Ghana - Renew for Mobile Health Insurance Scheme

ProcedureEdit

Apply through a mobile app

Renew for Mobile Health Insurance Scheme is available in the Ghana National Health Insurance Authority Office contact link
The NHIS Mobile Renewal is a convenient method to renew NHIS policy by dialing dedicated NHIS short-code *929# (service is currently being piloted on *842*10# and is open in Asuogyaman and West Mamprusi districts).
The mobile renewal service can be accessed from all networks. Accessing the service does not require data services or airtime balance.
Applicant must make sure to carry both photocopies and originals of all documents are necessary for completing this procedure. Documents that are needed for this procedure are mentioned under “Required Documents” section of this page.
On dialing the code, the user is presented with the following four choices:
- Check Policy Expiry: Using this option, members can check status of their NHIS policy. The service is free and does not require data services or airtime balance
- Renew: Using this option, members can renew their membership. The membership number is required for entry. Members need to have sufficient balance in their mobile wallet to complete the transaction. An SMS confirmation is sent to the registered phone number after successful renewal.
- Benefit Package: This option gives a summary of the NHIS benefit package
- Medicine List: This option gives a summary of the NHIS medicine list, with information regarding NHIS call-center numbers for further information.
On dialling the NHIS mobile renewal short-code, the user needs to choose option 2 ‘Renew’ to renew their policy.
On selecting this option, the member is requested to enter their NHIS Membership Number (printed on their NHIS card).
Payment of appropriate fees should be made and that can be found under the "Fees" section of this page.
The system then prompts user to pay the required payment from their mobile wallet. NHIS imposes an additional convenience charge of 1.00 GHS to renew the NHIS policy via mobile.
Needless to say, members need to have sufficient balance in their mobile wallet to successfully complete their transaction.
The services are open to all premium paying and exempt categories viz. children, elderly, SSNIT members. However, members who are fully exempted viz. pregnant women and indigents are unable to use the mobile channel for renewal and are requested to visit the district office to access their exemptions.
Generally, the processing time for this procedure takes 9 weeks.

Required DocumentsEdit

Documents are not required

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

National Health Insurance Authority
Address: AU, Ridge Residential Area, 36 SekouToure St, Accra, Ghana
HR83+9P Accra, Ghana
No. 36-6th Avenue, Opposite AU Suite, Ridge Residential Area, Accra.
Digital address: GA-029-3976
Fax number: +233 (0) 302 232325
Contact number: +233302216970/+233 (0) 302 238136/ 233255/ 216970/ 241690
Email id: [email protected]
Location link
Contact link

EligibilityEdit

The services are open to all premium paying and exempt categories viz. children, elderly, SSNIT members. However, members who are fully exempted viz. pregnant women and indigents are unable to use the mobile channel for renewal.

FeesEdit

This procedure Free of cost.
NHIS imposes an additional convenience charge of 1.00 GHS to renew the NHIS policy via mobile.

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Link

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Generally, the processing time for this procedure takes 9 weeks.

InstructionsEdit

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is a social intervention program introduced by government to provide financial access to quality health care for residents in Ghana. The NHIS is largely funded by:

The National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), which is 2.5% levy on goods and services collected under the Value Added Tax (VAT).
2.5 percentage points of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions per month
return on National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) investments
Premium paid by informal sector subscribers.
Government allocation complements the funding of the scheme.

NHIS subscribers fall into two broad groups, the informal and exempt groups. It is only the informal group that pays premium. Members of the exempt group do not pay premium. They are:

Formal sector employees and the self-employed who contribute to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT contributors)
Children (persons under 18 years of age)
Persons in need of ante-natal, delivery and post-natal health care services (pregnant women)
Persons classified by the Minister for Social Welfare as indigents,
Categories of differently-abled persons determined by the Minister responsible for Social Welfare
Persons with mental disorder
Pensioners of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT pensioners)
Persons above seventy years of age (the elderly)
Other categories prescribed by the Minister.

In addition to the premium, subscribers are also required to pay a processing fee or renewal fee for their ID cards, except pregnant women and indigents. The table below depicts the different categories of subscribers, payments they have to make and whether or not they serve a waiting period.Several categories of health care facilities have been credentialed by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to provide services to subscribers. These are:

Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS)
Maternity homes
Health centres
Clinics
Polyclinics
Primary hospitals (district hospitals, CHAG primary hospitals, quasi- Government primary hospitals and private primary hospitals)
Secondary hospitals
Tertiary hospitals
Pharmacies
Licensed chemical shops
Diagnostic centres

Applicant must however visit your primary provider first when you fall ill. If necessary, he/she will refer you to a higher level facility. This ensures that regional and teaching hospitals are able to concentrate on more complicated diseases, to reduce overcrowding and ensure quality of care at all levels.

Required InformationEdit

NHIS short code number
Charge of 1.00 GHS

Need for the DocumentEdit

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is mandated by National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852) to regulate Private Health Insurance Schemes (PHIS) in Ghana. In performing its regulatory functions the Authority registers, licenses and supervises the operations of PHIS in Ghana.

Information which might helpEdit

Additional convenience: Members can now renew membership from comfort of their home and are not required to travel far to district offices to renew membership.
Savings on time: Travel to district offices, waiting in queues consume a lot of members’ time. Recent surveys have shown that, on average, members were spending up to 6 hours trying to renew their membership. This time has now been cut down to minutes.
Savings on travel expenses: Recent survey has shown that, on average, members spend between 6.00 GHS to 9.00 GHS in travel costs to their nearest district office. Now they are able to renew without incurring these travel costs and this directly translates into monetary savings.
Lower operational burden: Renewals account for 85% of the foot falls in our district office and consumes a lot of staff time. The pilots have shown that channelling a part of the renewals via the mobile channel has drastically cut down on queues at the district offices and enabled our staff to refocus efforts on new member registration.
Lower reliance on ICT consumables: The standard process of renewal at district offices relies on ICT equipment (e.g. printers), services (e.g. network) and consumables (e.g. ribbons) in order to operate efficiently. Managing regular supply of these ICT requirements is expensive in terms of money and time. The mobile renewal service does not require any of these ICT components and has shown to significantly reduce the consumption of such ICT equipment and consumables.
Easier accounting of premium: All collections via the mobile channel are reflected immediately on NHIA’s electronic receipting system and all monies are credited to NHIA district office accounts within 24 hours. These allows a transparent and reliable electronic method of accounting which is a significant step forward to the collection and paper accounting of cash based collections.
Increased revenue: The NHIS mobile renewal service mobilises additional collections for NHIA as transactions are now possible away from the district office in the comfort of members’ homes.

External LinksEdit