A friend once asked me about some health insurance companies and HMOs he could register with and I found myself scratching my head to give him answers, even though I am currently a health care professional in Nigeria. That’s to tell you that you are not alone in this ignorance. Most people also don’t know much about health insurance in Nigeria.
Because of that, I dedicated time to research and write about health insurance in Nigeria, health insurance companies, and Health Maintenance Organizations (otherwise called HMOs). Before then, let’s see a few things you need to know about health insurance.
What is Health Insurance?
Health insurance is a type of insurance coverage that pays for medical and surgical expenses incurred by the insured individual. It is a financial arrangement that protects against the high cost of medical care, thus helping individuals and families to manage healthcare expenses more effectively.
Similar to other forms of insurance, health insurance involves the regular payment of premiums, which are fixed agreed amounts to pay monthly or annually even when there is no need to receive healthcare service(s) during the period.
Health insurance has been considered a preferred means of healthcare financing in many parts of the world where it is functional, compared to out-of-pocket payment.
Health Insurance in Nigeria
In Nigeria, health insurance is still not widely adopted due to the following challenges:
1. High Premiums
A health insurance premium is the upfront payment made to the insurance company or HMO to keep the insurance policy active to cover healthcare expenses when needed. It is paid regularly, could be more monthly or yearly, regardless of whether one used healthcare services.
In a population of people who are barely struggling to make ends meet, payment of premiums can be a big challenge to most Nigerians who might be interested in subscribing to a health insurance plan. Even though the premium fees are generally not at the extreme, they can be relatively too high for an average Nigerian who wishes to register.
2. Poor Accessibility To HMO-partnered Health Facilities
With a paucity of HMO-partnered health facilities in the country, it can be discouraging to subscribe to health insurance within the country. Usually, HMOs partner with a primary healthcare facility through which you must receive healthcare in order to be covered.
If you must use another facility for any reason, it has to be through a referral from the primary facility. But this can be challenging when you are currently in a place where your primary facility is not present. This is in contrast to other parts of the world where insurance is fully functional and there are many available primary insurance centers.
3. Ignorance of Available HMOs
Many Nigerians do not even know the HMOs available to them, not even the ones closest to them. This is the primary reason for this article, as I aim to open your eyes to some health insurance companies and HMOs that can cover your medical bills at considerable premiums.
4. Limited Coverage of Insurance
Insurance coverage for most HMOs is very limited in the number of individuals a family plan can accommodate, and the type of medical care, procedures, and investigations to be covered.
Typically, some major procedures and surgeries are not covered by the basic insurance plans available, which might force people to pay out-of-pocket despite being covered by an insurance plan.
5. The Mindset of Natural Protection
It stands to reason that when money is not available, people have to devise other mindsets to comfort themselves. One such is the mindset of natural protection which has made many Nigerians believe that nature protects them from illness or death despite what they do against their health.
Many of them don’t care to visit the hospital for lack of money and are only brought in when the case has become very critical. They claim to have a “strong immune system” that fights all diseases on its own.
Aside from the monetary factor fueling this ideology, the deplorable state of the health system which results in delays in receiving healthcare after visiting a healthcare facility is another reason why many Nigerians prefer to seek alternative solutions when they have health challenges.
Top Health Insurance Companies in Nigeria (HMO)
As of the time of writing this, there are about 73 Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) registered by the Health Insurance regulating body in Nigeria, NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme). This list includes the top 20 Health Maintenance Organizations and the plans they offer.
HMOs render insurance services by liaising with health facilities and institutions to cover medical fees provided a customer is up to date with premium payment and is using a facility recognized by the HMO.
The ranking order is quite vague as there are no specific ranking data available currently. However, I will provide a ranking of some top 20 HMOs in Nigeria as at 2024.
1. AXA Mansard HMO
AXA Mansard is a member of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 149,000 employees serving 95 million clients in 50 countries. Their plans are widely inclusive, covering bills for hospital visits, vaccinations, medications, surgeries, laboratory tests, and so on.
Its office is located at 182 Ikorodu-Ososun Rd, Onipanu, Lagos. Their plans include:
- Retail Health Plan
- Easycare Plan
- International Plan
Mansard HMO is current with recent technological developments with an available mobile app downloadable from the app stores. To learn more, visit https://www.axamansard.com/health/plans/
2. Reliance HMO
Reliance is another popular HMO service in Nigeria, featuring health plans across family and business worlds. Its office is located at 32 Lanre Awolokun St, Gbagada, Lagos State, and it offers affordable health insurance plans for Nigerians including the following service packages:
- Family plans
- Parents plan
- Business plan
They also have a mobile app to make it easier for you to manage your insurance plans with them, and they have good hospital coverage across the country. Learn more at https://reliancehmo.com/business
3. Hygeia HMO
Hygeia is one of the oldest and most prominent HMOs in Nigeria, with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Although the company received its license from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2005, it has been in existence since 1986. Its head office is located at ConSol House, ConSol Close, Block 2 Oshodi – Apapa Expressway, Lagos State.
