Lagos sets December 31 deadline for residents to obtain health insurance

The Lagos State Government has set December 31, 2026, as the deadline for residents to obtain health insurance, warning that enforcement of the compulsory coverage policy will begin on January 1, 2027.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline on Tuesday while launching the enforcement of mandatory health insurance under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sanwo-Olu also introduced the Lagos Private Health Plans to provide insurance coverage for salaried employees and corporate organisations.

The new plans are expected to complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which caters to vulnerable residents and people working in the informal sector.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu gave every resident until 31 December 2026 to obtain insurance cover, with enforcement commencing on 1 January 2027,” the statement said.

Speaking at an event in Victoria Island attended by government officials, healthcare professionals and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, the governor said the policy was designed to ensure that all Lagos residents could access quality medical services without facing financial difficulties.

He explained that the executive order was not merely intended to compel enrolment but to guarantee wider access to healthcare through insurance coverage.

“The ultimate objective of the Executive Order went beyond enforcement. It was to ensure that every Lagos resident was covered by health insurance and could access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship,” he said.

The statement added that individuals, employers and workers were all required to participate in the social health insurance system, with the executive order outlining specific responsibilities for residents, businesses and the government.

He explained that while Ilera Eko was designed for vulnerable groups and informal-sector workers, the newly introduced private health plans would cater to salaried employees and employers.

The governor also urged employers to treat workers’ healthcare as an essential business expense, just like pension contributions and other statutory employment obligations.

On emergency treatment, Sanwo-Olu stressed that healthcare providers must not deny patients urgent medical attention because they lacked money or insurance coverage. He said patients must first be stabilised before payment or insurance issues were considered.

He disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had agreed to participate in the new plans, describing the arrangement as a collaboration between the government and private-sector operators to widen insurance coverage and improve healthcare delivery.

Sanwo-Olu also appealed to medical professionals considering leaving Nigeria to reconsider, arguing that improved healthcare financing could help strengthen the sector and create a more sustainable environment for practitioners.

Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the rising cost of healthcare had been driven partly by advances in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics and modern diagnostic equipment.

He emphasised the need for an inclusive and sustainable health insurance system to shield residents from escalating medical bills while ensuring access to quality services.

Abayomi described the initiative as a significant change in healthcare financing, noting that the heavy reliance on out-of-pocket payments placed considerable pressure on households and healthcare facilities.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, disclosed that the state government had raised its Health Equity Fund from N1bn to N3bn to extend insurance coverage to more than 500,000 vulnerable residents unable to afford the required premiums.

He said the agency would continue to increase enrolment, intensify public awareness and ensure that the policy translated into accessible healthcare services across the state.

Adedewe added that LASHMA had expanded its community engagement efforts through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.

Lagos sets December 31 deadline for residents to obtain health insurance