Description: Summary of the Insurance Market Behavior and Health Insurance Seminar Held in Beijing. The purpose of the seminar was to introduce the special characteristics of health insurance markets and health insurance to actuaries and insurance executives in countries where health insurance products are in their formative stages.

Description: The medical scheme approach adopted by several African countries has failed to meet the needs of those in informal employment and rural communities. This is partly due to affordability amongst these individuals as well as a lack of awareness of how healthcare financing products work. Community based healthcare organisations have achieved greater levels of success in this regard by carefully incorporating the peculiarities of communities in benefit design and involving community members in the management of these healthcare solutions. There are lessons to be garnered from the countries where these have been implemented with some level of success. Even as countries aim towards universal health coverage, observing the unique needs of different communities within a country is essential to ensure resources are utilised efficiently and that healthcare needs are targeted effectively.

Description: The Brazilian private health care market ended 2010 with US $48 billion worth of premium. This already makes it Latin America’s largest health care market and sixth in the world ranking. This article provides information on the market and opportunity for growth.

Description: Evaluation of Taiwan's National Health insurance program and a discussion of a managed competition model to reform it.

Description: The authors explain a grassroots model for health-risk pooling that is being used in India. They explain why traditional health insurance models have not worked in this context.