Abstract:
We study dominant trends and potential determinants of use of a
health microinsurance program, offered by a leading microfinance
institution (MFI) in Punjab, Pakistan. We find that: (1) Women are the
most active users of the program with a major focus on seeking health
care for maternal and gynaecological conditions (2) Extending the
program offers benefits to the MFI; observed as higher retention and
lower drop-out rates in the credit program (3) Supply side
factors; distance and dearth of listed hospitals, constrain utilization of
the health microinsurance program (4) Program utilization is higher
in areas with lower levels of public health infrastructure, implying the
presence of a potential substitution effect between the public and
private health care sector.
