Ultimate HMO begins diaspora health insurance in US, UK

The Ultimate Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) has set the pace with the commencement of the Diaspora Health Insurance programme for Nigerians in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

This will enable diaspora Nigerians to enrol their parents and dependents in Nigeria and even themselves for adequate coverage whenever they come back home for any events and festivities.

This step is in line with the responsibilities of accredited HMOs as the statutory drivers of enrollment of Nigerians in the programme designed for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for the country.

In May 2022, the Federal Government enacted the National Health Insurance Authority 2022 to make enrolment in the health insurance program mandatory for all Nigerians and legal residents to ensure the well-being of Nigerians and change the poor narration of our health indices for the better.

Consequently, it is expected that all Nigerians, including those who are seen and known to be vulnerable, are enrolled in the health insurance Program. The new law recognizes 83 million Nigerians to be vulnerable and the need for the Federal government to provide 2 percent

of the consolidated revenue to provide coverage of basic health services for those vulnerable Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.

In August 2023, Salma Anas-Ibrahim, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, said the renewed hope health agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu is committed to covering over 50 million Nigerians and most of the vulnerable, including the elderly, within the next four years.

In February, Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said since the beginning of the administration of President Tinubu, about 750,000 more Nigerians have been enrolled in the health insurance scheme.

Hence, the introduction of the Ultimate Health HMO diaspora health insurance programme allows Nigerians in Diaspora to acquire health insurance coverage for their loved ones back in Nigeria from their base in any part of the world.