Manila, Philippines — Expanding insurance access in underserved communities requires more than affordable products—it depends on trusted local partnerships. This belief continues to shape the growth of CashKO, the microinsurance subsidiary of Philippine InsurTech company RuralNet, which now protects more than 6.1 million Filipinos through a nationwide network spanning 81 provinces.
At the center of the company’s expansion is a collaborative model that enables rural banks, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions to integrate affordable life insurance into the financial services they already provide. Rather than relying on traditional distribution channels, CashKO works directly with these organizations to develop “made-to-measure” insurance products that reflect the economic realities of the communities they serve.
The tailored plans focus on helping families address final medical liabilities and funeral expenses—costs that often create significant financial hardship after prolonged illnesses. By providing timely insurance proceeds, CashKO helps families navigate immediate expenses while reducing the likelihood of falling into long-term debt.
The company’s expansion coincides with increasing public concern about health. Around 67% of adult Filipinos now rank staying healthy and avoiding illness as their top personal priority. However, with insurance penetration in the Philippines remaining at only 2%, millions of households continue to face serious financial risks during medical emergencies.
These challenges are particularly evident among rural communities and workers in the informal economy, where unexpected illnesses can erase years of financial progress. Through partnerships with local financial institutions, CashKO seeks to close this protection gap by making insurance more relevant, accessible, and affordable.
One beneficiary, market vendor Lolita Lugasan, experienced the value of these partnerships after the passing of her husband. Having already exhausted the family’s savings on medical treatment, she received her CashKO insurance benefit through a local lending partner within just a few days.
“Makalipas ang ilang araw matapos mamatay ang asawa ko, mabilis kong nakuha ang claim. Ramdam mo na may nag-aalaga sa iyo, may malasakit,” said Lugasan. (“Just a few days after my husband passed away, I received the insurance claim quickly. It makes you feel like someone is truly looking after you and genuinely cares.”)
“‘Yung nakuha ko sa CashKO, kinabukasan, nataon na birthday niya. Hinati ko ‘yun. Yung kalahati, ipinanghanda ko. Pero yung kalahati, inilagay ko sa negosyo ko para may umiikot akong puhunan,” she continued. (“The payout I received from CashKO arrived just in time for his birthday the next day. I split the money—half went toward preparing a meal for his birthday, and the other half I invested back into my business so I would have capital to keep it running.”)
“Financial protection should be within everyone’s reach. It should not be a luxury, but a necessity. Our microinsurance service is tailored to the unique needs of Filipino households, moving away from rigid, traditional insurance and instead co-designing ‘made-to-measure’ plans with local institutions. By leveraging technology, we are helping more Filipino families build genuine financial resilience and long-term peace of mind, so that losing a breadwinner doesn’t mean starting back at zero,” said Justin Arcenas, Founder & CEO of RuralNet Inc.
Driving the company’s ability to scale is RuralNet’s proprietary digital platform, which has achieved a 97% claims approval rate while processing payouts 75% faster than the industry average. This enables partner institutions to provide faster assistance to beneficiaries at times when immediate financial support is most needed.
Today, CashKO’s network includes more than 5,000 partner branches across 81 provinces, allowing insurance to be delivered through organizations that already serve local communities. By combining technology with trusted partnerships, the company continues to remove longstanding barriers to insurance adoption while strengthening financial resilience nationwide.
Having already protected more than 6.1 million lives, CashKO continues to demonstrate how collaborative partnerships can help expand inclusive financial protection across the Philippines.
For more information, visit ruralnet.ph or micro.cashko-insurance.com.