The life of a migrant can be saturated with risk. Often working in dangerous, low-paying, or unstable jobs with limited access to social and government support in their host countries, migrants are vulnerable to health risks, job loss, abuse, and a host of other concerns. At the same time, they are often called upon to support their families when needs arise at home, a role that can make their situations even more tenuous by reducing their ability to set money aside for unexpected needs. These “everyday” risks leave migrants particularly vulnerable to crisis events—conflicts or natural disasters affecting the country in which they live.
This brief explores the extent to which insurance may play a useful role in mitigating migrants’ risks before, during, or after a crisis event. Insurance can offer coverage for specific crisis-event related needs such as property damage or the cost of evacuation. Alternatively, insurance can support migrants’ broader risk management needs such as health care, death, disability, or unemployment. When benefits are accessed before a crisis, insurance coverage may boost migrants’ resilience in the face of crisis events. Insurance that addresses these general needs may advance the objective of protecting migrants caught in countries experiencing crises. Insurance can also offer great value during or immediately after a crisis event, but only to the extent the logistical challenges of delivering benefits at these difficult moments are sufficiently addressed.
Country
Worldwide
Region
Worldwide
Year
2016
Category