Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Bicao Investment Care Administration Organization (BICAO)

last updated Sep 27, 2011

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Bicao Small Farmers‘ Multipurpose Cooperative (BSFMPC); Department of Agrarian Reform under the Agraryong Pangkalusugan (Agrarian Health Program)
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2002
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Membership/subscription fees
Summary: 

Bicao Investment Care Administration Organization (BICAO) is a health insurance scheme which seeks long-term social protection plan for the informal sector in Bicao. The project aims to ensure that medical expenses become more economical for its members, and to provide health education and awareness on community-based health insurance.

Program goals/rationale: 

As the government moved to attain universal health coverage in 2004, PhilHealth cards were distributed to the informal sector under the Sponsored Program. However, this was seen as unsustainable by some LGUs. Thus, micro-insurance schemes were put up to compensate for the limitations of the national insurance.

Key program components: 

The inherent system in the Bicao Small Farmers‘ Multipurpose Cooperative was one of the reasons why they were chosen as a beneficiary for technical assistance provided by the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Program under the guidance of DAR.

Membership for the insurance is open ta all Bicao Small Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative member and their families. Couples pay a premium of P420 with regular benefits of up to P2,500 per year. Aside from the premium, an enrollment fee of P50 is collected. As for the benefits, in-patient cases are treated in the district hospital. A cost ceiling of P3,000 per head per year is imposed, covering for accommodation, medicines, professional fee, laboratory, ambulance and miscellaneous expenses.

Majority of the members said that they were more confident that they will be given medical attention and feel less disenfranchised because of the health insurance. This has also resulted in the increase of membership since most of the members have nothing but positive feedback about the program.

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