MTN, NHIS deliver healthcare insurance via mobile phones
MTN Nigeria has entered into a partnership with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to launch MTN Y’ello Health that delivers affordable healthcare services via mobile phones.
MTN Y’ello Health is an all-inclusive mobile health insurance scheme, which will afford all Nigerians the opportunity to access good, affordable and quality healthcare service wherever and whenever the need arises, according to the mobile phone company and industry market leader.
According to MTN, the scheme will allow subscribers to gain access to pre-defined treatments and the freedom to choose their own Health Maintenance organisation (HMO). Through the scheme, subscribers will have access to unlimited hospital visits with a weekly deduction of N250 through their airtime.
Michael Ikpoki, CEO, MTN Nigeria says “At MTN, we believe that health insurance contributes to removing the financial barriers to healthcare, thereby giving people unrestricted access to good health care without having to pay out-of-pocket”, to announce the partnership.
According to him, “more than bringing flexibility and ease to paying for health care service, health insurance is also a means of providing greater access to healthcare for larger segments of a population. Indeed we believe health insurance is imperative for closing the gap between the availability of health care service and the ability of the citizenry to access it”.
Also speaking, Femi Thomas, Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme says “this new service will provide Nigerians affordable health insurance cover on a pre-paid basis.”
He explained that “through Y’ello Health, mobile subscribers are able to opt into a micro healthcare insurance scheme through Health Management Organizations (HMO’s), using their mobile phones for a range of pre-defined medical treatments for which affordable premium can also be remitted through the subscribers’ mobile phone.”
