Janet Ogundepo The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that pensioners in the state under the Ilera Eko plan will receive one year of free health coverage starting from August 2024. He explained that the move was meant to ensure that state retirees have access to healthcare after their retirement. Sanwo-Olu stated this at the official launch of the Ilera Eko Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan and the commissioning of five virtual booths in the state held on Tuesday at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
The governor said, “We have enrolled all public servants in the Ilera Eko scheme, with the government covering 75 per cent of their premiums. Starting in August 2024, all Lagos State pensioners will receive free one-year Ilera Eko coverage which will ensure their access to healthcare in retirement. We are doing all these to further our Universal Health Coverage goal.
” He further noted that the newly launched Ilera Eko Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan offers additional benefits and peace of mind by reducing the financial burden of medical bills. “In this plan, we have heavily subsidised the health insurance premium to ensure that everyone can access healthcare,” Sanwo-Olu added. The governor called on the informal sector, which constituted 70 per cent of the state’s population, to enrol on Ilera Eko to reduce out-of-pocket and huge payment of medical bills.
Additionally, the governor said that the state’s Health Scheme Law and t.