TAKAFUL COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33102/mgkth835Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Takaful, Islamic insurance, Waqf, Hibah, Maqasid al- Shariah, financial inclusion, Malaysia, IndonesiaAbstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) creates substantial and continuing financial pressure for families, yet existing insurance and Takaful products rarely cover the therapies, long-term care needs, and guardianship planning that families require most. This paper proposes a Shariah-compliant Takaful product for children with ASD that combines medical and developmental therapy coverage, Hibah planning, parental death and disability protection, and a savings mechanism. It also integrates Badal Hajj and direct Waqf donation options to reflect Muslim families' religious and social welfare priorities. Using an exploratory qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight parents or guardians of ASD children in Malaysia and Indonesia. Thematic analysis identified five major themes: inadequate existing coverage, significant financial and emotional stress, strong demand for comprehensive long-term protection, concern about guardianship and estate planning, and perceived gaps in Takaful operator awareness. Participants indicated willingness to contribute approximately RM200-500 monthly, depending on coverage level and affordability. Grounded in Maqasid al-Shariah, the proposed product supports the protection of life, intellect, progeny, wealth, and faith while addressing an underserved market. The paper concludes with recommendations for Takaful operators, regulators, advocacy organizations, and researchers, and highlights the need for actuarial modelling, large-scale validation, pilot testing, and regulatory assessment before commercialization.
Downloads
References
Al-Ghazali, A. H. (1937). Al-Mustasfa min 'ilm al-usul. Al-Maktabah al-Tijariyyah al-Kubra.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
Archer, S., Karim, R. A. A., & Sundararajan, V. (2010). Supervisory, regulatory, and capital adequacy implications of profit-sharing investment accounts in Islamic finance. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 1(1), 10-31.
Auda, J. (2008). Maqasid al-Shariah as philosophy of Islamic law: A systems approach. International Institute of Islamic Thought.
Ayub, M. (2007). Understanding Islamic finance. John Wiley & Sons.
Billah, M. M. (2019). Islamic insurance products: Exploring takaful principles, practices and prospects. Palgrave Macmillan.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Buescher, A. V., Cidav, Z., Knapp, M., & Mandell, D. S. (2014). Costs of autism spectrum disorders. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(8), 721-728.
Chiri, G., & Warfield, M. E. (2012). Unmet need in healthcare services for children with autism spectrum disorder. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16(5), 1081-1091.
Cidav, Z., Marcus, S. C., & Mandell, D. S. (2012). Implications of childhood autism for parental employment and earnings. Pediatrics, 129(4), 617-623.
Dusuki, A. W., & Bouheraoua, S. (2011). The framework of Maqasid al-Shariah and its implication for Islamic finance. Islam and Civilisational Renewal, 2(2), 316-336.
Hamzah, S. R., Sulaiman, W. S. W., Suhaimi, A. A., & Daud, A. (2020). Economic burden of autism spectrum disorder in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 16(3), 45-52.
Htay, S. N. N., & Salman, S. A. (2013). Takaful concepts. In S. N. Ali (Ed.), Islamic finance: Principles, practices and educational challenges (pp. 89-104). Nova Science Publishers.
Hussain, M. M., & Pasha, A. T. (2011). Differences between takaful and insurance. Australian Journal of Business and Management Research, 1(8), 23-28.
Ismail, A. G., & Possumah, B. T. (2013). Waqf as microfinance. In M. Obaidullah & H. Shirazi (Eds.), Islamic social finance report 2013 (pp. 45-58). Islamic Research and Training Institute.
Järbrink, K., & Knapp, M. (2001). The economic impact of autism in Britain. Autism, 5(1), 7-22.
Kamali, M. H. (2008). Maqasid al-Shariah made simple. International Institute of Islamic Thought.
Lavelle, T. A., Weinstein, M. C., Newhouse, J. P., et al. (2014). Economic burden of childhood autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 133(3), e520-e529.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.
Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2022). Health facts 2022. Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Mohd Ramli, A., & Jalil, A. (2013). Waqf-takaful model. Journal of Islamic Finance, 2(2), 1-11.
Montes, G., & Halterman, J. S. (2008). Association of childhood autism spectrum disorders and loss of family income. Pediatrics, 121(4), e821-e826.
Rogge, N., & Janssen, J. (2019). The economic costs of autism spectrum disorder: A literature review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(7), 2873-2900.
Sharpe, D. L., & Baker, D. L. (2007). Financial issues associated with having a child with autism. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(2), 247-264.
Shattuck, P. T., Narendorf, S. C., Cooper, B., et al. (2012). Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, 129(6), 1042-1049.
Vohra, R., Madhavan, S., Sambamoorthi, U., & St. Peter, C. (2014). Access to services and health care utilization among children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 18(7), 815-826.
Wiguna, T., Guerrero, A. P. S., Wibisono, S., & Sastroasmoro, S. (2020). Neurodevelopmental disorders in Indonesia. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 54, 102360.
World Health Organization. (2021). Autism spectrum disorders. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders
Yaacob, H., & Donglah, N. K. (2012). Hibah in financial planning. International Journal of Economics, Management and Accounting, 20(1), 57-75.
