HMCAN, AHIPN deny endorsing Lagos private health plan
The Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) and the Association of Health Insurance Practitioners of Nigeria (AHIPN) have denied endorsing the Lagos Private Health Plan (LPHP) under its current framework.
The associations said attendance at the plan’s launch, consultations or expressions of interest by individual health maintenance organisations (HMOs) should not be interpreted as collective industry endorsement. They also clarified that HMO accreditation does not amount to approval of a specific health plan, calling for corrections to reports suggesting otherwise.
In a joint statement, HMCAN and AHIPN reaffirmed their support for the Federal Government’s universal health coverage agenda and the Lagos State Government’s efforts to implement the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022. They commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to expanding healthcare coverage but stressed that implementation must be lawful, affordable and coordinated.
The associations cited the communiqué issued after discussions between the NHIA and Lagos State on October 28 and 29, 2025, as the foundation for implementing the plan. According to them, the agreement recognises the NHIA as the statutory regulator, makes HMO participation in the LPHP voluntary, preserves employers’ right to choose NHIA-approved plans and requires prior approval for all health plans.
They added that the communiqué provides for nationally recognised compliance certificates issued by the NHIA in collaboration with state authorities. Lagos State may issue the certificates on the authority’s behalf, bearing both institutions’ logos. The associations urged the NHIA, the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) and other relevant authorities to coordinate compliance and enforcement within their respective mandates. They also called for the publication of the applicable NHIA approval documents.
The groups further raised concerns about a reported aggregate 13 per cent levy on private-sector health insurance arrangements, saying its legal basis, calculation method and components require clarification. They warned that imposing the levy on top of existing premiums and statutory obligations could increase employers’ healthcare costs and amount to double taxation, potentially undermining affordability and reducing funds available for patient care.
HMCAN and AHIPN also said employers needed clearer guidance on compliance requirements, including acceptable coverage, minimum benefits, certification procedures and sanctions. They called for existing NHIA-approved coverage to be recognised without duplicate enrolment or payments and urged the state government to review the December 31, 2026, compliance deadline to allow adequate time for the publication of guidelines and the establishment of functional systems.
The associations, through their chairmen, Dr. Abdulkadri Osumah and Dr. Ben Okpalla, respectively, called for an urgent stakeholder meeting involving the Lagos State Government, LASHMA, NHIA, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), healthcare providers, labour and other relevant parties. They said the meeting should produce an agreed, phased implementation roadmap that protects existing enrollees, supports timely payments to healthcare providers and expands coverage to uninsured residents, while avoiding unnecessary industrial tension as the country approaches an election season.
