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The short answer
Yes. Your parents can be enrolled with NHIA's informal-sector programme (GIFSHIP) through an accredited HMO, joined to a state health scheme, or put on a private HMO plan, and the premium can be paid by someone abroad. NHIA does not publish a diaspora payment route, so the practical path is to choose the HMO, have it confirm the plan in writing, and pay it directly or through family in Nigeria.
The three routes for parents in Nigeria
Paying hospital bills from Accra each time a parent falls ill is expensive and stressful. Health insurance in Nigeria turns part of that into a yearly premium. There are three main routes, and they can sit side by side.
| Route | Run by | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| NHIA informal sector (GIFSHIP) | National Health Insurance Authority, through accredited HMOs | Parents not covered as civil or public servants |
| State health insurance | State agencies such as Lagos's Ilera Eko | Parents living in a state with its own scheme |
| Private HMO plan | Private HMOs | Parents needing wider hospital choice or senior cover |
NHIA and the informal-sector plan
The National Health Insurance Authority was established under the National Health Insurance Act, signed into law on 19 May 2022, according to NHIA's own site. NHIA describes its aim as health insurance for all Nigerians and legal residents. Its Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme, known as GIFSHIP, is designed, in NHIA's words, 'to cover every other Nigerian who is not a civil/public servant', which is where most retired or self-employed parents fall.
Enrolment runs through NHIA's online enrolment portal and its accredited HMOs. NHIA's homepage says enrollees generally pay nothing at the point of care, except a 10% co-payment for drugs. It does not publish premium amounts on the homepage, and it says nothing about paying from abroad. Ask the HMO you choose for the current premium and benefit package in writing.
Who can be covered
NHIA's contributory plans for employees cover the employee, a spouse and up to four biological children, with other dependants able to enrol. Parents of a worker are not automatically dependants, so for parents the usual route is to enrol each of them in their own right.
Private HMO plans for older parents
Several private HMOs sell plans aimed at older people. As one example, Bastion HMO's own blog (25 February 2026) describes a Seniors Plan for people aged 55 and over, covering pre-existing conditions such as hypertension and diabetes with no waiting period for chronic care. It listed three tiers at that date: Oak at ₦290,109 a year, Blossom at ₦461,554 and Golden at ₦1,068,507, and said payment can be made from abroad. We have not checked that HMO against NHIA's accredited list; check it yourself before paying, as you should for any HMO.
When comparing plans, read the exclusions list, the hospital list near your parents' home, the cap on admissions, and whether chronic medication is covered or only consultations.
State schemes
Many states run their own contributory schemes. Lagos has Ilera Eko, the FCT and Rivers have their own; costs and benefits for those three are set out in our Nigeria guides, starting with healthcare costs in Lagos and Ilera Eko. A state plan can be cheaper than a private HMO, but check which hospitals near your parents accept it.
Paying the premium from Ghana
Nigerian HMO premiums are priced in naira. In practice there are two ways to pay from Accra.
- Send naira to the HMO's Nigerian account against its invoice, quoting your parent's name and enrolment reference.
- Send to a sibling or relative in Nigeria who pays the HMO and forwards the receipt.
Direct payment leaves the cleanest record. Whichever way you pay, keep the HMO's invoice, the payment receipt and the enrolment confirmation together, and diarise the renewal date. Our guide to moving money between Ghana and Nigeria explains how the conversion and fees work on each route.
Worked example: two parents on a mid-tier plan
Two parents on a ₦461,554 plan cost ₦923,108 a year. If you set aside a monthly amount for renewal, that is ₦76,926 a month for 12 months (₦923,112, rounded up by ₦4). Compare that with the cost of one hospital admission in your parents' city before deciding which tier to buy.
What to check first
- Is the HMO on NHIA's accredited list?
- Which hospitals near your parents accept the plan?
- Are pre-existing conditions and chronic medication covered, and from when?
- What is the renewal date and the price for the next year?
- Who will your parents call when they arrive at a hospital?
Where Pryme fits
With a Pryme Personal Account opened from Ghana you can hold naira and send it to the HMO's Nigerian account. Your Personal Assistant can remind you before renewal, and nothing is paid without your approval.
Questions people ask
Can I enrol my parents in NHIA from abroad?
NHIA does not describe a diaspora route on its homepage. Choose an accredited HMO, ask it to enrol your parents under the informal-sector plan, and pay the HMO's invoice.
What is GIFSHIP?
NHIA's Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme, designed to cover Nigerians who are not civil or public servants.
How much is health insurance for elderly parents in Nigeria?
It depends on the HMO and plan. One HMO listed senior plans from ₦290,109 to ₦1,068,507 a year in February 2026; check current prices with the HMO.
Do my parents pay anything at the hospital under NHIA?
NHIA says enrollees generally pay nothing at the point of care except a 10% co-payment for drugs.
Sources
- National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) homepage · accessed Oct 2026
- Bastion HMO: how the Seniors Plan works (25 Feb 2026) · 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.