Insurance Inclusivity in Education: A Conceptual Framework for Student Well-Being, Security, and Access

Abstract

Ensuring student well-being and equitable access to education has emerged as a global policy priority as higher education institutions confront rising vulnerabilities related to health risks, financial instability, digital exposure, and campus safety. While insurance has traditionally been treated as a peripheral administrative provision in education, its role has expanded in mitigating student risk, supporting continuity of learning, and strengthening institutional resilience. Despite this growing relevance, the concept of insurance inclusivity—the equitable availability, accessibility, affordability, and adequacy of insurance protection for all students—remains underexplored in academic literature and education policy discourse.
This conceptual paper develops a comprehensive framework that positions insurance inclusivity as a structural pillar of student welfare, risk mitigation, and educational access. Drawing on social protection theory, welfare economics, and educational equity perspectives, the paper identifies key domains of student vulnerability, including health emergencies, mental well-being challenges, cyber exposure, financial shocks, accidents, and learning disruptions. It demonstrates how inclusive insurance mechanisms can address these risks while supporting student retention and institutional accountability.