NIGERIA’S LOW HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE LEAVES MILLIONS EXPOSED, EXPERTS WARN

Health experts have raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s wide health insurance gap, warning that millions of citizens remain highly vulnerable to catastrophic healthcare costs due to extremely low coverage levels.

Despite the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act and various state schemes, less than 10% of the country’s over 220 million population currently enjoys any form of health insurance. This leaves the vast majority relying on out-of-pocket payments, which account for a dominant share of healthcare financing and often push families into poverty during medical emergencies.

Specialists at recent forums highlighted that while some states have made progress in enrolling vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children, nationwide penetration remains critically low. The situation is particularly dire for rural dwellers and informal sector workers, who constitute the bulk of the population.

Experts advocate for accelerated reforms, including stronger public-private partnerships, increased funding for vulnerable group funds, and aggressive awareness campaigns. They also called for better coordination between federal and state agencies to close implementation gaps.

The warning comes as the government pushes towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Stakeholders emphasised that without urgent action to expand coverage, achieving meaningful health outcomes will remain elusive.

Health advocates urged policymakers to prioritise sustainable financing models and address systemic barriers to enrolment.