The National Health Insurance Scheme covers a long list of treatments at accredited hospitals and clinics, but only while your card is active. Membership has to be renewed each year, and the good news is you no longer have to queue at an NHIS office to do it.
You can renew from your phone. Here is how.
Renew by phone with the short code
The quickest way to renew is the mobile renewal service, which lets you pay and reactivate your membership without leaving the house. You dial the NHIS short code, follow the prompts, confirm your details, and pay the premium through mobile money. Once it goes through, your cover is renewed and you get a confirmation.
This works for renewing an existing membership. If you are joining for the first time, or you need a new card, you still start at an NHIS district office because they have to capture your details and biometrics.
What renewal costs
Members pay an annual premium, and some groups are exempt from that premium, though a small processing fee may still apply. The exempt groups have generally included children under 18, people aged 70 and above, pregnant women, and indigents, among others.
Even if you fall in an exempt group, you usually still need to renew each year to keep the membership active, so do not assume the card stays live on its own.
Renewing in person
If you would rather do it face to face, or your renewal will not go through on the phone, visit an NHIS district office. Bring your NHIS card and your Ghana Card. The staff can check your record, take the payment, and update your status.
Check that it worked before you fall sick
Do not wait until you are at the hospital in pain to find out your cover lapsed. After you renew, confirm the membership shows as active. You can usually check your status through the same mobile service or by asking at an office.
It is worth renewing a little before the expiry date rather than after, so there is no gap if you or a child needs care in that window.
What the scheme covers
NHIS covers a wide set of common conditions and treatments at accredited facilities, including outpatient and inpatient care, maternity care, and many prescribed medicines on the approved list. It does not cover everything, and some drugs and procedures fall outside the scheme, which is why you sometimes still pay at the pharmacy even with an active card.
When you go to a hospital, say up front that you are an NHIS member and give your details at the desk so the visit is processed under the scheme rather than as a cash patient.
Common questions
How often do I renew? Once a year. Membership runs for 12 months and then needs renewing.
Can I renew someone else’s membership, like a parent’s? Yes, you can usually renew on behalf of a family member using their membership details, which is handy for older relatives who do not use smartphones.
I lost my card. What now? Report it at an NHIS district office, which can look you up by your details and reissue or reactivate your membership.
Renew from your phone, do it before the card expires, and check your status is active so the scheme is ready the day you actually need it.
