The Edo State Health Insurance Scheme which was launched on October 31, 2019 is already making quality health care services affordable to subscribers across the state.
The scheme is part of Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s resolve to achieve universal health coverage for all Edo residents.
The scheme seeks to strengthen the foundation of the Edo State healthcare system by minimizing out-of-pocket spending and improving access to effective, efficient, sustainable and quality healthcare services to the people. The scheme has several friendly packages for residents to choose from. The various packages are:
Equity Health Plan
Membership of this plan is based on selection and verification by the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO). Membership is restricted to persons in the vulnerable group.
Persons eligible to benefit from this plan include physically and mentally challenged persons, poor pregnant women, orphans and children less than five years of age with no support system.
Formal Health Plan
The Formal Health Plan is for employees in the public sector and the organized private sector. It covers parents and their four children, of less than 18 years of age, irrespective of whether either or both parents work in the public or private sector.
For this plan, the healthcare needs of employees in the formal sector are paid for with funds pooled through contributions of employees and employers. The plan costs N68, 000 yearly and covers 21 services.
Informal Health Plan
The Edo State Informal Sector Health Plan is a social health plan for Edo residents in the informal sector. It is designed to cater for the healthcare needs of residents who are self-employed, employed by private organizations with staff strength of between one to five. This plan is broken into three sections: bronze (N18, 000 yearly), silver (N35, 000 yearly) and gold (N68, 000 yearly).
Student Health Plan
This is a social health insurance plan designed for students in tertiary institutions funded with the contributions made by students along with their tuition fees. It is a plan committed to ensuring access to qualitative healthcare service for students in tertiary institutions. The plan costs N18, 000 yearly and covers 20 services.
The Enhanced Private Health Plan
This plan caters for the health needs of residents who intend to access additional healthcare services that were hitherto not covered in the other health plans of the scheme. The plan costs N75, 000 yearly and covers 21 services.
For more information to register for any of the plans, visit the EdoHIC office at the Block C Building in the Secretariat Complex, along Benin-Sapele Road, Benin City.
To enjoy health care benefits offered by the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme, one must enroll with the commission.
The enrolment procedure is seamless and can be completed within a very short period.
To get started, visit edhic.edostate.gov.ng
By Esther Edebor and Portia Osayande, Benin City
