The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has taken its health insurance sensitisation and enrolment campaign to Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area, urging residents to embrace health insurance as a means of protecting themselves from the financial burden of unexpected medical expenses.
The agency explained that sudden illness can place significant financial pressure on individuals and families, particularly when healthcare costs have to be paid out of pocket.
The outreach focused on educating residents on how health insurance works, the services covered under the scheme and how enrolment can provide financial protection when healthcare services are needed.
Representing ASHIA, Mr. Amaefule Christian stressed the importance of enrolling before the onset of illness, urging residents not to wait until they require medical attention before seeking health insurance coverage.
He encouraged residents to enrol with ASHIA and maintain active health insurance coverage, noting that early enrolment enables beneficiaries to access covered healthcare services in accordance with the terms of their chosen package.
Interested residents were also given the opportunity to commence registration during the outreach, bringing the enrolment process closer to the community and enabling prospective beneficiaries to obtain clarification before signing up.
In a related development, Dr. Celestine Ezekwe has sponsored the enrolment of more than 50 people into the ASHIA scheme.
Representing the agency, Mr. Izuchukwu Ogbaji sensitised the newly enrolled beneficiaries on the benefits available to them, the services covered under their packages and the importance of maintaining active coverage.
Ogbaji also encouraged the beneficiaries to seek clarification from the agency whenever they require assistance in accessing services under the scheme.
The enrolment was carried out under the ASHIA Adoption Model, which allows individuals, organisations and philanthropists to sponsor health insurance coverage for people who may otherwise be unable to afford the cost of enrolment.
The model provides an avenue for private individuals and organisations to complement the efforts of the Anambra State Government in expanding health insurance coverage and advancing Universal Health Coverage.
