Lagos Health Insurance Now Mandatory: How Residents Can Get Ilera Eko for ₦15,000 a Year
Residents of Lagos State are expected to have health insurance coverage, with the Lagos State Government reiterating that enrolment in the state’s social health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, is mandatory for residents.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) administers the scheme, which is designed to reduce the amount residents have to pay directly when they need healthcare.
Recent information from LASHMA confirms that the Standard Jàrà Ilera Eko plan costs ₦15,000 per individual annually. LASHMA also offers other plans for families, seniors, students, organizations and other categories of residents.
What Is Ilera Eko?
Ilera Eko is Lagos State’s social health insurance programme. It provides access to healthcare through a network of accredited hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers.
The programme is intended to protect residents from the financial pressure that can come with unexpected medical expenses.
LASHMA says the scheme had more than 1.89 million registered lives as of the end of August 2026, with more than 640 healthcare facilities in its network.
How Much Does Ilera Eko Cost?
For the Standard Jàrà Plan, the current published premium is:
- Individual: ₦15,000 per year
- Family of up to four: ₦55,000 per year
- Family of up to six: ₦80,000 per year
LASHMA also has other plans with different prices and benefit limits, so residents should check the specific package before making payment.
The ₦15,000 individual premium works out to approximately ₦1,250 per month when averaged across 12 months, although the standard annual payment is not simply the same as paying ₦1,250 every month.
What Does the ₦15,000 Plan Cover?
The Standard Jàrà Plan provides a range of healthcare services. According to LASHMA’s published benefits information, these include:
- General consultations
- Treatment for common illnesses such as malaria and other uncomplicated infections
- Management and follow-up care for conditions including hypertension and diabetes
- Childhood healthcare
- Selected specialist consultations
- Eye-care services
- Family-planning services
- Prescribed medicines covered under the scheme’s drug formulary
- Laboratory and diagnostic services covered under the package
- Selected surgeries and procedures
- Maternity-related services subject to the applicable conditions
- Hospital admission, including up to 15 cumulative days per year under the published benefit structure
- Emergency services and other covered treatments
The exact limits, conditions, and provider requirements matter. Residents should therefore check the official benefit schedule rather than assuming every treatment or medical bill is completely free.
Who Can Benefit?
The scheme is intended for people living in Lagos State, regardless of whether they are employees, traders, students, entrepreneurs, professionals or members of other groups.
LASHMA has also developed different packages for categories such as families, senior citizens, students, schools, corporate organizations and Nigerians in the diaspora seeking healthcare coverage for relatives in Lagos.
Importantly, residents who are unable to afford the premium may be assessed for support through the state’s equity fund, which is designed to help vulnerable residents obtain health insurance coverage.
How to Enroll for Ilera Eko
Lagos residents interested in joining can take these steps:
1. Visit the official LASHMA platform
Start with the official LASHMA website and select the Ilera Eko enrolment option.
2. Register your details
Residents can register online or visit designated LASHMA offices, divisional offices or approved enrolment points/kiosks. Accredited agents can also assist people who need help with registration.
3. Select the appropriate plan
Individuals can choose the plan applicable to their circumstances. Families should consider the family packages rather than registering every person separately without checking the available options.
4. Pay the applicable premium
For the Standard Jàrà individual plan, the published annual premium is ₦15,000.
5. Select an accredited healthcare provider
Enrollees can select an approved healthcare provider. LASHMA publishes its network of participating hospitals and healthcare providers online.
6. Keep your enrolment information
After registration, keep your policy/enrolment details and understand which services are covered, the applicable limits and the procedures to follow when seeking treatment.
What Residents Should Know Before Paying
Health insurance does not mean every medical service is automatically free.
Some services have limits, exclusions, or conditions. Treatments outside a person’s package or services exceeding applicable limits may result in additional out-of-pocket payments.
LASHMA itself advises residents to understand the benefits, limitations and terms of their coverage before seeking treatment.
Residents should also use an accredited provider and confirm that the service they need is covered before proceeding where possible.
Official Sources
Residents can verify the latest plans, benefits, enrolment information and healthcare-provider network through:
LASHMA accredited healthcare providers
“If you reside in Lagos State, you are expected to enrol and have ILERA EKO.” — Adesegun Ogundeji, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, August 2026.
The Ilera Eko health insurance scheme gives Lagos residents a way to prepare for healthcare expenses instead of relying entirely on out-of-pocket payments when illness occurs.
For residents considering the programme, the ₦15,000 Standard Jàrà individual plan is one of the available options, but the right choice depends on the person’s healthcare needs, and the coverage limits of each package.
Residents should check out the official LASHMA information, enroll through an authorized channel, and understand their benefits before paying or seeking treatment. Those who cannot afford the premium should also ask about eligibility for assistance through the state’s equity-support arrangements.
