We explore challenges and good practices in consumer protection in microinsurance, defining ‘consumer protection’ as the effective use of microinsurance products by low-income consumers to protect themselves against risk. Consumer protection challenges fall into four main categories: 1) education and information; 2) product and process design; 3) regulation and financial soundness; and 4) capacities and responsibilities. We explore examples from the Philippines and Colombia, and find that consumer protection is best viewed as an outcome, a view requiring all stakeholders, including consumers, to play an active role. Interventions to improve consumer protection outcomes should be informed by market conditions and ongoing monitoring to understand the effectiveness of existing measures and raise red flags as new needs emerge. Consumer protection efforts can further support the value proposition among consumers and also for other stakeholders, as they increase trust and help to ensure that microinsurance is valuable, effective, and sustainable for all stakeholders.

Camargo, A. and Montoya, L.F. (2011) Microseguros: Análisis de experiencias destacables en lantinoamérica y el caribe, Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank.

FASECOLDA (2012) Contexto del sector asegurador colombiano [pdf] <www.fasecolda.com/fasecolda/BancoMedios/Imagenes/presentacion%20cifras%20ciudades%20y%20ramos.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.fasecolda.com/fasecolda/BancoMedios/Imagenes/presentacion%20cifras%20ciudades%20y%20ramos.pdf

Insurance Commission of the Philippines (2011) Key Insurance Indicators, 2007-2011 [pdf] <www.insurance.gov.ph/htm/..%5C_@dmin%5Cupload%5Cstatistics%5CKdata2007%20-%202011.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.insurance.gov.ph/htm/..%5C_@dmin%5Cupload%5Cstatistics%5CKdata2007%20-%202011.pdf

Jaio, D.C.J. (2012) ‘Microinsurance clients surge’, [blog] BusinessWorld (Philippines) <www.microinsurancephil.blogspot.com/2012/09/microinsurance-clients-surge.html≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancephil.blogspot.com/2012/09/microinsurance-clients-surge.html

LatAm Insurance Review (2012) ‘Emerging talent: the Colombian insurance market’ [online] <www.insurancelatam.com/emerging-talent-an-overview-of-the-colombian-insurance-market/≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.insurancelatam.com/emerging-talent-an-overview-of-the-colombian-insurance-market/

Llanto, G.M., Geron, M.P. and Almario, J. (2009) Making Insurance Markets Work for the Poor: Microinsurance Policy, Regulation, and Supervision: Philippines case study [online] Access to Insurance Initiative <www.microinsurancenetwork.org/networkpublication42.php≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancenetwork.org/networkpublication42.php

Magnoni, B. and Budzyna, L. (2013) MILK Brief 17: Doing the Math - Calamity Microinsurance in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

Magnoni, B., Poulton, D., Zimmerman, E. and Schubert, B. (2012) MILK Brief 13: Doing the Math - Funeral and Life Microinsurance in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

McCord, M.J., Tatin-Jaleran, C. and Ingram, M. (2012) The Landscape of Microinsurance in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Briefing Note, Washington, DC: IDB/FOMIN.

Poulton, D., Magnoni, B. and McCord, M. (2013) MILK Brief 27: Doing the Math - Funeral Insurance and Speedy Claims in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

Zimmerman, E., Magnoni, B. and Camargo, A. (2013) ‘Pure’ Intentions and Practice: Challenges and Good Practices in Consumer Protection in Microinsurance [pdf] Microinsurance Network <www.microinsurancenetwork.org/publication/fichier/MiN_BMZ_Consumer_Protection_Final.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancenetwork.org/publication/fichier/MiN_BMZ_Consumer_Protection_Final.pdf

Zuluaga, S. (2010) Case Studies on the Use of Alternative Models for the Distribution of Microinsurance in Colombia, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility; Bogotá: Fedesarrollo; Cape Town: Cenfri.

Camargo, A. and Montoya, L.F. (2011) Microseguros: Análisis de experiencias destacables en lantinoamérica y el caribe, Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank.

FASECOLDA (2012) Contexto del sector asegurador colombiano [pdf] <www.fasecolda.com/fasecolda/BancoMedios/Imagenes/presentacion%20cifras%20ciudades%20y%20ramos.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.fasecolda.com/fasecolda/BancoMedios/Imagenes/presentacion%20cifras%20ciudades%20y%20ramos.pdf

Insurance Commission of the Philippines (2011) Key Insurance Indicators, 2007-2011 [pdf] <www.insurance.gov.ph/htm/..%5C_@dmin%5Cupload%5Cstatistics%5CKdata2007%20-%202011.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.insurance.gov.ph/htm/..%5C_@dmin%5Cupload%5Cstatistics%5CKdata2007%20-%202011.pdf

Jaio, D.C.J. (2012) ‘Microinsurance clients surge’, [blog] BusinessWorld (Philippines) <www.microinsurancephil.blogspot.com/2012/09/microinsurance-clients-surge.html≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancephil.blogspot.com/2012/09/microinsurance-clients-surge.html

