The Kaduna State Government has launched an affordable health insurance scheme for pensioners in partnership with the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners. The initiative, introduced on Monday, aims to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for retired workers in the state.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Health, Umma Ahmed, stated that the scheme is designed to ease the financial burden of medical expenses on pensioners. She praised Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to improving the welfare of pensioners and his support for the state’s Contributory Health Scheme, aligning with the goal of achieving universal health coverage for all residents.
Ahmed encouraged similar partnerships from other organizations to improve healthcare access. She highlighted that thousands of pensioners are expected to benefit from this scheme, allowing them access to quality healthcare without out-of-pocket costs.
“This health insurance scheme demonstrates the state government’s dedication to providing accessible and affordable healthcare, especially for vulnerable and elderly citizens,” said Ahmed.
Abubakar Hassan, Director General of KADCHMA, explained that pensioners enrolled in the scheme could receive healthcare services from any public or private facility in the state at no extra cost. The annual premium for the scheme is less than N10,600, making it highly affordable.
“This initiative aligns with Senator Uba Sani’s administration’s commitment to expanding healthcare access through a contributory health insurance scheme,” Hassan noted.
Hassan also mentioned that the scheme is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KADCHMA, the Kaduna State Pension Bureau, and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners. He praised the collaborative efforts of all partners, emphasizing that the scheme is part of broader state efforts to ensure healthcare access for all residents, with the goal of making contributory health insurance the most affordable way to access healthcare services in public facilities.