They offer cheap and affordable health insurance to citizens in Nigeria across the following plans:
- Individual plans
- Family plans
- Maternity plans
- SME group plans
- Corporate plans
Hygeia HMO has a mobile application downloadable from the app stores that makes it easier for you to subscribe and manage your plans. Learn more about Hygeia HMO at https://hygeiahmo.com/
4. Avon Healthcare Limited
Avon HMO is a subsidiary of the Heirs Holdings Group owned by UBA’s owner, Tony Elumelu. Their office is located on the 2nd Floor, Afriland Towers, 97/101 Broad St, Lagos.
It was duly registered by the NHIS in 2012 and commenced operations in 2013. Since then, they have been committed to providing insurance plans for the following categories:
- Individual
- Couple
- Family
- Business
- International
- Critical care
Learn more here https://avonhealthcare.com/
5. Hallmark HMO
Hallmark HMO is also one of Nigeria’s leading HMOs with many years of experience in the health insurance industry. They focus on meeting the unique health and financial needs of their clients and work closely to provide customized price quotes for them.
Its office is located at 264 Ikorodu-Ososun Rd, Obanikoro, Lagos, and it provides affordable and quality healthcare plans in the following categories:
- Corporate plans
- Retail plans
For more information, visit their official website at https://hallmarkhmo.com/
6. Novo Health Africa
Novo Health Africa is an HMO accredited by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and driven by the objective to provide health care delivery solutions to their customers through the continuum of care. It is located at Plot 17 Adewale Kolawale Crescent, off Kuboye beside Ocean Crest School, Oniru Lagos. Their plans include:
- Corporate plans – For corporate organizations
- Retail plans – For students, small business owners, domestic staff, extended family members, etc…
- Transnational plan – to provide access to healthcare for patients whose illnesses cannot be managed locally.
- Loaf plan – For people living in the diaspora willing to purchase health insurance plans for members of their family and loved ones living in Nigeria.
To learn more, visit their website at https://www.novohealthafrica.org/
7. Leadway Health Limited
Leadway Health is another HMO that offers one of the best health insurance services in Nigeria. Their head office is located at 121/123, Funso Williams Avenue, Iponri, Surulere Lagos, and they have over 50 years of experience in the health insurance industry.
They currently have more than 1,000 accredited healthcare centers in Nigeria, and offer the following health insurance plans:
- Individuals and families
- Small and large companies
- Senior citizens
Advancing with recent developments, they also have a mobile app that can help you manage your subscriptions, as well as a “Talk to a doctor” platform that enables you to speak to a doctor online when you are unsure what your medical condition is. Learn more at Leadway Health.
8. Redcare Health Service Limited
Redcare HMO focuses on providing quality and affordable healthcare coverage for individuals, families, and corporate organizations. It is located at 41 Gbolade Adebanjo Street, Off Coker Road, Ilupeju. Lagos, Nigeria.
Redcare Health Service Limited offers the following health plans:
- Corporate plans
- Private plans
- Other plans
Learn more at https://redcarehmo.com/health-plans/
9. AIICO Multishield Limited
AIICO Multishield HMO is the HMO arm of AIICO insurance company which also covers other types of insurance plans. This HMO is one of the best and oldest in the health insurance industry, having started in 1997. The company is located at 322, Ikorodu Rd, Anthony Village, Anthony, Lagos.
AIICO offers the following insurance plans:
- Evacuation plan
- Super Executive
- Magnum
- Executive
- Standard
For more information, visit their website at http://www.aiicomultishield.com/
10. Greenbay HMO
With over twenty-five experience in the industry, Greenbay HMO focuses on providing health insurance plans to individuals and corporate organizations. Their office is currently located at 9 Odunuga St, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos. And their services include:
- Corporate plans
- Individual plans
To learn more, visit their website at https://greenbayhmo.com/
11. Clearline International Limited
Clearline International Limited HMO was incorporated in 1994 and duly registered with the NHIS to provide health insurance to individuals, corporate bodies, and institutions. Since then, they have been committed to upholding a culture of integrity, compassion, and accountability.
