The federal government has started a free healthcare plan for pensioners who earn less than N70,000 each month. This move aims to help low-income retirees across Nigeria get better access to medical care.
The program, called PenCare, is for pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) who are 60 years and older. To be eligible, they must receive monthly pensions not exceeding N70,000.
The news was shared in a statement from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Monday.
According to the agency, this program is meant to lighten the healthcare burden on vulnerable pensioners. Many of them face rising medical costs and have less money to spend.
Pilot phase
The NOA said the scheme will start with a pilot phase that includes 30,000 eligible pensioners across the country. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The agency stated that registration has begun. Interested retirees can sign up through the National Pension Commission (PenCom) website or at participating Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
To qualify, pensioners must be under the CPS, be at least 60 years old, and earn a monthly pension of no more than N70,000.
The agency mentioned that this initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen social protection for retired workers and enhance their access to healthcare services.
Pensioners’ welfare
The launch of this scheme comes at a time when many pensioners are worried about their welfare. A lot of them find it hard to pay for healthcare due to rising inflation and increasing medical costs.
According to the NOA, the PenCare program is expected to protect the dignity, health, and wellbeing of beneficiaries. This will help lessen the financial strain related to accessing healthcare.
The agency described the initiative as a big step towards improving the welfare of pensioners and increasing healthcare access for elderly Nigerians.
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