Lagos sets December 31 deadline for mandatory health insurance enforcement

The Lagos State Government has given residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance, with enforcement of the mandatory coverage policy commencing on January 1, 2027. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced this while flagging off the enforcement of mandatory health insurance under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024, according to PUNCH.

The launch event took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel in Victoria Island and featured the unveiling of 21 participating Health Maintenance Organisations. Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the initiative aims to ensure that access to healthcare does not depend on an individual's ability to pay at the point of illness. The new Lagos Private Health Plan Partnership complements the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which primarily supports vulnerable populations and the informal sector, by providing structured options for salaried workers and corporate organisations.

Implementation And Coverage

The Governor noted that every resident, employer and worker in Lagos is required to have social health insurance. Employers must treat workers' healthcare as a necessary cost of doing business, similar to pensions. According to PUNCH, Sanwo-Olu emphasized that healthcare providers must not turn away any residents requiring emergency medical attention due to financial constraints, and patients must be stabilised before any payment discussions.

State Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi explained that out-of-pocket payments expose households to severe financial hardship. He noted that Lagos is targeting an increase in insured residents from about two million to at least 10 million. PUNCH reports that the Lagos State Health Management Agency increased its Health Equity Fund from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to cover more than 500,000 vulnerable residents.