Health insurance is a financial safety net that covers your medical expenses.

In exchange for a small fee (called a premium), an insurance provider (or HMO) pays your medical bills when you fall ill or get injured.

Given the rising cost of healthcare in Nigeria, having health insurance ensures you get quality treatment at top private hospitals without spending your life savings.

HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization.

In Nigeria, HMOs are the companies that manage your health insurance.

They have a network of hospitals where you can access care.

When you buy a plan through Ombrella Insure, you are choosing a plan provided by one of these top HMOs (like AXA Mansard, Reliance, Avon, etc.).

While the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act recently made health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians, enforcement is still growing.

However, regardless of the law, having a private health plan is the smartest way to protect your personal finances from emergency hospital bills.

The main difference between NHIS and Private Health Insurance lies in coverage, service quality, and flexibility.

• NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme)

  This is a government-led scheme mostly for federal civil servants, though it is expanding.

• Private Health Insurance

  These are plans you buy directly from HMOs (or aggregators like Ombrella). Private plans generally offer access to better private hospitals, faster service, and more comprehensive care options compared to standard government schemes.

Most "standard" or "bronze" level plans on Ombrella Insure cover:

• General Consultations

  Seeing a doctor (GP).

• Medications

  Drugs prescribed by the doctor.

• Basic Tests

  Malaria parasites, typhoid, blood sugar, etc.

• Admissions

  Staying overnight in the hospital (ward fees).

• Simple Surgeries

  Appendicitis, minor injuries.

Yes. Family Health Insurance plans are very popular on Ombrella.

A single family policy typically covers a spouse and up to four children.

It is often cheaper to buy a family bundle than to buy individual plans for every member of your household.

Yes, but usually on specific plans. Maternity Health Insurance covers antenatal care, delivery (normal and CS), and postnatal care.

SEO Note: Most maternity plans have a waiting period (usually 6 to 12 months), meaning you must have the policy for a while before you can claim for pregnancy.

A pre-existing condition is a health issue you had before buying the insurance (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, asthma).

• Can I still get insured?

  Yes, but the HMO might not cover that specific illness immediately. There is usually a waiting period of 12 to 24 months for pre-existing conditions.

Basic plans often cover simple pain relief or extractions. For comprehensive dental care (like fillings, root canals) or optical care (like glasses and lenses), you typically need to upgrade to a Silver, Gold, or Platinum plan. You can filter for these benefits specifically using the Ombrella comparison tool.

Health insurance is surprisingly affordable.

• Individual Plans: Start as low as ₦3,500 - ₦5,000 per month.
• Yearly Plans: You can get a robust basic plan for ₦30,000 - ₦45,000 per year.
• Premium Plans: For comprehensive coverage (surgeries, maternity, top-tier hospitals), prices range from ₦80,000 - ₦200,000+ per year.

"Cheap" varies by what you need. Providers like Bastion, AXA Mansard, and Hygeia often have very competitive entry-level plans (often called "Lite" or "Mini" plans). Ombrella Insure allows you to compare the prices of all these providers side-by-side to find the absolute lowest price for the benefits you want.

Yes. Many providers on Ombrella offer monthly payment options to make it easier on your wallet. However, paying annually (yearly) usually attracts a discount, making it cheaper in the long run.

• Comparison:

  We show you plans from multiple HMOs (AXA, Bastion, Hygeia, etc.) so you can compare prices and benefits in one place.

• Transparency:

  We decode the "insurance jargon" so you know exactly what is covered and what isn’t.

• Advocacy:

  If you have an issue with a claim, Ombrella stands by you to help resolve it with the provider.

It takes less than 5 minutes on Ombrella:

• Visit our Health Insurance Comparison page.
• Enter basic details (Age, Location, Gender).
• Filter plans by budget or benefits (e.g., "Maternity", "Dental").
• Select a plan and pay online.
• You receive your Policy ID via email instantly. No paperwork required.

Yes. At the end of your policy year, you can choose to renew with a different provider through Ombrella if you weren’t satisfied with your previous HMO’s service.

It’s simple:

• Go to a hospital that is in your HMO’s network (you can check this on the Ombrella dashboard).
• Present your Digital ID card (on your phone) or Policy Number at the reception.
• The hospital verifies you with the HMO.
• You receive treatment. The HMO pays the hospital directly—you don't pay cash (except maybe for a registration fee).

A waiting period is the time you must wait after buying a policy before you can access certain treatments.

• Accidents/Emergencies: Usually covered immediately (0 days wait).
• Standard Illness: Usually 2-4 weeks wait.
• Maternity/Surgeries: Usually 6-12 months wait.

Always check the "Waiting Period" tab on the Ombrella plan details page before buying.

This is rare, but if it happens, it might be due to a network delay or an unrecognizable ID.

Solution: Call your HMO's 24/7 helpline immediately (printed on your digital ID). If you bought through Ombrella, you can also reach out to our support team to intervene on your behalf.

Generally, no. HMOs require you to use hospitals within their approved network because they have payment agreements with them. However, in a life-threatening emergency, you can usually visit the nearest hospital for stabilization, and the HMO may reimburse you later (you must notify them immediately).

This is money you pay yourself. With a good HMO plan, your out-of-pocket expenses should be zero for covered treatments. You usually only pay out-of-pocket for registration cards, or for treatments that are exclusions (not covered) in your policy.