The MIA has developed a comprehensive set of training materials, delivered through 9 modules. These modules are designed to provide communities with a complete understanding of the benefits that community-based micro health insurance schemes can bring. They also provide communities with the tools necessary to build consensus and successfully maintain a scheme.

Module 1: A module for promoters

Communities running their own microinsurance scheme need counseling from time to time to overcome some implementation related problems. This module aims at staff members of local NGOs and equips them with the tools necessary to counsel schemes, rather than to take over administration.

Module 2: Facilitating voluntary affiliation to microinsurance

Implementing inclusive and sustainable community based microinsurance requires a voluntary decision of the community affiliate “en-bloc”. This module trains local facilitators in explaining the value proposition of microinsurance, raising awareness about the community based model, data collection for baseline surveys, designing benefit packages (CHAT facilitation), and how to go forward after a positive decision.

Module 3: Taking pressure groups on board: An information module for the ‘environment’

This module is part of the awareness campaign prior to launching microinsurance. It addresses pressure groups and opinion leaders in a community, who are not actively involved in the implementation of the microinsurance. As lack of knowledge about the benefits of microinsurance might create unnecessary resistance, this short module informs opinion leaders about microinsurance and aims at making them supportive.

Module 4: Community Insurance Activist

The Community Insurance Activist is the most local executive of the microinsurance unit. The activist keeps the direct contact to all insured members and collects the members’ contributions, provides information about insurance, facilitates their access to services and helps in preparing claims. This module trains community members in taking over this function.

Module 5: Community Claim Committee – A training module for elected members

In community based and mutual microinsurance models the insured members take the decision about claim settlement. The decision taking body is the community claim committee, which is made up of 3-9 elected members. These members receive the necessary knowledge for effective microinsurance governance through this course. Being able to read performance indicators related to the microinsurance scheme is part of the training.

Module 6: Cluster Insurance Coordinator

At the cluster level, information from several affiliated communities is organized and filed by the Cluster Insurance Coordinator. This individual performs book keeping activities related to premium collection, claims and administrative expenses. The Coordinator is also responsible for ongoing management of community bank accounts and maintenance of contacts to local health care providers.

Module 7: Cluster Coordination Committee

It is the Cluster Coordination Committee’s duty to control the performance of the affiliated communities. This module prepares members to read performance indicators, understand the effects of pooling, interact with health care providers and provide the necessary guidance and coordination for the affiliated communities.

Module 8: Ombudsmanship in microinsurance.

Social dynamics can sometimes lead to exclusion, e.g. in access to benefits. To protect especially weaker segments of the population, we train respected members of the society to become ombudsmen and equip them with the necessary tools to mediate such conflicts. Unlike courts, ombudsmen should be easily accessible for all members of the society.

Module 9: Cost containment through prevention.

Prevention is better than cure. This is true from an insurance perspective as well. We train community members through this module to use information to prevent diseases, which also reduces the costs that the insurance will have to pay as benefits for members’ cure.