Value-added services (VAS), bundled with health microinsurance (HMI) products that often cover only hospital events, show promise to enhance value for clients and improve viability of HMI schemes. VAS are healthcare services that offer clients a way to improve access to and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for frequently occurring outpatient services which over time can be financially devastating to a low-income family. For insurers, VAS can stimulate demand by making HMI more tangible. In addition, VAS providing illness prevention and outpatient treatment may help reduce the cost of claims, while encouraging better health-seeking behaviour. Presently, there are limited data to quantify the possible benefits of VAS to clients and to HMI practitioners and even the scale at which various VAS operate. More VAS interventions should be launched in the next two years, in more developing countries, with additional research to fill gaps in knowledge. In the interim, emerging findings on broad measures often used to assess the effectiveness of healthcare financing or delivery, such as child and maternal mortality, provide initial indicators of impact. VAS, further enabled by technology, promise to be part of a multifaceted solution for HMI to become a more valued and viable mechanism to protect the health (and wealth) of the poor.

Banerjee, A. and Duflo, E. (2011) Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, New York: PublicAffairs.

Berman, P., Ahuja, R. and Bhandari, L. (2010) ‘The impoverishing effect of healthcare payments in India: new methodology and findings’, Economic and Political Weekly 45(16): 65-71.

Chandani, T. and Garand, D. (2013) Lessons Learned and Good Practices in Health Microinsurance, Luxembourg: Microinsurance Network.

Garg, C.C. and Karan, A.K. (2008) Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditures Poverty: A Disaggregated Analysis at Rural-Urban and State Level in India, Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Gash, M. and Chanani, S. (2010) MAHP Research Summary Report: Bandhan, Freedom from Hunger Research Report No. 9A, Davis, CA: Freedom from Hunger.

Ghosh, S. (2010) Catastrophic Payments and Impoverishment Due to Out-of-Pocket Health Spending: The Effects of Recent Health Sector Reforms in India, Working Paper No. 15, Asia Health Policy Program, Palo Alto, CA: Asia-Pacific Research Centre, Stanford University.

GMSA (2012) Touching Lives through Mobile Health: Assessment of the Global Market Opportunity [pdf] India: GMSA and PwC <www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf≯ [accessed 23 February 2014]. www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf

Griffith, D., Kibassa, B., Komakoma, F. and Umar, N. (2010) ‘Study for AKAM: giving micro-finance clients access to quality drugs’, Options Consulting Services (unpublished).

Kasturi Rangan, V. and Lee, K. (2012) CFW Clinics in Kenya: To Profit or Not for Profit? Case 512-006, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.

Leatherman, S., Christensen, L.J. and Holtz, J. (2010) Innovations and Barriers in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 6, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Mahal, A., Krishnaswamy, K., Ruchismita, R. and Babu, B.G. (2013) ‘What is a health card worth? A randomised controlled trial of an outpatient health insurance product in rural India’, The Lancet 381 (June): 87 <http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61341-0≯.

Matul, M., Tatin-Jaleran, C. and Kelly, E. (2011) Improving Client Value from Microinsurance: Insights from India, Kenya and the Philippines, Microinsurance Paper No. 12, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Pott, J. and Holtz, J. (2013) Value-added Services in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 19, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Platteau, J.-P. and Ontiveros, D.U. (2013) Understanding and Information Failures: Lessons from a Health Microinsurance Program in India, Research Paper no. 29. Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Reinsch, M., Dunford, C. and Metcalfe, M. (2010) The Business Case for Adding Health Protection to Microfinance [pdf] Freedom from Hunger Research Paper No. 10 <https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf≯ [accessed 22 January 2014]. https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf

Saksena, P., Xu, K.D. and Durairaj, V. (2010) The Drivers of Catastrophic Expenditure: OP Services, Hospitalization or Medicines? World Health Report, Background Paper 21, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Sinha, T., Desai, S. and Mahal, A. (2013) ‘Hospitalized for fever? Understanding hospitalization for common illnesses among insured women in a low-income setting’, Health Policy and Planning 6 June 2013 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czt032≯.

Banerjee, A. and Duflo, E. (2011) Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, New York: PublicAffairs.

Berman, P., Ahuja, R. and Bhandari, L. (2010) ‘The impoverishing effect of healthcare payments in India: new methodology and findings’, Economic and Political Weekly 45(16): 65-71.

Chandani, T. and Garand, D. (2013) Lessons Learned and Good Practices in Health Microinsurance, Luxembourg: Microinsurance Network.

