Nigeria's Health Insurance Enrollment Hits 22 Million, Up 35% in a Year

Nigeria's National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says enrollment in health coverage schemes across the country has reached 22.03 million people, a 35% increase from the previous year, as mandatory-coverage rules and new state partnerships widen access to care. NHIA Director-General Dr Kelechi Ohiri said the growth reflects the push to expand the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and formalize enrollment through state health insurance agencies.

The authority also reported improvements in complaint resolution and its SafeCare quality-assurance program, with a growing share of accredited health facilities meeting minimum service standards. Officials say faster claims processing and stronger monitoring of enrollee complaints have been central to building public trust in the scheme.

Vulnerable-group support programs, including subsidized enrollment for low-income Nigerians, have expanded alongside a rise in payments to participating healthcare providers, according to NHIA figures. The authority says these programs are designed to cushion out-of-pocket health costs for households that would otherwise struggle to afford care.

The NHIA was established from the transition of the former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with a mandate to enforce mandatory coverage under the 2022 National Health Insurance Authority Act. Analysts note that even with the reported growth, 22 million enrollees remains a small fraction of Nigeria's population of more than 230 million, underscoring how far the mandatory-coverage push still has to go.

Source: Vanguard