Health Insurance Plan To Capture 190m Nigerians Debuts

With about 190 million Nigerians yet to adopt health insurance scheme, thereby, drawing back the country’s aim towards universal health coverage, a health insurance plan to capture the 190 million people has commenced, LEADERSHIP learnt.

Investigation revealed that, of the 200 million people in the country, only 10 million Nigerians have health insurance scheme.

This translates to about 5 per cent health insurance coverage, leaving about 95 per cent of the populace struggling with health care services.

The country passed a bill on health insurance coverage in 1999 and 21 years after, health insurance penetration is still abysmal, a development experts said, must be quickly addressed to allow more Nigerians enjoy better health care services delivery.

The reasons for negligence of the health scheme was the perception that the scheme is too costly and meant for the elites, even as most have resorted to self medication as a cheap way of resolving their ailment.

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However, AXA Mansard Health and Airtel Nigeria, have partnered to unveil a digital health insurance plan that provides access to basic health care consultation and minor treatment for customers on the Airtel network.

While the scheme tagged a game-changer in the health insurance scheme in the country, the Health bundle gives Airtel customers the opportunity to approach low- cost health care consolation and treatment for minor illnesses.

The health bundle will give Airtel customers access to healthcare via a short code when they buy specific data bundles. The bundle will also provide easy access to pharmacies for medication of up to N60,000 per year and hospitalisation reimbursement cover of N20,000 monthly as well as up to N240,000 in a year.

Investigation revealed that, with N700, airtel subscribers get 1GB data and health care insurance valid for 7 days, while N1,700 gives subscriber 2GB data and health care insurance valid for 30 days, and N3,500 gives you 10GB data and health care insurance valid for 30 days.

Reacting on the development, the managing director/CEO, AXA Mansard Health, Mr. Tope Adeniyi, applauded the partnership between the two companies for deploying technology to make far-reaching impact in healthcare service delivery.

To him, “we are delighted to collaborate with Airtel to make health insurance accessible through mobile services, and we believe that this is currently one of the most innovative and relevant solutions that will empower more Nigerians to conveniently access best-in-class health insurance value offerings.”

Similarly, the chief Commercial officer, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Oshinlaja described the bundle as an innovative product that has been particularly designed to make significant difference.

“In line with Airtel’s core value, which is to deliver solutions that enrich the lives of our customers, we are pleased to partner with AXA Mansard, to launch a cutting-edge health bundle that will add value to our customers. This partnership aims to provide easy and pocket friendly health insurance access to Airtel users, through mobile data service,” he pointed out.

Adding that the health bundle will shorten the distance between Airtel customers and healthcare providers, he added that, “with this simple cover, users may now have access to medication of up to N60,000 and hospitalisation cover of N50, 000 per year.