The Lagos State Government has given residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance, warning that enforcement of its mandatory health coverage policy will commence on January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline on Tuesday while flagging off the enforcement of mandatory health insurance under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity.
At the event held in Victoria Island, Lagos, the governor also unveiled the Lagos Private Health Plans, designed to extend health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations.
The new plans are expected to complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which caters to vulnerable residents and people working in the informal sector.
Sanwo-Olu said the policy was aimed at ensuring that every resident had access to quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.
He explained that the executive order placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and the government, adding that every resident, employer and worker in the state was required to have social health insurance coverage.
The governor stressed that employers must regard workers’ healthcare as an essential cost of doing business, just as they provide for pensions and other employment-related obligations.
He said the policy was part of efforts to expand access to healthcare, improve the financing of medical services and reduce the burden of out-of-pocket payments on households.
On emergency medical care, Sanwo-Olu insisted that no healthcare provider should deny residents emergency treatment because of their inability to pay or lack of insurance coverage.
He maintained that patients requiring urgent medical attention must first be stabilised before issues relating to payment or insurance eligibility were addressed.
The governor disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new private health plans, describing the initiative as a partnership between the government and private operators to expand insurance coverage and strengthen healthcare delivery.
He also appealed to medical professionals considering emigration to reconsider their decisions, expressing optimism that improved healthcare financing would help create a more sustainable environment for practitioners.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said advances in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotic science and modern diagnostic equipment, had significantly increased the cost of healthcare delivery.
Abayomi stressed the need for a strong and inclusive health insurance system to protect residents against rising medical expenses while ensuring access to quality treatment.
He described the introduction of the new plans as a major shift in healthcare financing, noting that excessive dependence on out-of-pocket payments placed considerable pressure on households and healthcare facilities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, disclosed that the state government had increased its Health Equity Fund from N1 billion to N3 billion.
According to him, the fund is intended to provide health insurance coverage for more than 500,000 vulnerable residents who cannot afford the required premiums.
Adedewe said the agency would continue to expand enrolment, strengthen public awareness and ensure that the mandatory insurance policy translated into accessible healthcare services across the state.
He added that LASHMA had intensified community engagement through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.
The state government urged residents to take advantage of the remaining period before the December 31 deadline to obtain appropriate health insurance coverage ahead of the commencement of enforcement in January 2027.