Garg, C.C. and Karan, A.K. (2008) Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditures Poverty: A Disaggregated Analysis at Rural-Urban and State Level in India, Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Gash, M. and Chanani, S. (2010) MAHP Research Summary Report: Bandhan, Freedom from Hunger Research Report No. 9A, Davis, CA: Freedom from Hunger.

Ghosh, S. (2010) Catastrophic Payments and Impoverishment Due to Out-of-Pocket Health Spending: The Effects of Recent Health Sector Reforms in India, Working Paper No. 15, Asia Health Policy Program, Palo Alto, CA: Asia-Pacific Research Centre, Stanford University.

GMSA (2012) Touching Lives through Mobile Health: Assessment of the Global Market Opportunity [pdf] India: GMSA and PwC <www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf≯ [accessed 23 February 2014]. www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf

Griffith, D., Kibassa, B., Komakoma, F. and Umar, N. (2010) ‘Study for AKAM: giving micro-finance clients access to quality drugs’, Options Consulting Services (unpublished).

Kasturi Rangan, V. and Lee, K. (2012) CFW Clinics in Kenya: To Profit or Not for Profit? Case 512-006, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.

Leatherman, S., Christensen, L.J. and Holtz, J. (2010) Innovations and Barriers in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 6, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Mahal, A., Krishnaswamy, K., Ruchismita, R. and Babu, B.G. (2013) ‘What is a health card worth? A randomised controlled trial of an outpatient health insurance product in rural India’, The Lancet 381 (June): 87 <http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61341-0≯.

Matul, M., Tatin-Jaleran, C. and Kelly, E. (2011) Improving Client Value from Microinsurance: Insights from India, Kenya and the Philippines, Microinsurance Paper No. 12, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Pott, J. and Holtz, J. (2013) Value-added Services in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 19, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Platteau, J.-P. and Ontiveros, D.U. (2013) Understanding and Information Failures: Lessons from a Health Microinsurance Program in India, Research Paper no. 29. Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Reinsch, M., Dunford, C. and Metcalfe, M. (2010) The Business Case for Adding Health Protection to Microfinance [pdf] Freedom from Hunger Research Paper No. 10 <https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf≯ [accessed 22 January 2014]. https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf

Saksena, P., Xu, K.D. and Durairaj, V. (2010) The Drivers of Catastrophic Expenditure: OP Services, Hospitalization or Medicines? World Health Report, Background Paper 21, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Sinha, T., Desai, S. and Mahal, A. (2013) ‘Hospitalized for fever? Understanding hospitalization for common illnesses among insured women in a low-income setting’, Health Policy and Planning 6 June 2013 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czt032≯.

Banerjee, A. and Duflo, E. (2011) Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, New York: PublicAffairs.

Berman, P., Ahuja, R. and Bhandari, L. (2010) ‘The impoverishing effect of healthcare payments in India: new methodology and findings’, Economic and Political Weekly 45(16): 65-71.

Chandani, T. and Garand, D. (2013) Lessons Learned and Good Practices in Health Microinsurance, Luxembourg: Microinsurance Network.

Garg, C.C. and Karan, A.K. (2008) Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditures Poverty: A Disaggregated Analysis at Rural-Urban and State Level in India, Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Gash, M. and Chanani, S. (2010) MAHP Research Summary Report: Bandhan, Freedom from Hunger Research Report No. 9A, Davis, CA: Freedom from Hunger.

Ghosh, S. (2010) Catastrophic Payments and Impoverishment Due to Out-of-Pocket Health Spending: The Effects of Recent Health Sector Reforms in India, Working Paper No. 15, Asia Health Policy Program, Palo Alto, CA: Asia-Pacific Research Centre, Stanford University.

GMSA (2012) Touching Lives through Mobile Health: Assessment of the Global Market Opportunity [pdf] India: GMSA and PwC <www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf≯ [accessed 23 February 2014]. www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf

Griffith, D., Kibassa, B., Komakoma, F. and Umar, N. (2010) ‘Study for AKAM: giving micro-finance clients access to quality drugs’, Options Consulting Services (unpublished).

Kasturi Rangan, V. and Lee, K. (2012) CFW Clinics in Kenya: To Profit or Not for Profit? Case 512-006, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.

Leatherman, S., Christensen, L.J. and Holtz, J. (2010) Innovations and Barriers in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 6, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Mahal, A., Krishnaswamy, K., Ruchismita, R. and Babu, B.G. (2013) ‘What is a health card worth? A randomised controlled trial of an outpatient health insurance product in rural India’, The Lancet 381 (June): 87 <http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61341-0≯.

