How to Add a Dependent to Your NHIS (2024)

Worried about how to get your family covered under health insurance? Want to ensure your spouse and children can avail medical facilities using your National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria?

Well, you can now easily add eligible dependents to your existing NHIS program, but not sure how to go about it?

This article guides you through step-by-step on how to add your dependents to your health insurance by submitting the relevant registration forms and documents to your NHIS Healthcare Maintenance Organization (HMO).

Read on to know eligibility rules, required paperwork, applicable fees and processing timelines when adding family members to NHIS.

HOW TO ADD A DEPENDENT TO YOUR NHIS IN NIGERIA

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria aims to provide easy access to healthcare for all Nigerians. When you enroll in the NHIS program, you get a chance to add your dependents – your spouse and children – to your health plan. This ensures they can also benefit from the program when they fall sick.

Adding your dependents to your NHIS plan is important to secure financial aid for their medical bills. It only takes a few simple steps to get them registered.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to add dependents to your NHIS in Nigeria:

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDING DEPENDENTS

Before applying to add dependents, make sure you meet the following requirements:

• You must be actively enrolled in an NHIS program. This can either be a formal sector program or an informal sector program like the voluntary contributor social health insurance program (VCSHIP).
• You need to provide proof that the dependents you’re adding are related to you. This would include marriage certificates for spouses and birth certificates for children.
• The dependents must not already have an existing NHIS plan. Each person can only be covered by one NHIS program.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

You need to submit the following documents to your HMO before you can add your dependents:

• Duly completed NHIS Dependent Registration Form
• Copies of marriage certificate to add your spouse
• Birth certificates to register your children
• Passport photographs of each dependent
• Proof of payments/receipts if you’re making additional contributions for the dependents

STEPS TO ADD DEPENDENTS TO YOUR NHIS

Follow this simple process to successfully add your dependents to your existing NHIS coverage:

NOTIFY YOUR HMO

The first step is to directly notify your HMO that you wish to add your dependents. Let them know the existing dependents you have and the new ones you wish to add. They will advise you on the enrollment process.

OBTAIN REGISTRATION FORM

Visit your HMO office and collect the NHIS Dependent Registration form. You can also download it directly from the NHIS portal if your HMO has an online presence. The form requires you to provide details and documentation about the dependents. ALSO READ: HOW TO GET YOUR NHIS NUMBER.

FILL THE REGISTRATION FORM

Fill in the Dependent Registration form with all the correct details about your dependents – their full names, ages, relationship with you along with their photographs. Make sure to attach the supplementary documentation. Sign and date the completed form.

SUBMIT FORM AND DOCUMENTS

Submit the completed NHIS Dependent Registration form along with the additional marriage and birth certifications and photographs. Make extra contribution payments, if applicable, and include the receipts with your submission. Keep photocopies of every document for your records.

GET ENROLLMENT LETTER

Your HMO will process your application and send you a letter informing you about the status of your request. This enrollment letter will have details about the additional premium payments, if any. It will confirm the enrollment of your dependents into your NHIS plan.

FOLLOW UP ON HEALTH CARDS

Visit your HMO after a few days with your enrollment letter and check on the status of health insurance ID cards for the newly added beneficiaries. Any newly registered dependent will be issued NHIS health cards that they can use to access medical facilities. Inform your dependents once you receive their health cards.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are some frequently asked questions on how to add a dependent to your NHIS in Nigeria:

WHO QUALIFIES AS A DEPENDENT UNDER THE NHIS?

Your spouse and biological children under the age of 18 years qualify as dependents. Disabled children over 18 can also be added if they are financially dependent on you.

WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO ADD MY SPOUSE?

You will need to provide your marriage certificate as proof to add your spouse to your NHIS. Photos and residential address proof will also be required.

CAN I REGISTER MY PARENTS OR SIBLINGS?

No, the NHIS scheme allows you to register only your legally married spouse and your biological kids as dependents. Parents, siblings etc. Cannot be added.

IS THERE ANY CHARGES OR FEES TO ADD MY DEPENDENTS?

There are typically no registration fees. But you may need to pay a slightly higher premium if you are adding more members to the policy.

MY WIFE ALREADY HAS NHIS, CAN SHE STILL BE MY DEPENDENT?

A person can only be registered under one policy, so if your spouse already has active NHIS coverage, they cannot be added again as your dependent. The existing policy has to be terminated first.

ARE ADOPTIVE AND FOSTER KIDS ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS?

Legally adopted children with valid adoption certificates can be added. But foster kids who are wards of the state cannot be added as your dependents.

IS THERE AN APPLICATION DEADLINE TO ADD DEPENDENTS?

NHIS allows adding dependents at any time as long as you are an active enrollee. But it is best to register them early to avoid lapses in their coverage.

CONCLUSION

Getting dependents like one’s spouse and children enrolled under their existing health coverage is extremely convenient with NHIS program in Nigeria. You can do this by submitting the Dependent Registration Form, copies of marriage and birth certifications, photographs and paying associated fees. Do remember to follow up on collecting the medical cards on successful registration.

While the rules are stringent about who qualifies as a dependent, the process of adding eligible family members is fairly straightforward. Drop your questions below or seek help from your HMO if stuck and enroll your kids and spouse at the earliest under your NHIS to give them the benefits of health insurance.