Assessing The Effect Of Digital And Flexible Payment Options On The Uptake Of Health Insurance By The Nigerian Informal Sector

This project explores how digital and flexible payment options can increase enrollment in Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with a focus on informal sector workers in Edo State. The research aims to identify barriers to participation in the NHIS and test how digital payment channels, such as mobile money, bank transfers, and point-of-sale systems, combined with flexible premium schedules, can make health insurance more accessible and affordable. The findings will inform the design of a randomized evaluation to assess how payment innovations can expand coverage, strengthen health financing systems, and reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs among Nigeria’s informal workforce.