Matul, M., Tatin-Jaleran, C. and Kelly, E. (2011) Improving Client Value from Microinsurance: Insights from India, Kenya and the Philippines, Microinsurance Paper No. 12, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Pott, J. and Holtz, J. (2013) Value-added Services in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 19, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Platteau, J.-P. and Ontiveros, D.U. (2013) Understanding and Information Failures: Lessons from a Health Microinsurance Program in India, Research Paper no. 29. Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Reinsch, M., Dunford, C. and Metcalfe, M. (2010) The Business Case for Adding Health Protection to Microfinance [pdf] Freedom from Hunger Research Paper No. 10 <https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf≯ [accessed 22 January 2014]. https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf

Saksena, P., Xu, K.D. and Durairaj, V. (2010) The Drivers of Catastrophic Expenditure: OP Services, Hospitalization or Medicines? World Health Report, Background Paper 21, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Sinha, T., Desai, S. and Mahal, A. (2013) ‘Hospitalized for fever? Understanding hospitalization for common illnesses among insured women in a low-income setting’, Health Policy and Planning 6 June 2013 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czt032≯.

Banerjee, A. and Duflo, E. (2011) Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, New York: PublicAffairs.

Berman, P., Ahuja, R. and Bhandari, L. (2010) ‘The impoverishing effect of healthcare payments in India: new methodology and findings’, Economic and Political Weekly 45(16): 65-71.

Chandani, T. and Garand, D. (2013) Lessons Learned and Good Practices in Health Microinsurance, Luxembourg: Microinsurance Network.

Garg, C.C. and Karan, A.K. (2008) Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditures Poverty: A Disaggregated Analysis at Rural-Urban and State Level in India, Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Gash, M. and Chanani, S. (2010) MAHP Research Summary Report: Bandhan, Freedom from Hunger Research Report No. 9A, Davis, CA: Freedom from Hunger.

Ghosh, S. (2010) Catastrophic Payments and Impoverishment Due to Out-of-Pocket Health Spending: The Effects of Recent Health Sector Reforms in India, Working Paper No. 15, Asia Health Policy Program, Palo Alto, CA: Asia-Pacific Research Centre, Stanford University.

GMSA (2012) Touching Lives through Mobile Health: Assessment of the Global Market Opportunity [pdf] India: GMSA and PwC <www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf≯ [accessed 23 February 2014]. www.pwc.in/en_IN/in/assets/pdfs/publications-2012/touching-lives-through-mobile-health-february-2012.pdf

Griffith, D., Kibassa, B., Komakoma, F. and Umar, N. (2010) ‘Study for AKAM: giving micro-finance clients access to quality drugs’, Options Consulting Services (unpublished).

Kasturi Rangan, V. and Lee, K. (2012) CFW Clinics in Kenya: To Profit or Not for Profit? Case 512-006, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.

Leatherman, S., Christensen, L.J. and Holtz, J. (2010) Innovations and Barriers in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 6, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Mahal, A., Krishnaswamy, K., Ruchismita, R. and Babu, B.G. (2013) ‘What is a health card worth? A randomised controlled trial of an outpatient health insurance product in rural India’, The Lancet 381 (June): 87 <http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61341-0≯.

Matul, M., Tatin-Jaleran, C. and Kelly, E. (2011) Improving Client Value from Microinsurance: Insights from India, Kenya and the Philippines, Microinsurance Paper No. 12, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Pott, J. and Holtz, J. (2013) Value-added Services in Health Microinsurance, Microinsurance Paper no. 19, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Platteau, J.-P. and Ontiveros, D.U. (2013) Understanding and Information Failures: Lessons from a Health Microinsurance Program in India, Research Paper no. 29. Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility.

Reinsch, M., Dunford, C. and Metcalfe, M. (2010) The Business Case for Adding Health Protection to Microfinance [pdf] Freedom from Hunger Research Paper No. 10 <https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf≯ [accessed 22 January 2014]. https://www.freedomfromhunger.org/sites/default/files/documents/MAHP.BusinessCase.AddingHealthProtection.Paper10.pdf

Saksena, P., Xu, K.D. and Durairaj, V. (2010) The Drivers of Catastrophic Expenditure: OP Services, Hospitalization or Medicines? World Health Report, Background Paper 21, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Sinha, T., Desai, S. and Mahal, A. (2013) ‘Hospitalized for fever? Understanding hospitalization for common illnesses among insured women in a low-income setting’, Health Policy and Planning 6 June 2013 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czt032≯.