Isaac Legba, a local car dealer from Ghana, was introduced to the M-KOPA Series X-20 smartphone by one of our agents, and what immediately caught his attention was the free inpatient insurance cover embedded into the phone. Two months after purchasing the phone, he unfortunately fell ill. Guess what helped cover part of his surgery expenses? The M-KOPA Health Cover.
This is one out of many impact stories we’ve recorded with our health cover. But first, why does this initiative exist?
In many rural communities across Africa, a hospital visit is not just an appointment; it is a financial decision that can mean the difference between food on the table and medicine for a sick child. With the high rate of poverty and poor access to healthcare in these communities, health emergencies can be devastating for many households.
Bridging the Health Gap
Through our health insurance solution in partnership with Turaco, we are helping families in rural communities access affordable and reliable healthcare through their phones. We provide our customers with an affordable payment plan that enables them to get an M-KOPA smartphone and pay in installments.
Whether or not they’ve completed payment for the phone, customers enjoy benefits like the Hospital Cash Coverage, which provides a safety net for them in case of a medical emergency. When admitted into any Ministry of Health registered hospital in Kenya, for instance, they get KSH 1,000 for every night spent in the hospital. All they have to do is send their hospital bills and records to get their claims.
We have enabled 4 million customers to own smartphones, giving 70% of customers an improved ability to cover household expenses. Out of this number, 1 million have benefited from the Turaco x M-KOPA health program, out of which over 75% of customers attest that the insurance has helped ease their financial stress.
Our impact isn’t just in numbers; it’s better understood in the lives we have touched. Here are 2 such stories.
Real-Life Impact Stories
“I have used the medical cover twice.” - Sarah Owuor Anyango, Kenya.
Sarah, a passionate hairdresser based in Dandora, relies on her M-KOPA X2 to stay updated on the latest hair trends, helping her better serve her clients and grow her business. Beyond just the device, M-KOPA’s value in her life became even more evident when she fell ill and had to be admitted to the hospital twice.
The first time Sarah was admitted to the hospital, she wasn’t sure she would be compensated or how to go about it. But after being discharged, she figured her way after several trials and sent the necessary documents to get her claims. “After 5 days, I received 5,000 shillings. I used 4,000 of that money to pay my rent,” she shared.
The second time, she had acute pneumonia and was hospitalized at Paradise Hospital Phase 3. This time, she made sure to send everything correctly from the beginning and got her claim soon after being discharged. “The entire process was much smoother than the first time,” she recounted.
Sarah also noted that the medical cover has been the most useful M-KOPA service to her. “When you leave the hospital, you usually don’t have money because you’ve been sick and not working, that’s exactly what happened to me,” she recalled. She was relieved because with the medical cover, she could pay her rent and buy some basic things she needed while recovering.
For Sarah, the health cover eased her financial burden.
“I couldn’t afford all the bills the hospital billed me.” - Abraham Asare Russell, Ghana
Abraham is a Construction Labourer from the Eastern Region. He heard about M-KOPA through a co-worker who told him he knew about a company that gives out phones with a pay-as-you-go model, something Abraham needed at the time. He noted that the M-KOPA phone has made his life easier, as it allows for better connectivity and comes with a hospital cover—the Turaco insurance.
When he fell sick, he immediately remembered that one of the selling points his co-worker mentioned about M-KOPA smartphones is the health insurance they come with. “I called them and they said they can help me,” he recalled, still sounding surprised. “They paid for 1 week since I took 1 week at the hospital. It was about GHC 745,” he added with gratitude.
As a wage earner, Abraham couldn’t afford his hospital bills, and he didn’t have an income during the days he was admitted to the hospital. But because some of his bills were covered, “I had extra cash on me to take care of my daily expenses,” he said. He soon recovered and was back to work, without debt or further complications.
For Abraham, the health cover was a lifesaver.
Reaching More People
We launched our health insurance with the M-KOPA X-20 smartphone in June 2024. Today, all M-KOPA smartphones now come with a 1-year hospital coverage, enabling our customers to get automatic access to health cover in cases of emergency.
The success of our health cover lies in its simplicity. By eliminating tedious insurance sign-ups, it reaches the lives of people in rural communities more directly. For thousands like Isaac, Sarah, and Abraham, the health cover not only offers financial security but also gives peace of mind and improves overall well-being.
These real stories serve as a reminder of the possibilities of increasing access to healthcare in Africa. From Kenya to Ghana, we are looking to reach more lives across the continent.
Contact us today to learn more about the M-KOPA Health Cover.
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