Health Insurance for Individuals and Freelancers in Nigeria

If you are self-employed, a freelancer, a remote worker or between jobs, you don’t have an employer’s HMO to fall back on. One hospital admission can wipe out months of income. Getting your own health cover protects your savings and your ability to keep working.

This guide explains your options for health insurance as an individual or freelancer in Nigeria, what to look for, and how to choose.

Why freelancers need their own health cover

• No sick pay. When you can’t work, you don’t earn. Fast treatment gets you back on your feet sooner.
• Hospital costs keep rising. A single emergency surgery at a private hospital in Lagos can cost millions of naira.
• It’s the law. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act of 2022 requires every resident of Nigeria to have health insurance.

Your options as an individual

1. A fixed-premium health plan. You pay quarterly or yearly and get a set list of benefits, up to an annual limit. This suits you if you want predictable costs and cover for big bills like admissions and surgery.

2. A pay-as-you-go plan. You load money into a care balance and use it at discounted rates only when you need care. This suits you if you are healthy, rarely see a doctor and want to avoid paying for care you don’t use. Alafia’s Tranquility plan works this way: there are no monthly premiums, unused funds don’t expire, and you can use more than 2,700 providers across Nigeria. Keep in mind that a pay-as-you-go balance only covers what you have saved, so it won’t protect you from a very large bill the way an insurance plan does.

3. A small business plan. If you run a business or agency with at least five people, a group plan usually gives more cover for less money per person. See Reliance HMO’s small business plans.

4. State health insurance schemes. Many states run their own schemes with low premiums, usually linked to public hospitals and primary health centres.

What to look for in an individual plan

• Hospitals near you. Check the hospital list for your area before anything else.
• The annual benefit limit, and smaller limits for surgery, admissions and specialist care.
• Waiting periods. Many benefits only start weeks or months after you join.
• Exclusions. Individual plans often exclude maternity and pre-existing conditions.
• Telemedicine. Speaking to a doctor by phone or app saves time on workdays.
• Medicines and delivery. Check how much the plan pays for prescriptions.

Health plans from Alafia by Reliance Health

Reliance Health’s plans for individuals are sold through Alafia:

• Tranquility: a pay-as-you-go plan with discounted care at over 2,700 providers and no monthly premiums.
• Serenity: fixed-premium plans designed for older adults that anyone can buy, from ₦90,000 a quarter, with cover for pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

How to choose

1. Think about how often you see a doctor. Rarely? Pay-as-you-go may suit you. Regularly, or with a chronic condition? A fixed-premium plan is usually better value.
2. Set a budget and compare what each plan covers at that price. See how much is HMO in Nigeria?
3. Read the benefits and exclusions carefully before you pay.
4. Pay yearly if you can, as it is often cheaper.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy an HMO plan as an individual in Nigeria?
Yes. You can buy a plan for yourself without going through an employer.

What is the cheapest health insurance for a freelancer?
Pay-as-you-go plans and state schemes cost the least upfront. Compare what each covers, not just the price.

Do individual plans cover pregnancy?
Many don’t. Check the exclusions. See does HMO cover pregnancy?

Can I use my plan anywhere in Nigeria?
It depends on the plan’s hospital network. Alafia plans can be used at network providers across the country.

Read more: what is an HMO and how does it work?

Prices and benefits are correct at the time of writing and may change. Check the current plan details before you buy.

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