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Microinsurance policyholders may be individuals, households or whole communities. They may be found in rural, urban or sub-urban areas. Many policyholders work in informal sector and/or in traditional ones.

• Microfinance institutions involved in microinsurance typically refer to their own clients who already have a credit or a savings account with them.
• Private mutual insurance organisations (former mutual health organisations) will exclusively refer to their members who can be: women solely, groups, etc.
• Private or public insurers mainly target:
  • Clients of microfinance institutions or the MFIs themselves;
  • Women’s associations;
  • Trade unions, social and popular organisations; 
  • Funeral providers;
  • Clients owning retail points-of-sale;
  • Self-help groups (mutual-assistance groups of 10 to 20 individuals).

Microinsurance reaches out to a very varied and broad clientele. It can range from people below the poverty line to people from low or emerging middle classes who remain extremely vulnerable without insurance coverage and/or social protection.

Source: Text based on Dossier thématique Micro-assurance ©2007, www.lamicrofinance.org