The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Edo State, says it is targeting 85 percent of the informal population, including market women, mechanics, artisans, “Okada” riders, families and groups for the implementation of its health insurance package in the State.

The Acting State Coordinator of NHIA, Edo State, Ehannire Theodore stated this when the state office stormed the popular Santana market situated along the busy Sapele Road in Benin City. The Authority was embarking on strategic marketing, in order to sensitize residents on its flagship programme the Group Individual Family Social Health Insurance Programme, GIFSHIP

According to him, GIFSHIP-g is a health insurance Programme that is taken up and paid for, by groups, individuals, and families not covered by other NHIA coverage platforms to enable beneficiaries access affordable health care services.

He said: “We embarked on this programme - Market storm, because we observed that the majority of the people in this state are not aware of this programme, especially the market women to sensitize the public especially the market women on our program

“We have different packages for different groups. There is a package for the market women, retirees, and NYSC. Our target is to cover over 80 per cent of the informal population. 

“We advised them to come as a group. A family of three, forty-five thousand Naira; from three to nine persons is what we will accept as a family. From ten and above is a group. You can come as a group either a Social club, tertiary Union, Market Women Association, or rice Farmers Association, Okada riders association etc. And if you come as a group is fifteen thousand naira for each person per year.

“Beneficiaries are allowed to choose any hospital of their choice, as far as it is accredited. So, when you are sick, you are free to go and receive medical care. The only thing you will do is to pay ten per cent of the total cost of the drugs.”