Compared to the traditional informal mutual help networks, CBHI offers well defined ex ante protection with reliable premiums (Tabor, 2005). Such insurance allows members to cover low-frequency, high-cost events - especially hospitalisation - when health service supply is available (Jutting, 2003). Despite these advantages, most CBHI schemes remain small: from a subset of 44 schemes Carrin, Waelkens and Criel (2005) found the median value of coverage among the eligible population to be 24.9%, 13 schemes had a coverage rate below 15%, and only 12 had a coverage rate above 50%.