Addressing the health insurance gap in the Nigerian market between domestic and international health insurance products, FBNInsurance and Collinson have collaborated on the design of SmartHealth International, which will deliver a suite of new health insurance products aimed at Nigerian employers who want to give peace of mind to their employees and families.

SmartHealth International is designed to complement local healthcare cover by providing cover for treatment abroad should an employee or family member develop a critical medical condition that cannot be adequately treated in Nigeria.

With national presence in strategic geographical locations across the country, FBNInsurance will market SmartHealth International across Nigeria, whilst partnering with Collinson to leverage its in-house international insurance and assistance expertise to provide international access to an extensive network of Collinson certified medical providers.

A solution for treatment of complex medical events

Understanding the drivers for affordability, and at a time when provision for adequate healthcare and peace of mind has never been more top of mind, SmartHealth International is a solution for the treatment of complex and critical care treatments. The proposition has been designed to cater for specific critical complex medical events such as cancer and those requiring renal, orthopaedic and neurosurgery, as well as serious trauma injuries sustained in road traffic accidents. These are the primary medical conditions for which Nigerians are currently leaving the country to seek medical care abroad.

Each case will be individually case managed and assessed, working closely with attending doctors in conjunction with Collinson’s expert international medical team. Depending on the level of cover purchased, eligible policyholders will be flown to South Africa, India or the UK, and even North African countries, where Arabic speaking is required. 

Helping people get back on their feet

Speaking about the Launch, the Managing Director and CEO of FBNInsurance, Val Ojumah, said: “At FBNInsurance, one of our primary objectives is to help people, businesses and communities get back on their feet when the unexpected happens and it has never been more pertinent than now to offer our customers more choice and peace of mind when it comes to their healthcare.”

Lawrence Watts, Head of Insurance at Collinson, added: “At a time when the demands of even the best of healthcare systems globally are under pressure, it’s vital to provide healthcare alternatives to consumers, particularly in markets where we have identified a gap between domestic and international cover.”