Insured persons dilemma about other family members: a perspective on the national health insurance scheme in Nigeria

Authors

  • Nasir Umar Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim,
  • Shafiu Mohammed Heidelberg University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2011.e31

Keywords:

insurance, health, health insurance, National Health Program

Abstract

The need for health care reforms and alternative financing mechanism in many low and middle-income countries has been advocated. This led to the introduction of the national health insurance scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria, at first with the enrollment of formal sector employees. A qualitative study was conducted to assess enrollee’s perception on the quality of health care before and after enrollment. Initial results revealed that respondents (heads of households) have generally viewed the NHIS favorably, but consistently expressed dissatisfaction over the terms of coverage. Specifically, because the NHIS enrollment covers only the primary insured person, their spouse and only up to four biological children (child defined as <18 years of age), in a setting where extended family is common. Dissatisfaction of enrollees could affect their willingness to participate in the insurance scheme, which may potentially affect the success and future extension of the scheme.
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Author Biographies

Nasir Umar, Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim,

Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine Universitätsmedizin Mannheim;

Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Shafiu Mohammed, Heidelberg University

Institute of Public Health, Medical Faculty Heidelberg

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Published

05-09-2011

How to Cite

Umar, N., & Mohammed, S. (2011). Insured persons dilemma about other family members: a perspective on the national health insurance scheme in Nigeria. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 2(2), e31. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2011.e31

Issue

Section

Letters to the Editors

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