10 Functions of Health Insurance Schemes in Nigeria

Here in this post, we are going to give you a detailed and concise guide on the functions of health insurance schemes in Nigeria.

The health insurance scheme in Nigeria is a programme implemented by the federal government for the purpose of providing health insurance services to Nigerian citizens.

Whether it is the public sector or the private one, both have the legal backing to dispense health insurance services to the people of Nigeria.

Read Also: 10 Functions of Health Institutions in Nigeria

However, the health insurance services do varies from country to country, and this is normally caused by the country’s legislation regarding its health insurance scheme.

In fact, most of these schemes do share similar goals, which of course, like in Nigeria, it is to make sure that, there is an attainment of the national health insurance coverage, and that of making medical care affordable to Nigerians.

I have said here earlier that, the health insurance services can be provided either via public-owned health care services or private-owned health care services.

But then, the way, in which the health insurance scheme works in another country may slightly differs from how the scheme is operated in Nigeria.

Having said that, in this article, I am going to share with you some of the functions of the health insurance scheme, as operated in Nigeria.

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What Are The Functions Of Health Insurance Schemes?

Health insurance schemes was formed to serve some functions, and below are these functions:

1. Ensures Equity In Health Care Delivery

One of the primary functions of the health insurance schemes in Nigeria, is that of ensuring that equity in health service delivery covered is achieved.

This is important, since ensuring equity in health care service delivery being covered will actually measured the extent to which, the health insurance schemes succeed in this mandate.

2. Manages Health Insurance Funds

Health insurance funds is manage by the health insurance schemes. The health insurance schemes must make sure that funds accruing to the scheme is manage prudently.

This is important, since this will help the health insurance schemes to finance all its activities, because to carry out  its functions successfully, the schemes need money, and for the money to be sufficient for the business of the health insurance schemes, there is need for the schemes to manage the funds accruing to it well.

3. Enforces And Manages Health Insurance Scheme

The health insurance scheme is one of the health parastatals, working under the supervision of the federal ministry of health.

The scheme is set up to assist the federal ministry of health in achieving its numerous objectives. Therefore, one way the health insurance schemes is helping in achieving its objective is to enforce the health insurance schemes, operate the scheme and as well, manage the health insurance schemes.

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4. Registers Health Insurance Scheme’s Members

Another functions of the health insurance schemes in Nigeria is to make sure that, every member of the health insurance schemes is registered.

Data that has to do with the members of the health insurance schemes must be in the database of the health insurance schemes.

5. Ensures That The Poor In The Country Access Health Care Services Nation Wide

Provision of health care service to the citizens of Nigeria remained one of the duties of the federal government of Nigeria.

And one of the parastatals, working under the supervision of the federal ministry of health, and is under taking health care delivery in the country is to health insurance schemes.

Going by its functions, it is expected that, the health insurance schemes provides health care services, and in providing its functions, it must make sure that the poor in the country access this health services.

6. Registers And Supervises Private Owned Health Insurance Scheme Providers

Since the task of providing health care services in the country is quite a big task, private individuals and institutions are given license to assist in providing this services to the Nigerian citizens.

Therefore what is expected from the health insurance schemes in this regard, is to make sure that, these private institutions that are the providers of health insurance schemes are registered and licensed by the government.

The health insurance schemes does not only registered these private health insurance schemes providers, they also make sure that the activities of the private owned health insurance schemes providers are supervised.

Read Also: Problems And Prospects Of Public Health Care In Nigeria

7. Safeguards The Vulnerable And The Poor Against Financial Risk Of Any Kind

The health insurance schemes do not only ensure the accessibility of the health care services provided by the schemes.

They also went as far as making sure that, they safeguard the vulnerable ones in the country, as well as, the poor against financial risk of any form.

8. Makes Proposals To The Health Minister For Policies Formulation

Writing of proposals for health insurance sector is one of the primary functions of the health insurance schemes. And so, what the health insurance schemes does in this regard, is to make sure that, it comes up with relevant proposals, and presents same the the Minister of health for the purpose of formulation of health policies particularly, in the health insurance sector.

Working on the proposals will assist the relevant authority in formulating relevant policies that will help the health sector fulfill its mandate for the people of Nigeria.

9. Decides In Conjunction With Minister Of Health Contributions To Be Made By Members

Every member of the health insurance schemes is expected to make outstanding contributions to the realization of the health insurance schemes’ mandate.

In achieving this, the health insurance schemes will have to decide in conjunction with the honourable Minister of health the contributions expected from every member of the scheme, and their contributions must be such that will help the health insurance schemes achieve its objectives.

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10. Comes Up With Processes And Guidelines And Manuals For Proper Management And Execution Of The Scheme:

The health insurance scheme is expected to manage itself prudently with a view to attain its objectives. To achieve these objectives, the health insurance schemes must come up with some good guidelines, and good processes, as well as, good manuals.

These manuals and guidelines and processes must be such that will help the health insurance schemes in achieving its objectives particularly, in the management and execution of the health insurance schemes.

Conclusion

However, the health insurance services do varies from country to country, and this is normally caused by the country’s legislation regarding its health insurance scheme.

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