The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has announced the enrolment of all retired civil servants in the state into the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS), with the state government covering the full cost of their healthcare.
He said the decision was driven by the growing healthcare needs of pensioners and the rising cost of medical care associated with old age.
Under the scheme, retirees will have access to consultations, treatment, medication, and specialised services at no cost. The governor described the initiative as a major policy shift aimed at protecting citizens who spent their active years in public service.
Aiyedatiwa made the announcement on Monday at the maiden National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies held at the International Culture and Event Centre, Akure.
The summit, themed “Economic realities and the universal health coverage dream: mobilising states for scalable health insurance”, brought together policymakers, health insurance managers, development partners and government officials to explore pathways to achieving universal health coverage amid current economic challenges.
Speaking at the event, the governor said he had approved the inclusion of retirees in the Orange Health Insurance Scheme at no cost to them.
He noted that pensioners often face age-related health challenges at a stage of life when medical expenses can become overwhelming.
According to him, enrolling retirees in ORANGHIS removes financial barriers to healthcare and guarantees access to essential treatment, specialised care, and quality medical services.