LatAm Insurance Review (2012) ‘Emerging talent: the Colombian insurance market’ [online] <www.insurancelatam.com/emerging-talent-an-overview-of-the-colombian-insurance-market/≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.insurancelatam.com/emerging-talent-an-overview-of-the-colombian-insurance-market/

Llanto, G.M., Geron, M.P. and Almario, J. (2009) Making Insurance Markets Work for the Poor: Microinsurance Policy, Regulation, and Supervision: Philippines case study [online] Access to Insurance Initiative <www.microinsurancenetwork.org/networkpublication42.php≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancenetwork.org/networkpublication42.php

Magnoni, B. and Budzyna, L. (2013) MILK Brief 17: Doing the Math - Calamity Microinsurance in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

Magnoni, B., Poulton, D., Zimmerman, E. and Schubert, B. (2012) MILK Brief 13: Doing the Math - Funeral and Life Microinsurance in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

McCord, M.J., Tatin-Jaleran, C. and Ingram, M. (2012) The Landscape of Microinsurance in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Briefing Note, Washington, DC: IDB/FOMIN.

Poulton, D., Magnoni, B. and McCord, M. (2013) MILK Brief 27: Doing the Math - Funeral Insurance and Speedy Claims in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

Zimmerman, E., Magnoni, B. and Camargo, A. (2013) ‘Pure’ Intentions and Practice: Challenges and Good Practices in Consumer Protection in Microinsurance [pdf] Microinsurance Network <www.microinsurancenetwork.org/publication/fichier/MiN_BMZ_Consumer_Protection_Final.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancenetwork.org/publication/fichier/MiN_BMZ_Consumer_Protection_Final.pdf

Zuluaga, S. (2010) Case Studies on the Use of Alternative Models for the Distribution of Microinsurance in Colombia, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility; Bogotá: Fedesarrollo; Cape Town: Cenfri.

Camargo, A. and Montoya, L.F. (2011) Microseguros: Análisis de experiencias destacables en lantinoamérica y el caribe, Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank.

FASECOLDA (2012) Contexto del sector asegurador colombiano [pdf] <www.fasecolda.com/fasecolda/BancoMedios/Imagenes/presentacion%20cifras%20ciudades%20y%20ramos.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.fasecolda.com/fasecolda/BancoMedios/Imagenes/presentacion%20cifras%20ciudades%20y%20ramos.pdf

Insurance Commission of the Philippines (2011) Key Insurance Indicators, 2007-2011 [pdf] <www.insurance.gov.ph/htm/..%5C_@dmin%5Cupload%5Cstatistics%5CKdata2007%20-%202011.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.insurance.gov.ph/htm/..%5C_@dmin%5Cupload%5Cstatistics%5CKdata2007%20-%202011.pdf

Jaio, D.C.J. (2012) ‘Microinsurance clients surge’, [blog] BusinessWorld (Philippines) <www.microinsurancephil.blogspot.com/2012/09/microinsurance-clients-surge.html≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancephil.blogspot.com/2012/09/microinsurance-clients-surge.html

LatAm Insurance Review (2012) ‘Emerging talent: the Colombian insurance market’ [online] <www.insurancelatam.com/emerging-talent-an-overview-of-the-colombian-insurance-market/≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.insurancelatam.com/emerging-talent-an-overview-of-the-colombian-insurance-market/

Llanto, G.M., Geron, M.P. and Almario, J. (2009) Making Insurance Markets Work for the Poor: Microinsurance Policy, Regulation, and Supervision: Philippines case study [online] Access to Insurance Initiative <www.microinsurancenetwork.org/networkpublication42.php≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancenetwork.org/networkpublication42.php

Magnoni, B. and Budzyna, L. (2013) MILK Brief 17: Doing the Math - Calamity Microinsurance in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

Magnoni, B., Poulton, D., Zimmerman, E. and Schubert, B. (2012) MILK Brief 13: Doing the Math - Funeral and Life Microinsurance in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

McCord, M.J., Tatin-Jaleran, C. and Ingram, M. (2012) The Landscape of Microinsurance in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Briefing Note, Washington, DC: IDB/FOMIN.

Poulton, D., Magnoni, B. and McCord, M. (2013) MILK Brief 27: Doing the Math - Funeral Insurance and Speedy Claims in the Philippines, Appleton, WI: The MicroInsurance Centre.

Zimmerman, E., Magnoni, B. and Camargo, A. (2013) ‘Pure’ Intentions and Practice: Challenges and Good Practices in Consumer Protection in Microinsurance [pdf] Microinsurance Network <www.microinsurancenetwork.org/publication/fichier/MiN_BMZ_Consumer_Protection_Final.pdf≯ [accessed 1 October 2013]. www.microinsurancenetwork.org/publication/fichier/MiN_BMZ_Consumer_Protection_Final.pdf

Zuluaga, S. (2010) Case Studies on the Use of Alternative Models for the Distribution of Microinsurance in Colombia, Geneva: ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility; Bogotá: Fedesarrollo; Cape Town: Cenfri.