Summary

Program goals

The program's focus will be on preventing and treating malnutrition among pregnant women and children 0-3 years old. They will strive to further reduce the incidence of low birth weight and work to ensure that all children 0-3 years old are growing normally in order to reach their full physical and cognitive potential. In the near future, Calcutta Kids envisions that they will be able to explore ways to replicate their successful activities and programs into other contexts, particularly other urban poor areas in India.

Key program components

Calcutta Kids offers a voluntary health product intended to cover the entire family. The cashless policy covers inpatient services up to US$333 and follow-up home visits from health workers. Premiums of US$1.33 per person are paid in one lump sum at the time of enrollment.

When clients access outpatient care with a doctor within Calcutta Kids' network, a health worker will be sent to their house two days later. There, the health worker will:

• Check that the client is following the doctor's prescribed treatment (and encourage them to do so if they are not)

• In the case of common sicknesses, provide simple behavioural advice to clients

• Record the progression of old symptoms and the onset of new ones in a case file.

At the Calcutta Kids office, a manager will review all cases, and, with the assistance of a staff doctor, decide which ones require outpatient follow-up. If follow-up is necessary, a health worker will inform the client the next day.

Emerging Lessons:

• Possible reasons cited for the high retention levels include

  • The good relationship of Calcutta Kids with the community

  • The demonstration effect of claims paid.

• If an organization is well respected in a community for one type of service provision, it does not necessarily mean that the organization will have an easy time selling a voluntary health insurance programme.

• It is dangerous to assume client behavior towards key project components.