 million

The Universal Coverage Scheme enrolls those not covered by either the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) or the Compulsory Social Security Scheme (SSS) – about 74% of the entire population. To be enrolled in UCS, all members must register with a contracting unit (CUP) and receive a card for care in their home area. When first implemented, potential beneficiaries were identified by health volunteers and medical personal, as well as through mass communications and media campaigns.

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The Universal Coverage Scheme enrolls those not covered by either the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) or the Compulsory Social Security Scheme (SSS) – about 74% of the entire population. To be enrolled in UCS, all members must register with a contracting unit (CUP) and receive a card for care in their home area. When first implemented, potential beneficiaries were identified by health volunteers and medical personal, as well as through mass communications and media campaigns.

A centralized registration database, which is updated regularly, is also a useful tool in identifying and enrolling beneficiaries in the USC scheme. The central registration database consolidates information on the entire Thai population, and includes registration information of the CSMBS, the SSS and the UCS. When patients seek care, their entitlements are checked with the centralized online database to ensure that they are enrolled in an insurance scheme. If the database shows that that are not members of the CSMBS or the SSS, they are asked to register for the UCS at that time.

Universal Coverage Scheme

Population covered

Target Populations: All populations
Coverage Level: 50 million

The Universal Coverage Scheme enrolls those not covered by either the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) or the Compulsory Social Security Scheme (SSS) – about 74% of the entire population. To be enrolled in UCS, all members must register with a contracting unit (CUP) and receive a card for care in their home area. When first implemented, potential beneficiaries were identified by health volunteers and medical personal, as well as through mass communications and media campaigns.

A centralized registration database, which is updated regularly, is also a useful tool in identifying and enrolling beneficiaries in the USC scheme. The central registration database consolidates information on the entire Thai population, and includes registration information of the CSMBS, the SSS and the UCS. When patients seek care, their entitlements are checked with the centralized online database to ensure that they are enrolled in an insurance scheme. If the database shows that that are not members of the CSMBS or the SSS, they are asked to register for the UCS at that time.