With up to 10 regional presence, its head office is located at 290 Ikorodu Road, Obanikoro, Lagos 102216, Lagos. They offer the following plans:
- Corporate
- Individual
- Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance
Learn more at https://clearlinehmo.net/
12. United Healthcare International Limited
United Healthcare International is one of the foremost Health Maintenance Organizations in Nigeria accredited to operate as both a private health insurance company and as a participant in the formal/informal sector of the Social health insurance program administered by the NHIS.
Over the past two decades, they have established themselves as a reliable and trustworthy provider of health insurance coverage for individuals, families, and businesses, with an extensive network of over 2,000 hospitals and specialist centers across Nigeria.
Their health plans include:
- Retail health plan
- Corporate plan
- International plan
- Travel plan
To find out more, check their website at https://unitedhealthcare-ng.com/
13. LifeWORTH HMO
LifeWORTH HMO was established in 2014, focusing on providing healthcare to its clients. They are located at 175 Ikorodu-Ososun Rd, Palmgrove, Lagos.
Their plans include:
- Individual
- Couple
- Family
- Corporate
- Community
- Platinum Private/International
Their website at https://lifeworthhmo.com/ provides more information.
14. MetroHealth HMO
MetroHealth HMO is another leading HMO that offers unparalleled comprehensive primary, secondary, and tertiary health insurance services across the country. It was registered in 2013 and currently has over 1,000 healthcare partners.
Its office is located at the 14th Floor, St. Nicholas House, 26 Catholic Mission St, Lagos Island, Lagos. They have the following service plans:
- Individuals
- Couples
- Family
- Business
- Organizations
You can visit their official website at https://www.metrohealthhmo.com/ for more information
15. Total Health Trust Limited
Total Health Trust (THT) is one of Nigeria’s leading HMOs. It was founded in 1997 and commenced operation in 1998. With over 25 years of experience, THT has one of the largest networks of independent service providers with over 1200 private and more than 5000 NHIS-accredited clinics and hospitals throughout the country.
THT offers affordable and reliable insurance services to its over 300,000 customers, including 500 corporate clients and government institutions. It is located at Marconi Rd, Onipanu, Lagos, and offers the following packages:
- Individual
- Family
- Corporate
Learn more at https://www.libertyhealth.net/nigeria/en/
16. HCI Healthcare
HCI Healthcare is one of the foremost HMOs commenced in 1997 and was among the first batch of eight HMOs signed in by the NHIS Act that year. It is located at 296 Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos.
HCI is committed to becoming the best HMO in Africa with a focus on delivering quality healthcare services efficiently to all its customers and healthcare partners. They offer the following services:
- Retail plan
- Corporate
- School plan
- Informal sector
- Senior citizens plan
- International plan
Learn more at https://www.hcihealthcare.ng/
17. Anchor HMO
Anchor HMO focuses on providing easy access to quality health services for individuals and corporate entities. They have several health plans that cater to various segments of the society. They are located at Express Road, Goldcrest Plaza, Lekki – Epe Express Way, Lekki.
Some of their health plans include:
- Corporate Health Plan
- Retail Health Plan
- Third-Party Administration
- Customized Health Plan
To learn more, visit their website at https://anchorhmo.com/
18. Swift HMO
Swift HMO assures a quality network of providers that are patient/client-centric. They include flexibility of choice of hospitals, allowing an enrollee to have access to three hospitals and change hospitals when necessary. Its office is located at 1 Fabac Close, Off Ligali Ayorinde St, Victoria Island, Lagos.
They have a customizable health insurance plan that offers you a quote based on your specifications.
Get more information by visiting their website at https://swifthmoltd.business.site/
19. Sterling Health HMO
Sterling Health MCS is a Health Maintenance Organization established in 2006, with affordable and quality healthcare services. They are located at Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos. Check out their health plans at https://sterlinghealthmcs.com/
20. Defence Health Maintainance Limited HMO
Defense Health Maintenance Limited is a corporate entity owned by the Nigerian Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Armed Forces. It boasts over twelve years in managed care and has offices in 23 states of the Federation.
To know more about them, visit their website at https://www.dhmlnigeria.com/about-dhml/
Do HMOs cover for surgery and CT scan in Nigeria?
Some HMOs cover tertiary care services and expensive investigations like CT scans and MRI. This oftentimes depends on the HMO involved and the type of plan you have with them.
What is Premium in health insurance?
Premium is the recurring fee you have to pay regularly to continue receiving health insurance coverage from an HMO. This could be paid monthly or annually.
