The NBA Lagos Health Insurance Scheme is an initiative available to NBA Lagos Branch members for extensive and premium healthcare cover.
I served as the Assistant Secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch Welfare Committee, that initiated the Health Insurance Scheme during the 2019-2021 administration of Mr. Yemi Akangbe. I am particularly happy that we were able to record massive success despite its novelty. I also commend the Branch Executives of the current administration led by Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, for sustaining the scheme, as it stands to benefit members of the branch, especially the young lawyers.
Undoubtedly, our job as lawyers is mentally, physically and emotionally demanding, and this could have a perverse effect on our health if adequate care is not taken. Hence, it is proper to look after our well-being even in the midst of our endless professional responsibilities and ever demanding work schedule.
Some of the benefits of having a subsisting health insurance scheme are as follows:
- Subsidization: The NBA Lagos Branch Health Insurance scheme provides for the pooling of resources for gross subsidization of health costs, which is beneficial to law firms to the extent that the burden of funding the healthcare of their lawyers, is highly discounted for law firms who participate in this scheme. At the subsidised rate of N28,610, law firms can enroll each of their employees under the scheme. This in my opinion is highly cost effective.
2.The Coverage: Another benefit the NBA Lagos Health Insurance Scheme is a wide range of medical services. It covers the following amongst others: primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, outpatient care, surgeries, CT scans, immunization, Dental Health, Antenatal Health Care, Psychotherapy, Accident & Emergency, Neonatal treatment, amongst others. You would agree with me, that this scheme offers access to a wide range of services that ordinarily cost a fortune.
3.Protection Against High Medical Costs: The NBA Lagos Branch Health Insurance Scheme offers protection against high medical costs. It covers hospitalization expenses, day care procedures, domiciliary expenses, ambulance charges, and many other costs.
In light of the foregoing, I passionately urge law firms to subscribe to the NBA Lagos Branch Health Insurance Scheme for the benefit of their Associates, particularly their young lawyers. I am of the firm belief, that this would in turn yield optimum output for the said law firms, as the medical needs of their lawyers would have been catered for.
The question one might ask is, why young lawyers in particular? The answer to that is apt and tied to the known fact that young lawyers are instrumental to the work carried out in most law firms.
In any organization, the importance of human capital cannot be overemphasized. Lawyers in general, need to pay maximum attention to issues pertaining to their health, in order to avoid sudden breakdown or collapse that could in turn affect their firms negatively.
Ajibola Salvador, ChMC., ACIArb(UK)
Senior Partner, Ajibola & Salvador LP
