The Lagos State Government has given residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance, ahead of the enforcement of its mandatory coverage policy from January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile.
The policy, introduced under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024, requires residents, employers and workers to obtain health insurance as part of efforts to expand access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on households.
Sanwo-Olu announced the enforcement timeline while unveiling the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), an initiative designed to extend health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations.
The new plans will complement Ilera Eko, the state’s existing social health insurance scheme, which serves vulnerable residents and people working in the informal sector.
According to the state government, the policy is intended to ensure that residents can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.
The governor also said employers must treat workers’ healthcare coverage as a necessary business expense, alongside pensions and other employment obligations.
He directed healthcare providers to stabilise patients requiring emergency treatment before addressing payment or insurance issues, stressing that financial constraints should not prevent access to emergency care.
The state government said 21 health maintenance organisations (HMOs) had endorsed participation in the new private health plans.
The Lagos State Government has increased its Health Equity Fund from N1 billion to N3 billion to extend insurance coverage to more than 500,000 vulnerable residents who cannot afford the required premiums.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Adebayo Adedewe, said the agency would intensify enrolment and public awareness campaigns to bring more residents into the scheme.
The campaigns will use radio, billboards, digital platforms and community-based engagement, including partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.
While the new private plans target salaried workers and corporate organisations, Ilera Eko will continue to provide coverage for vulnerable residents and those in the informal sector.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said rising healthcare costs, driven partly by advances in medical technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and modern diagnostic equipment, made an inclusive insurance system increasingly important.
He noted that reliance on out-of-pocket payments placed financial pressure on households and healthcare facilities, reinforcing the need for a system that spreads medical costs across a wider pool of contributors.
