Lagos: The Ultimate Health HMO has introduced the Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP) as its core coverage plan, aiming to expand insurance access to Nigeria’s informal sector and private workforce. Otunba Lekan Ewenla, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ultimate Health HMO, announced the initiative at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the decision to adopt GIFSHIP was part of a broader strategy to increase enrollment and align with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act 2022. The plan is designed to serve individuals, families, associations, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), alongside workers in the informal economy. Ewenla emphasized the need to set the right agenda due to the historically low uptake of health insurance in the organised private sector, attributing it to misgivings and misinterpretations from earlier implementations.
He noted that previous laws only encouraged participation, leading to poor compliance. Ewenla explained that the NHIA law now mandates participation, addressing existing gaps by standardising pricing and eliminating arbitrary negotiations. He highlighted the importance of employers understanding their obligation to convert medical allowances into health insurance premiums for their workers.
The GIFSHIP plan features a fixed annual premium of N38,718.00 per person. Ewenla described the adoption of GIFSHIP as a strategic step to make healthcare affordable, accessible, and equitable. He stressed the shift from treating illness to fostering health, with products developed through actuarial analysis to meet high-income clients’ needs while adhering to regulatory guidelines.
Mr Austine Aipoh, National President of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), underscored the need for cooperation between governments, HMOs, and industry bodies for successful implementation. He highlighted that 60 percent of Nigerians work in the informal sector and have yet to be adequately engaged. Aipoh expressed concerns over weak enforcement within the organised private sector and highlighted the potential of GIFSHIP to meet basic premium package needs through the basic healthcare provision fund.
Aipoh concluded that proper implementation would enhance funding and enable providers to deliver higher quality healthcare services, while sustained public awareness and enforcement of the NHIA Act would be crucial for the programme’s ultimate success.