Enugu State Offers Free Health Insurance to 4,000 Retirees

Enugu State is expanding healthcare access for its elderly population, with over 4,000 retirees now enrolled in the government's free State Universal Health Insurance program. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive health coverage to pensioners, who are considered a vulnerable segment of society.

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Our mandate is to ensure that every resident of Enugu State is covered by health insurance.

The program, launched with an event at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, saw participation from pensioners across all 17 local government areas. Edith Okolo, CEO of the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC), emphasized that the state's mandate is to ensure all residents have health insurance, with a specific focus on prioritizing pensioners who should not bear the cost of coverage.

Initially, pensioners expressed reluctance due to a proposed N1,000 monthly fee. However, following appeals from the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), the state government agreed to cover the enrollment costs. This decision has encouraged greater participation, particularly among pensioners in local government and primary school sectors, with state pensioners also beginning their enrollment.

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What is actually happening is that we are now reaching out and expanding coverage to people who were not previously captured.

The health insurance package offers extensive benefits, including access to primary healthcare centers, specialist referrals, and treatment at participating hospitals. Covered services encompass admission, laboratory tests, medications, and treatment for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, malaria, and arthritis, along with certain surgical procedures. The agency also conducts health checks, such as blood pressure and blood sugar measurements, to proactively identify health issues.

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As of today, we have registered over 4,000 of them. But you know, in Enugu State, there are more than 20,000 pensioners.

ESA-UHC urges pensioners who have not yet registered to do so at their nearest primary healthcare centers. Beneficiaries encountering any charges for covered services are encouraged to contact the agency's toll-free number for assistance. The initiative is designed as an ongoing program, not a one-off event, ensuring sustained healthcare support for Enugu's retirees.

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We want those who have not registered to come out. You have nothing to lose because nobody is taking any money from you.