Impact Insurance Research Paper #36: Evaluating health-seeking behaviour, utilization of care, and health risk

Research Paper #36 evaluates a community based health insurance (CBHI) contract by randomizing the insurance offer to women in microfinance Self Help Groups in rural India. It finds no support for increased use of health care, and instead find limited suggestive evidence of reduction in health shocks and health care utilization. It also finds suggestive evidence that the insurance offer reduces health expenditure and health related debt. This suggests scope for additional indirect benefits of increased health to insured members and assisting in the financial sustainability of CHBI contracts.