FG doubles health insurance capitation fee to N1,450 per enrollee

By Kunle Sanni –

The Federal Government has announced an increase in the health insurance capitation fee for enrollees from N750 to N1,450 per person, as part of efforts to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare services across the country.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the decision aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.

According to Pate, the adjustment marks the first significant review of capitation rates in years and is designed to better equip healthcare providers for effective service delivery.

“For years, the capitation stood at N750 per person. We have doubled it to N1,450 to ensure providers are properly equipped to deliver consistent, high-quality care,” he said.

The minister also announced a 380 percent increase in fee-for-service rates, noting that the new rates are based on actuarial evidence and reflect current economic realities and service costs.

Pate said over 2.4 million Nigerians were newly enrolled in 2024, bringing total coverage under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to about 20 million people, with plans to reach 44 million by 2030.

He added that the government has intensified efforts to strengthen the health workforce, with 120,000 health workers trained since 2023 and 2,500 doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health extension workers recruited to bolster frontline services. Another 4,000 personnel have joined federal tertiary hospitals to fill critical manpower gaps.

Pate noted that despite ongoing reforms, out-of-pocket payments still account for about 70 percent of total health spending in Nigeria, stressing that expanding insurance coverage remains key to reducing the financial burden on citizens.