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The short answer
KSCHMA, the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency set up under Law No. 3 of 2016, runs the state health insurance scheme and reported 933,014 enrollees in December 2025. Formal-sector workers join through their employers, informal-sector enrolment was launched statewide in December 2025, and vulnerable groups are covered through state and federal funds; the agency did not publish a premium in the report we read, so ask KSCHMA for the current amount.
Paying for treatment out of pocket is the main reason a hospital visit can wreck a household budget. Kano's answer is a contributory scheme run by KSCHMA, in which members pay a premium, or have it paid for them, and receive care at accredited facilities. This guide explains who runs it, who it covers, how to join and what to ask before you rely on it at hospitals such as Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) or Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (MMSH).
The scheme in figures
At a December 2025 briefing for Universal Health Coverage Day, reported by the News Agency of Nigeria, KSCHMA's Executive Secretary Rahila Muktar gave these figures:
| Programme | Enrollees (Dec 2025) |
|---|---|
| All programmes | 933,014 (up from 497,262 in 2023) |
| Formal sector | 537,914 |
| Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) | 342,515 |
| Vulnerable Group Programme (state-funded) | 50,745 |
| Informal sector | 1,840 (up from 148) |
The agency said it works through 614 empanelled facilities, has trained over 1,000 providers, upgraded its call centre for enrollee complaints and digitised service use at primary health centres.
Who can join, and how
Formal-sector workers
State and many local government workers are enrolled through their employer, with contributions handled through payroll. If you work for the state, ask your HR or establishment office for your enrolment status and your chosen primary facility.
Informal-sector residents
Traders, artisans, farmers and the self-employed join as individuals or households. KSCHMA launched statewide informal-sector enrolment on UHC Day in December 2025. The report did not state a premium, so ask the agency or an accredited enrolment point for the current amount before you pay, and pay only through official channels.
Vulnerable groups
The agency reported coverage of 145,723 pregnant women, 124,802 children under five, 46,512 persons with disabilities, 31,003 people with chronic conditions and 29,473 people living with HIV, through the BHCPF and the state Vulnerable Group Programme supported by the Kano State Health Trust Fund. An Abba Care Programme gives some sickle cell patients access to specialist hospitals, and the agency said it was targeting 39,000 indigent sickle cell patients.
Steps to enrol as an individual
- Contact KSCHMA or visit an accredited enrolment point and ask which plan fits you.
- Bring your NIN, a passport photograph and details of household members.
- Choose a primary healthcare facility near your home.
- Pay the premium through the official channel and keep the receipt.
- Collect your enrollee ID and ask when cover begins; many schemes have a waiting period.
Using your cover at AKTH or MMSH
In most state schemes, enrollees visit their chosen primary facility first, which refers them to a secondary or tertiary hospital when needed. Before you go to AKTH or MMSH, ask KSCHMA whether the hospital is accredited for your plan and the service you need, and carry the referral letter. Services outside your benefit package are paid out of pocket. For what AKTH charges uninsured patients, see AKTH costs.
A worked example
Example only. A trader pays a household premium of ₦60,000 a year for herself and four dependants (example figure). One child needs malaria treatment and tests that would cost ₦25,000 out of pocket, and she needs antenatal visits and an ultrasound that would cost ₦45,000. In one year that is ₦70,000 of care (₦25,000 + ₦45,000) against a ₦60,000 premium, before any larger hospital stay, which is where insurance matters most.
What to check first
- The current premium for your plan, from KSCHMA.
- Your primary facility and how referrals work.
- Whether AKTH, MMSH or your preferred hospital accepts your plan for the service you need.
- Any waiting period before cover starts.
- The call centre or complaint route if a facility refuses service.
Insurance and out-of-pocket costs together
Even with cover, some costs fall on you: services outside the benefit package, drugs that are out of stock at the facility, transport and feeding for a relative in hospital. A small reserve beside the premium keeps these from becoming debt. Families with members working outside the formal sector should enrol each adult and child, since cover is personal.
If a facility refuses service
Enrollees sometimes find that a facility asks for payment for a service they believe is covered. Ask the facility to explain in writing, note the date and the staff member, and contact KSCHMA. The agency said in December 2025 that it had upgraded its call centre to speed up responses to enrollee complaints. Keep your enrollee ID and receipts for anything you paid, in case a refund is due.
Where Pryme fits
A premium is a once-a-year cost, so save towards it. A Flexible Box on Pryme Boxes can hold the premium and a small reserve for costs outside the package, and the Personal Assistant can remind you before renewal.
Questions people ask
How do I register for KSCHMA in Kano?
Formal-sector workers join through their employer. Informal-sector residents enrol with KSCHMA or an accredited enrolment point with NIN, a photo and household details.
How much is KSCHMA premium?
The December 2025 report we read did not state a premium. Ask KSCHMA for the current amount for your plan.
Does KSCHMA cover AKTH?
Ask KSCHMA whether AKTH is accredited for your plan and service. You usually need a referral from your primary facility.
Is health insurance free for pregnant women in Kano?
KSCHMA reported covering 145,723 pregnant women through the BHCPF and state vulnerable group programmes. Ask your primary health centre how to enrol.
Sources
- Peoples Gazette (NAN): Kano health insurance agency enrols 933,000 residents (13 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- EDOHIC: Insurance policy (Edo State Health Insurance Commission) · accessed Oct 2026
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