Nigeria's GIFSHIP: Affordable Health Insurance Game-Changer?
Tobiloba OdejinmiBy Tobiloba Odejinmi
Education
May 6, 2026 • 8:42 PM
4m4 min read
Source: Pexels
The Core Insight
Ultimate Health HMO launches GIFSHIP, a NHIA-regulated health insurance at ₦38,718/year, covering primary, secondary, and tertiary care for individuals, families, and groups. CEO Otunba Lekan Ewenla highlights its role in mandatory coverage under NHIA Act 2022, addressing Nigeria's poor health indices via risk management, capitation, and equitable access toward universal health coverage.
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Tobiloba Odejinmi
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Ultimate Health HMO Launches GIFSHIP: A New Era for Affordable Healthcare in Nigeria
Launch event for GIFSHIP in Lagos (Credit: Wikimedia Commons via Pexels)
For decades, Nigerians have struggled with the burden of healthcare costs, often facing financial ruin when illness strikes. Ultimate Health HMO has launched GIFSHIP, the Group, Individual, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme, designed to make quality healthcare affordable, accessible, and equitable for all. Learn more about Nigeria's health improvements.
Addressing Nigeria's Healthcare Challenges
Nigeria’s healthcare system has long been plagued by inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to quality care. GIFSHIP, regulated by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), offers comprehensive coverage for primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare services at a premium of ₦38,718 per person per annum. See related efforts like Abuja's health upgrades.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Managing Director/CEO Otunba Lekan Ewenla emphasized the need to shift from assumptions to action, in line with the NHIA Act 2022, which makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.
“We need to shift from merely treating illness to creating health. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”
“The GIFSHIP package is a strategic step to strongly focus on the objectives of making healthcare affordable, accessible, and equitable,” Ewenla added. Compare with calls for better oral health funding.
GIFSHIP benefits for families (Credit: sirmudi_photography via Pexels)
Key Features of GIFSHIP
The non-negotiable premium of ₦38,718 per person per annum provides a robust benefits package covering primary, secondary, and tertiary care. It caters to individuals, families, groups, and corporate organizations, with a focus on the mass market. Explore innovative treatments like RBC exchange for sickle cell.
“This is a game-changer for Nigeria’s healthcare sector. The premium is not negotiable, the quality of care is guaranteed, and the premium is affordable. We are committed to delivering quality healthcare services to Nigerians, and GIFSHIP is a significant step in that direction,” Ewenla stated.
The NHIA Act 2022 empowers the authority to approve private health insurance products, ensuring HMOs deliver quality services. Related: Senate on hospital mandates.
“The Authority shall ensure that health insurance is mandatory to every Nigerian and legal residents. The NHIA shall enforce the basic minimum package of health services for all Nigerians across all health insurance schemes operating within the country, including federal, states, and the federal capital territory – FCT, as well as private health insurance schemes.”
Health Risk Management Framework
Health risk framework in action (Credit: Markus Winkler via Pexels)
GIFSHIP adopts the Health Risk Management Framework for social health insurance. Primary healthcare providers act as risk managers at the primary level, while HMOs manage risks at secondary and tertiary levels.
Capitation transfers responsibility at the primary level, with 65% of the premium paid for a minimum actuarially recommended population of at least 2,500 enrollees. The NHIA pays capitation to primary providers through HMOs.
HMOs earn 10% of the public sector social health insurance premium as an admin fee. Fee-for-service payments settle defined healthcare services via pre-authorization codes issued by HMOs, using NHIA tariffs.
“The good news is that all the challenges enumerated in the course of this briefing have been adequately addressed by the NHIA Act 2022, section 3,” Ewenla noted.
Impact and Call to Action
The launch aims to address Nigeria's poor health indices and increase enrollment. Ultimate Health HMO, with existing public sector and corporate enrollees, targets the mass market to advance universal health coverage.
“We are changing the narration of our poor health indices, and we invite everyone to join us on this journey,” Ewenla said. “We are targeting the mass market with GIFSHIP. We want to make healthcare accessible to every Nigerian, regardless of their social status or income level.”
GIFSHIP is the Group, Individual, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme launched by Ultimate Health HMO to make quality healthcare affordable, accessible, and equitable.
The non-negotiable premium is ₦38,718 per person per annum.
It offers comprehensive coverage for primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare services.
GIFSHIP is regulated by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) under the NHIA Act 2022.
Primary providers manage risks at primary level via capitation (65% of premium), HMOs at secondary/tertiary with 10% admin fee and fee-for-service.
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Editorial Team • Question of the Day
"Will GIFSHIP transform your access to healthcare in Nigeria?"
