Manila, Philippines — When Lolita Lugasan lost her husband, she also faced another painful reality: the family’s savings had already been depleted by medical expenses. Like many Filipino families, she found herself navigating grief while worrying about how to pay immediate expenses and keep her small business alive.
Relief came through CashKO, the microinsurance subsidiary of Philippine InsurTech company RuralNet. Through one of its local lending partners, Lugasan received her insurance claim within days, allowing her to manage urgent financial obligations while preserving part of the payout to sustain her livelihood.
“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.”)
She chose to divide the proceeds between honoring her late husband and protecting her family’s future.
“‘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.”)
Stories like Lugasan’s underscore why CashKO continues to expand its reach. Today, the company protects more than 6.1 million underserved Filipinos across 81 provinces, providing affordable life microinsurance designed to help families cope with final medical liabilities and funeral expenses.
Unlike conventional insurance products that often remain financially inaccessible to low-income households, CashKO develops “made-to-measure” insurance plans together with rural banks, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions. Each product is designed around the financial realities, income patterns, and protection needs of the communities they serve.
The approach comes as healthcare concerns continue to rise nationwide. Around 67% of adult Filipinos identify staying healthy and avoiding illness as their biggest personal concern, ahead of immediate economic issues. Despite growing awareness, national insurance penetration remains at only 2%, leaving millions of Filipinos financially vulnerable when serious illness strikes.
For many families, the financial burden begins long before a loved one passes away. Medical treatment can consume years of savings, leaving little protection against funeral costs and the sudden loss of household income. CashKO’s customized life insurance plans provide timely financial support intended to prevent vulnerable families from slipping further into poverty.
“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.
Supporting this mission is RuralNet’s proprietary digital infrastructure, which maintains a 97% claims approval rate while enabling payouts that are 75% faster than the industry average. Faster processing provides beneficiaries with immediate liquidity, reducing the need for high-interest emergency borrowing during times of crisis.
CashKO has expanded its services through more than 5,000 partner branches operating across 81 provinces, making insurance accessible through trusted community-based financial institutions. As the insurance platform at the heart of RuralNet’s technology ecosystem, CashKO continues to simplify insurance delivery while extending financial protection to millions of underserved Filipinos.
With more than 6.1 million covered lives, the company continues to help families like Lugasan’s recover from financial shocks while building greater resilience for the future.
For more information, visit ruralnet.ph or micro.cashko-insurance.com.