The federal government has launched a free healthcare plan for pensioners earning less than N70,000 monthly. This move aims to help low-income retirees get better medical care across the country.
The plan is called PenCare. It focuses on pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) who are 60 years and older and receive monthly pensions of not more than N70,000.
The announcement came in a statement from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Monday.
According to the agency, this program will help lighten the healthcare costs for vulnerable pensioners who face rising medical bills and reduced purchasing power.
Pilot phase
The NOA said the scheme will start with a pilot phase covering 30,000 eligible pensioners nationwide. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The agency mentioned that registration has begun. Interested retirees can sign up through the National Pension Commission (PenCom) website or through participating Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
To qualify, beneficiaries must be pensioners under the CPS, be at least 60 years old, and earn a monthly pension of no more than N70,000.
The agency explained that this initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen social protection measures for retired workers and improve their access to healthcare services.
Pensioners’ welfare
The start of this scheme comes at a time when there are increasing worries about the welfare of pensioners. Many of them find it hard to pay healthcare costs due to inflation and rising medical fees.
The NOA stated that the PenCare program is expected to help protect the dignity, health, and wellbeing of beneficiaries by easing the financial burden of accessing healthcare.
The agency described this plan as a key step towards better post-retirement welfare and increasing healthcare access for elderly Nigerians.
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