The Ghanaian branch of MicroEnsure, a UK-based subsidiary of nonprofit Opportunity International that serves as a microinsurance intermediary, has announced plans to offer credit health insurance to microfinance clients in Ghana. The product will enable MicroEnsure to cover weekly microcredit repayments in the event that the borrower is admitted to the hospital during the loan term. Clients will need to present proof of admission and discharge from a recognized inpatient hospital in order to file a claim. The cost of the coverage will start at USD 0.25 per month and will cover loan payments for any health condition for any amount of time.

According to Eugene Adogla, director of operations in Ghana, MicroEnsure expects to pay hundreds of claims that range between USD 30 and USD 60 each month. Fiona Laryea, general manager of MicroEnsure in Ghana, stated that MicroEnsure Ghana also hopes to extend coverage to clients’ families.

Two unnamed microfinance institution (MFI) partners of MicroEnsure Ghana have signed up for the new product, and more organizations have reportedly expressed interest.

MicroEnsure serves approximately 3.5 million poor clients in Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Malawi, the Philippines, Tanzania and Kenya as of 2011.

By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate

About MicroEnsure
MicroEnsure was founded in 2005 in the UK as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Opportunity International, a US-based nonprofit microfinance network created in 1974. MicroEnsure was known as the Micro Insurance Agency until 2008. As an insurance intermediary, it provides a range of products including health, life, property and weather index-based insurance to approximately 3.5 million poor clients in Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Malawi, the Philippines, Tanzania and Kenya as of 2011.