FORMAL SECTOR PROGRAMME

The Benue State Health Insurance Agency (BNSHIA) was established in 2018 to provide affordable and quality healthcare to all residents of Benue State. One of the key programmes of BNSHIA is the Formal Sector Programme, which aims to provide health insurance coverage to employees in the formal sector. The programme is designed to ensure that workers in the formal sector have access to affordable and quality healthcare services, regardless of their income level.

Under the Formal Sector Programme, employers in the formal sector are required to register their employees, spouse and 4 dependants with BNSHIA and pay the health insurance premium on their behalf. The premium payment is based on a percentage of the employee's salary, with the employer paying 10% and the employee paying 5%. The programme is mandatory for all employers in the formal sector.

The Formal Sector Programme offers a comprehensive package of healthcare services to enrolled individuals and their dependents. The package includes primary healthcare, maternal and child health services, emergency care, and selected specialized services. Enrolled individuals are entitled to these services, and they are able to access healthcare services from any accredited healthcare facility in the state.

The Formal Sector Programme also offers a range of benefits to employers. By enrolling their employees in the health insurance scheme, employers are able to provide them with access to quality healthcare services, which can help to improve their health outcomes and productivity. Additionally, the programme can help to reduce the financial burden of healthcare on employers, as they are able to share the cost of healthcare with their employees.

The Formal Sector Programme of BNSHIA is a vital initiative that is helping to promote universal healthcare coverage in Benue State. The programme is providing affordable and quality healthcare services to employees in the formal sector, and is helping to improve their health outcomes and productivity. It is therefore important for employers in the formal sector to comply with the requirement to register their employees with BNSHIA and pay the health insurance premium on their behalf. By doing so, they will be contributing to the improvement of healthcare in the state and the achievement of universal healthcare coverage for all residents of Benue State