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The short answer
Lagos State's health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, run by LASHMA, is described by the state as mandatory, and access to state-owned facilities depends on enrolment; it covers primary care, specialist visits, dental and eye care and more, with some services only after two years. Families still pay for items outside their plan, private care, pharmacy top-ups and transport, so budget for those separately and keep a small health fund.
What Ilera Eko is
Ilera Eko is the Lagos State Health Scheme, managed by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA). In February 2026 the state government urged all residents to enrol, describing enrolment as mandatory and saying access to state-owned health facilities would depend on it under a 'No Insurance, No Service' approach. Officials said non-compliant residents would be refused service rather than arrested.
What the scheme covers
According to the state's February 2026 announcement, cover includes:
- Primary healthcare and specialist consultations.
- Dental and eye care, physiotherapy and annual wellness screening.
- Cancer care, dialysis and certain screenings, available after the second year of continuous enrolment.
- Subsidised caesarean sections, with some maternal benefits requiring at least five months of antenatal care.
Premiums can now be paid in flexible instalments, and the state has an equity fund, set at 1% of its consolidated revenue, to cover premiums for vulnerable residents who cannot pay. For current premiums, plans and how to enrol, go to LASHMA or an accredited facility directly; this guide does not quote amounts.
Costs that still land on Lagos families
Insurance reduces the bill; it rarely removes it. These are the costs people in Lagos most often still pay themselves:
| Cost | Why it arises | How to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines outside the plan | Not every drug or brand is covered | Ask your provider what is included; keep a monthly medicine line |
| Private clinics and hospitals | Choice, waiting times or location | Know which facilities your plan uses before you need one |
| Tests and scans | Some may need referral or fall outside cover | Ask for costs before the test |
| Transport to care | Traffic and distance, often by ride-hailing in an emergency | Keep a small cash amount for urgent trips |
| Family members not enrolled | Relatives visiting, or a gap in cover | Enrol everyone in the household |
A worked monthly health budget
A household of four in Alimosho, all enrolled. The amounts are examples only, not premiums or prices.
- Ilera Eko premiums, paid by instalment: an amount set by the plan.
- Monthly medicines for a parent with a long-term condition, partly outside the plan: ₦25,000 (example).
- Health fund for unexpected costs: ₦10,000 a month (example), kept in a separate savings box and allowed to build up.
- Transport for clinic visits: ₦6,000 (example).
After a year, the health fund holds ₦120,000. When a child needs a scan not covered by the plan, the family pays from it, not from rent or school money.
Where credit fits, and where it does not
Loans on Spaces is available in Lagos, and pharmacies are one of the supported Spaces sectors. Hospitals and clinics are not in the list of Spaces sectors, so a hospital bill cannot be paid with Loans on Spaces. What credit can do is cover a known prescription at a pharmacy that is a Spaces merchant, with repayment after your next income, once you have read the amount, cost and repayment date in the app.
Credit should never delay urgent care. If someone is seriously ill, go to the nearest hospital first and deal with the money after. For choosing a pharmacy, see our Lagos pharmacy guide, and for long-term medicines, spreading monthly medication costs.
Mothers, babies and children
Maternity is where planning pays most. The state's announcement links some maternal benefits to attending antenatal care for at least five months, so register early in a pregnancy and keep your antenatal card safe. Ask your facility which costs fall outside the plan, such as particular tests, items for the delivery bag or private rooms, and save for them over the months before the due date. For young children, ask your nearest primary health centre about routine immunisations. Keep a folder, paper or on your phone, with each child's enrolment details and clinic records, so a visit in a hurry does not stall at the front desk.
Practical steps this month
- Check that everyone in your household is enrolled, and note your registered facility.
- Save the LASHMA contact details and your enrolment number on your phone.
- Find one registered pharmacy near home and one near work.
- Start a health fund, however small, and add to it every payday.
- Keep receipts for medical spending; some employers reimburse part of it, and a clear record helps if a charge is ever disputed.
Where Pryme fits
A Flexible Savings Box in your Pryme Personal Account can hold your health fund, and your Personal Assistant can remind you of instalment dates and refills. If you have a Loans on Spaces offer, you can use it at pharmacies in Spaces in Lagos, with the full agreement shown before you accept.
Questions people ask
Is Ilera Eko compulsory in Lagos?
The Lagos State Government describes enrolment as mandatory and has said access to state-owned facilities depends on it.
What does Ilera Eko cover?
Primary care, specialist visits, dental and eye care, physiotherapy and wellness screening, with cancer care and dialysis after two years of enrolment.
Can I pay Ilera Eko in instalments?
Yes. The state has introduced flexible instalment options. Ask LASHMA or your facility for current plans.
Can I pay a hospital bill with Loans on Spaces?
No. Hospitals are not a Spaces sector. Loans on Spaces can be used at pharmacies that are Spaces merchants.
Sources
- LASG urges residents to enrol in Ilera Eko (Radio Nigeria Lagos, Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- PCN: Guidelines for registration of pharmacists and premises · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: Consumer rights and responsibilities · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.