The Treasure Pot Game

The challenge of explaining the concept of insurance exists in all environments, including amongst well educated people in developed countries.  However, it can be even more of a challenge when trying to reach resource-poor people in developing countries, who may have never been exposed to insurance.

To tackle this challenge, the Micro Insurance Academy (MIA) developed a tool called the Treasure Pot Game that transforms this complex task of insurance education into a simple and effective game. This tool educates members on the need for insurance in their community (with particular focus on healthcare). Playing the treasure pot is fun and easy, while at the same time enabling the members to understand the notion of insurance and how pooling risks may offer better outcomes then out of pocket spending.

The game involves a simulation of real life using health event cards (simulating real-life events) and candy (symbolizing money).   Attention is drawn to the need for insurance when some members are bankrupt due to their high health costs, and need to borrow or forgo treatment.  By discussing concepts such as poverty, debt, the inability to access healthcare without insurance, facilitated through a story-telling session, participants are then encouraged to think about insurance as an intelligent solution to their vulnerability to risk.

The game is then repeated by asking each member to contribute a part of their funds to an insurance fund, or a “treasure pot’.  The game is then repeated with the same event cards, and the same number of candy – but this time the outcomes are far more favorable to the group as a whole:  Everyone can afford the care they need, nobody is bankrupt or needs to borrow funds, and each members has one piece of candy left at the end of the game.

The lesson is clear and intuitive for all:  Through pooling resources and engaging in community-based insurance, the group is better off.

If you would like to use Treasure Pot to introduce the concept of insurance in your community, please contact us for a detailed facilitator’s guide.

To view a short movie on the Treasure Pot, please click here