Saving for Insurance: Using Electronic Wallets on Mobile Phones to Collect Insurance Premiums

This proposal seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of an "e-wallet" scheme designed by the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) to assist households in saving for their annual health insurance premiums. The e-wallet is a mobile phone-based application that allows individuals to transfer funds into a locked savings account, specifically intended for health insurance payments. The study aims to assess whether the e-wallet improves the flexibility and timeliness of premium savings, addressing the challenges of late payments in Rwanda's national health insurance scheme. Through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and focus groups, the evaluation will explore the impact of the e-wallet on premium collection, health service access, and household welfare. Findings will contribute to understanding how mobile financial tools can enhance the sustainability and efficiency of insurance premium payments in Rwanda, with broader implications for digital finance in similar contexts.