The Lagos State Government has announced that health insurance will become mandatory for residents, workers and employers from January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known on Wednesday while launching the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP) at an event in Victoria Island themed, “Lagos Covered, a Shared Commitment, a Healthier Lagos.”
According to the governor, enforcement of Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024 will begin on January 1, 2027, giving residents and employers until December 31, 2026, to obtain the required health insurance coverage.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the policy was aimed at ensuring residents can access quality healthcare without being pushed into financial hardship by medical bills.
He said the responsibility for achieving universal coverage would be shared by individuals, employers and the government, adding that employers should consider workers’ healthcare “a necessary cost of doing business,” just like pensions and other statutory obligations.
The newly introduced LPHP will provide coverage for salaried workers and corporate organisations, while the existing Ilera Eko scheme will continue to focus on vulnerable residents and those in the informal sector.
The governor also warned healthcare providers against denying emergency treatment because of a patient’s inability to pay, stressing that patients must first be stabilised before payment or insurance matters are addressed.
He disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had already endorsed the new plans, describing the initiative as a partnership between the government and private operators.