NHIS subscription can now be renewed for four years
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched a new product that will enable subscribers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to renew their subscriptions up to four years.
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Known as the “NHIS multi-year renewal’’, subscribers who opt for it will enjoy up to 50 per cent discount on the processing fee for the renewal of their NHIS cards.
Prior to the introduction of the product, subscribers could renew their subscriptions for only one year.
At a press briefing in Accra yesterday, the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NHIA, Mr Nathaniel Otoo, explained that the purpose of the multi-year renewal was to make it more convenient for members to access the services offered by the scheme.
“This will save time and money and bring convenience to our members. We took note of the long queues, time spent in these queues and the productive work hours these people might have been sacrificing to get NHIS cards or get their cards renewed,’’ he said.
Exemptions
Mr Otoo announced that all categories of members on the scheme were eligible for the multi-year renewal, except pregnant women and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributors.
He explained that pregnant women were exempted because they were already covered under the free maternal care programme, while SSNIT contributors were exempted because they were required to pay premiums.
“Some percentage of their contributions, by law, is channelled to the NHIA monthly. It will, however, be difficult to reverse their membership should their monthly SSNIT contributions cease because they have left employment.
“Premium paying members of the NHIS are those who will mainly benefit from the new system. Persons under 18 years and the aged, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) beneficiaries and persons in other vulnerable groups are also eligible,’’ he said.
Starting point
Mr Otoo explained that the “NHIS multi-year renewal’’was currently available at Kpeshie in the Ledzekuku-Krowor municipality and the Ayawaso and Ablekuma districts, all in the Greater Accra Region.
“The plan is to incrementally roll out till the whole country is covered. It is our hope that the multi-year renewal will provide maximum convenience for our members,’’ he said.
Status of NHIS
Mr Otoo said 40,000 people were enrolling onto the scheme daily, adding that as of December 31, 2015 the scheme had 11.3 million subscribers.
“Membership of a scheme is an important teller of the health of any social protection programme. It is also an indicator of public confidence in the scheme,’’ he said.
With regard to the payment of claims, Mr Otoo explained that the scheme would continue to honour its obligations.
“Last year alone, the NHIA paid almost GH¢1 billion to the health sector, being payments for services provided to NHIS members by healthcare service providers – hospitals, clinics, pharmacy shops, laboratories/diagnostic centres, among others,’’ he said.