Nigeria health insurance needs a serious lift. When the word ‘insurance’ comes into the discussion, many queries come along with it; and that’s irrespective of any form of insurance that’s being discussed. The insurance aspect of it hasn’t been badly affected.
For those who want to know some basic relevant info about Nigeria health insurance, then read on as you would definitely find this write up very useful for you in the long run.
What is Nigeria health insurance?
Basically, Nigeria health insurance is a way to pay for healthcare in Nigeria. This payment protects a subscriber from paying the full amount of medical services when they fall sick or injured. Just like a car or business insurance, one selects a plan, pay the monthly charges and the health issuer agrees to pay a part of a subscriber medical cost. They basically negotiate the doctors and hospitals.
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What about health insurance in Nigeria?
Health insurance in Nigeria is being controlled by the Nigerian National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). which is programmed to attract more resources to the healthcare sector and improve the access, resources, and utilization of healthcare services.
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What are the programs?
Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Program (for employees in the public sector and organized private sector – a business with 10 staffs and above). The formal sector covers staff, significant other and four biological children.
How much does it cost?
The cost for enrolling for the NHIS varies from programme to programme. The government organization bears the lump sum for the registration of Formal Sector Health Insurance Programme and your personal input depends on the Health Service Provider. Registration of your dependants (Children and Parents) usually cost around N9,000 per head. VCSHIP costs a registration fee of N15,000 and N10,000 per head fee. NMHIP costs N12,000 and N9,000 per head. All fees would be renewed annually.
How does one enrol?
To enrol for the Formal Sector Health Insurance Programme, one just needs to make enquiries of the HMO the firm uses and go register to get the enrolee card.
For the NMHIP, one has to contact NHIS in any of their branches which can be found online. Although one needs to visit them physically during the registration process, and after, to get ones’ card.
Issues
Of course in Nigeria, HMOs staffs are not well trained and they tend to see people who have chosen to ensure their health as lower to those who didn’t choose to. Since they pay lower and enjoy insurance benefits. Hence, they tend to attend to them in a different manner compared to others.
Read Also: Health Maintenance Organization(HMO) in Nigeria
Conclusion
The government should invest more in the health sector and give out loans to partnering HMOs so that their Health Services can be up to standard.
Also, they should take time out to enlighten the staffs on the real line behind deciding to opt for health insurance and deciding not to as most people who have opted for it are even more enlightened and most times richer than those that didn’t. Note: Private Health Insurance companies like AGA, HYGEIA and so on are still regulated under the NHIS.
