More Details
Based on the Order, all residents, employers, and workers are required to subscribe to a Social Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS) either through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) or a private health insurance provider accredited by both the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Lagos State Government (LASG).
The Order is backed by the NHIA Act, 2022 (“the Act”), which mandates every state in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, to establish and implement a State Health Insurance and Contributory Scheme to provide health care for all residents. The Act also stipulates that every Nigerian resident must obtain health insurance. Under the Act, the term “residents” includes all employers (with five or more staff) and employees in the public and private sectors, informal sector employees, and all other residents of Nigeria.
Registration
Registration can be completed by subscribing to a plan via the LASHMA website or through any Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) accredited by the NHIA and LASG.
Paragraph 35 (1) of the Lagos State Health Scheme Law 2015 provides that, as a resident of Lagos State, obtaining the Lagos State Residence Registration Agency (LASSRA) registration number is a prerequisite to enrolling for a health insurance plan.
What the Insured Individual Can Expect
The Order provides that health-care facilities in the State must provide emergency treatment for life-threatening cases without requesting evidence of the enrollment in a health insurance plan; however, once the patient's condition is stabilised, the patient must provide proof of registration for a social health insurance plan or register for one through any of the recommended health insurance agencies before receiving further medical care.
Roles and Responsibilities of Government
To foster compliance, all ministries, departments, and agencies (“MDAs”) in the State are required to make sure that all Lagos State residents and workers who seek to use their facilities or services, have subscribed to the SHIS through the prescribed health insurance providers. The MDAs must obtain proof of social health insurance registration before granting desiring individuals access to their services in the State. In addition, the LASHMA will implement public awareness campaigns to educate the public on the significance and mandatory nature of the newly-introduced policy.
The Order also highlights the LASG's commitment to the release of equity funds for the benefit of the State’s vulnerable citizens who cannot afford to procure a health insurance policy. Anyone in this category will be profiled by an appropriate officer in the public health-care facility and referred to the LASHMA for enrollment in the Equity Fund.
