Protection in Action: Building Social Protection Floors for All

Since the piloting of the Ethiopian Community-Based Health Insurance public scheme in 2011, the scheme has made laudable progress in extending coverage to informal workers and vulnerable households and individuals, with positive effects on healthcare utilization. Considerations are being made for the inclusion of refugee populations in the scheme, to support their access to health care without financial hardship. Indeed, Ethiopia currently hosts over 900’000 refugees, some in protracted situations of displacement. The Government has made significant commitments towards promoting the inclusion of refugees in public services and the economy, including under the Refugee Proclamation No. 1110/2019. 

This brief presents the design parameters and achievements in the roll-out of the CBHI scheme in Ethiopia, and outlines findings in relation to the feasibility of including refugees in Addis Ababa in the CBHI.