NHIA removes waiting period to expand NHIS access nationwide
By Maame Efua Kwaduah
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has rolled out a nationwide waiver of the mandatory one-month waiting period for new National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) members and individuals renewing their membership after more than three months of expiry.
The measure, which runs from November until December 14, 2025, forms part of the NHIS Active Month Campaign aimed at improving access to healthcare and strengthening active enrollment on the scheme.
The temporary waiver is expected to ease the process for thousands of people who have struggled with delays in accessing essential health services due to the standard waiting period.
By removing the pause between registration and eligibility, the NHIA hopes to encourage more citizens to join the scheme and reduce the number of inactive or lapsed memberships recorded annually.
As part of the campaign, the Authority has urged the public to take full advantage of available enrollment and renewal channels.
Members may renew or register at any NHIS district office, through the MyNHIS app or by dialing the short code *929#.
Subscribers are also encouraged to activate the Auto-Renewal option to prevent future lapses in coverage.
This year’s campaign focuses on ensuring that no eligible person is left behind due to administrative or financial barriers.
The NHIA believes the waiver will help reduce out-of-pocket payments and advance the country’s progress toward universal health coverage.
The initiative also seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of continuous membership, particularly for households with children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals managing long-term health conditions.
By improving timely access to NHIS services, the Authority aims to boost confidence in the scheme and reinforce its position as a vital pillar of Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.
The NHIA has called on community leaders, health workers, media partners and civil society organisations to support the campaign by educating the public and promoting timely enrollment.
The Authority maintains that sustained membership growth is essential to building a more resilient, equitable and accessible healthcare system for all Ghanaians.
