You sabi dat kain fear wey grab person for hospital, di one wey go make your belle turn wen dem ask you to pay before dem go touch you? Well, dat fear dey reduce for millions of Nigerians — because right now, plenty pipo just dey flash NHIA card instead of dey run go find cash for that “emergency” moment.
For di Annual General Meeting of Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors wey hold for Lagos, di Director-General of National Health Insurance Authority, Kelechi Ohiri, come drop bombshell numbers wey go shock you.
22 Million People! And E No Dey Stop
Health insurance for Nigeria don pass 22.03 million — 35% jump since last year alone! Na collaboration between State Social Health Insurance Agencies, government, organised labour, employers, and di mandatory health insurance law wey dey gradually roll out cause di explosion.
Wetin Government No Dey Tell You (Until Now)
Big number dey fine, but na wetin happen after you register matter pass. Listen well: NHIA don resolve 3,878 complaint — 87% resolution rate, 95% of dem settle sharp-sharp within deadline. Money wey pass ₦14.2 million don already return go people pocket, and facilities wey chop enrollees’ money for wrong way don face sanction. Best part? If na urgent case, treatment suppose start within just ONE HOUR.
Hospitals Sef Dey Chop Better Now
You go ask, “wetin dey make hospitals wan accept dis insurance sef?” Simple — money. Capitation payment to healthcare providers don jump 93%, fee-for-service reimbursement don shoot up 378%! Dis na money wey suppose help hospitals buy equipment and stop turning insured patients comot. Meanwhile, 7,592 facilities don already undergo SafeCare quality check — so dem dey monitor am well well.
Who Dem Dey Show Special Love
If you dey pregnant, listen up: over 48,500 pregnant women don already benefit from special support, plus better maternal and newborn care, Vulnerable Group Fund, and even pensioners dey enjoy improved access.
But Make We Talk True Talk
Ohiri no come dey shine grammar make e hide reality. E confess say Nigeria already get all di law and policy wey we need — na only implementation remain. In im own words: “the decisive variable is now implementation.” Translation: e no be say we no get plan — na to make di plan work for real people for real hospital remain.
No Dey Sleep On Dis One — Wetin You Must Do
• Go check if dem don cover you sef! Ask your employer or state agency sharp-sharp — you fit don dey insured and you no even know.
• Remember di one-hour rule. If na emergency and dem dey delay you, remind dem say treatment suppose don start.
• Report bad hospital or HMO immediately — NHIA get system wey dey specifically catch person wey no follow rule. No fold hand.
• Ask about SafeCare rating before wahala reach — no wait until emergency to find out say di facility no good.
• Pregnant woman or pensioner? Ask AM directly — di special programs dey exist, but dem no dey shout am for your face for hospital.
