The Lagos State Government has given residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance forward of mandatory enforcement starting on (*31*) 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu introduced the deadline in an announcement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Tuesday.
The coverage, launched beneath Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024, requires residents, employers and employees to obtain protection because the state seeks to widen entry to healthcare and scale back the monetary burden of medical payments on households.
Lagos units December deadline for health insurance
Sanwo-Olu introduced the enforcement timeline whereas unveiling the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), a brand new initiative geared toward extending protection to salaried employees and company organisations.
The plans will complement Ilera Eko, the state’s present scheme for susceptible residents and folks working within the casual sector.
- According to the assertion, the governor stated the coverage was designed to guarantee residents might entry high quality healthcare with out struggling monetary hardship.
- “The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday flagged off the enforcement of mandatory health insurance in Lagos State under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024,” the assertion learn.
- “Governor Sanwo-Olu gave every resident until 31 December 2026 to obtain insurance cover, with enforcement commencing on 1 January 2027,” it added.
- The government order assigns tasks to people, employers and the federal government. Sanwo-Olu stated companies should regard employees’ healthcare as a essential value of doing enterprise, alongside pensions and different employment obligations.
He additionally directed healthcare suppliers to stabilise sufferers requiring emergency remedy earlier than addressing fee or insurance points, stressing that monetary constraints should not stop sufferers from receiving emergency care.
According to the assertion, 21 health upkeep organisations had endorsed participation within the new personal health plans, that are anticipated to strengthen cooperation between the state authorities and personal healthcare operators.
Lagos will increase health fairness fund to N3 billion
The Lagos State Government has elevated its Health Equity Fund from N1 billion to N3 billion to lengthen insurance protection to greater than 500,000 susceptible residents who can not afford the required premiums.
- The Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Adebayo Adedewe, stated the company would proceed increasing enrolment and intensifying public consciousness to carry extra residents into the scheme.
- LASHMA plans to use radio campaigns, billboards and digital advocacy to promote enrolment.
- The company will work with conventional rulers, market associations, transport unions and different grassroots organisations to attain residents.
- The new personal plans will goal salaried employees and company organisations, whereas Ilera Eko continues to serve susceptible residents and folks within the casual sector.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated advances in medical expertise, together with synthetic intelligence, robotics and trendy diagnostic tools, had elevated the price of healthcare supply.
He argued that an inclusive insurance system was essential to shield households from rising medical bills, noting that out-of-pocket funds positioned monetary stress on each households and healthcare amenities.
Lagos information 2.76 million insurance enrollees
The new deadline follows an earlier plan by the state government to start full enforcement of mandatory health insurance by the third quarter of 2025. The coverage relies on an government order signed by Sanwo-Olu in July 2024.
- Data from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) present that Lagos recorded 2.76 million health insurance enrollees in 2025, rating second nationally behind Delta State.
- The Lagos State Social Health Insurance programme accounted for 1.10 million enrollees.
- The federal formal sector recorded 256,525 enrollees in Lagos.
Private health upkeep organisations coated 1.18 million residents, the best determine recorded by any state in Nigeria.
The 1.18 million determine represents greater than half of the two.17 million enrollees recorded nationwide beneath personal HMOs, underscoring the dimensions of Lagos’ personal health insurance market.
