4.4. Paying premiums
The POLICYHOLDER is required to pay the full premium due to the AGENCY in advance for the duration of his/her SCHEME
The full premium should be paid in advance by the POLICYHOLDER. The AGENCY is not responsible for payments made through third parties. The premium should be paid in the currency the POLICYHOLDER elected to pay when applying for cover.
Changes in payment terms can be made at SCHEME renewal, via written instructions, which must be received by the AGENCY a minimum of 30 days prior to the renewal date.
Termination Clause
If the POLICYHOLDER does not pay the premium by the due date, The INSURANCE AGENCY reserves the right to suspend cover and deny claims. The SCHEME shall be deemed null and void if the full premium is not received by the INSURANCE AGENCY from the POLICYHOLDER. If the POLICYHOLDER does not pay the premium during the 10 day notice period the INSURANCE AGENCY will send a notification to the POLICYHOLDER to notify the POLICYHOLDER of the cancellation of the SCHEME.
Changes to premiums and other charges
Each year, on the renewal date, the AGENCY may change how it calculates the POLICYHOLDER’s premiums, how it determine the premiums, what the POLICYHOLDER has to pay and the method of payment. If the AGENCY does make changes, they will only apply from the POLICYHOLDER’s renewal date.
4.5. Pre-authorization
Some types of medical treatment may require pre-authorization in accordance with the procedures stipulated in the Table of Benefits.
o If the treatment received is subsequently proven to be medically unnecessary, the AGENCY reserves the right to decline the INSURED PERSON’s claim.
o For the benefits listed in the Table of Benefits, the AGENCY reserves the right to decline the INSURED PERSON’s treatment plan if the respective treatment is subsequently proven to be not medically necessary.
4.6. Modification of plan
The POLICYHOLDER may elect to change the plan of insurance selected on the original application only as at the renewal date of the SCHEME and subject to the acceptance of the AGENCY. If change involves an increase in cover, an additional premium amount will be payable and waiting periods may apply
4.7. Participation in insurance
If it is found that there is an in force insurance policy or policies belonging to the INSURED PERSON or anyone else had issued it in favor of the INSURED, covering the same insured risks covered under this SCHEME at the time of claim, the AGENCY will abide to compensate the full up to the limit of the SCHEME.
4.8. Insurance cancellation
The POLICYHOLDER cannot cancel this insurance once premium has been received.
4.9. Forfeiture
All the INSURED PERSON’s rights arising from this Policy will forfeiture in the following cases:
A. Incorrect disclosure by the INSURED or his/her representative in the application form or in the declarations given, with the purpose of urging the AGENCY to accept the insurance or any non-disclosure to the AGENCY of any material facts which he/she had to inform the AGENCY with before the SCHEME commencement date.
B. Violation by the INSURED or his/her representatives of the laws or regulations, which organizes the performance of his/her, own activity, if involving intentional felony or misdemeanor or prosecution.
The INSURED or the beneficiaries’ rights to claim will forfeiture if the insured or his/her representative submits misleading or fraudulent data or support the claim form with fraudulent data or if the indemnity has been fabricated.
Cancellation and fraud
A. The POLICYHOLDER shall reimburse the AGENCY in the event that the relevant insurance cards issued by the AGENCY or its appointed Third Party Administrator are misused by the INSURED PERSON(S).
B. The POLICYHOLDER shall reimburse the HOSPITAL in respect of any additional expenses above the limits as specified by the benefit package.
C. Death. Upon the death of the POLICYHOLDER the dependant will still be covered till the end of the policy.
D. Death. Upon the death of the POLICYHOLDER or dependent the HIA should be notified in writing within 28 days.
E. If a dependent dies, they will be taken off the SCHEME and another dependant cannot be added.
4.10 Renewal
This SCHEME is issued for the period from the Contract Effective Date to the Expiry Date as stated in the Insurance SCHEME, and may be renewed by the POLICYHOLDER at the SCHEME renewal date for another period of one year, subject to the terms in force at the time of each renewal date and to payment of premium, unless there is written notice given by the POLICYHOLDER or THE AGENCY at least thirty (30) days prior to the renewal date to cancel the SCHEME. THE AGENCY reserves the right to review the SCHEME terms and conditions and to alter the Premium rates at renewal of the SCHEME.
4.11 SCHEME expiry
Upon expiry of the SCHEME, the right of the INSURED PERSON to reimbursement ends. Any expenses covered under the insurance SCHEME and incurred during the period of cover shall be reimbursed up to one month after the expiry of the insurance SCHEME. However, any ongoing or further treatment that is required after the expiry date of the SCHEME will no longer be covered.
4.12 Medical records
The INSURED PERSON(S) agrees to assist the AGENCY in obtaining all necessary information to process a claim. The AGENCY has the right to access all medical records and to have direct discussions with the medical provider or the treating physician. The AGENCY may, at its own expense, request a medical examination by the AGENCY’s medical representative when the AGENCY deems this to be necessary. All information will be treated in strict confidence. The AGENCY reserves the right to withhold benefits if the INSURED PERSON has not honored these obligations
4.13 Observance of terms
The due observance and fulfillment of the terms and conditions of this SCHEME in so far as they relate to anything to be done or complied with the POLICYHOLDER or an INSURED PERSON shall be a condition precedent to any liability of the AGENCY.
4.14 Subrogation
Any claimant under this SCHEME shall at the request and expense of the AGENCY take and permit to be taken all necessary steps for enforcing rights against any other party in the name of the Insured before or after any payment is made by the AGENCY.
4.15 Time bar
The insurance coverage under this SCHEME will be subject to Law No. 4 of Laws of Lagos State of 25 May 2015.
4.16 Liability
The AGENCY’s liability to the INSURED PERSON(S) is limited to the amounts indicated in the Table of Benefits and any subsequent SCHEME endorsements. In no event will the amount of reimbursement, whether under this SCHEME, public medical schemes and any other insurance, exceed the amount of the invoice.
4.17 Making contact with dependents
In order to administer the SCHEME in accordance with the insurance contract, there may be circumstances when the AGENCY will need to request further information. If the AGENCY needs to make contact in relation to a dependent on a SCHEME (e.g. where further information is required to process a claim), the POLICYHOLDER, acting for and on behalf of the dependent, may be contacted by the AGENCY and be asked to provide the relevant information. Similarly, all information in relation to any person covered by the SCHEME, for the purposes of administering claims, may be sent directly to the POLICYHOLDER.
4.18 Force majeure
The AGENCY shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under the terms of this SCHEME, caused by, or resulting from, force majeure which shall include, but is not limited to: events which are unpredictable, unforeseeable or unavoidable, such as extremely severe weather, floods, landslides, earthquakes, storms, lightning, fire, subsidence, epidemics, acts of terrorism, outbreaks of military hostilities (whether or not war is declared), riots, explosions, strikes or other labour unrest, civil disturbances, sabotage, expropriation by governmental authorities and any other act or event that is outside of the AGENCY’s reasonable control.
4.19 Changes, declarations
The AGENCY may alter both the Individual Benefit Guide and/or the Table of Benefits from time to time but no alteration shall take effect until the next annual renewal of this Agreement. The AGENCY shall notify such changes to the POLICYHOLDER in writing and – where appropriate – shall issue replacement documents to the POLICYHOLDER. This SCHEME can only be varied in writing. No variation will be admitted unless it is in writing and signed on behalf of the AGENCY and the POLICYHOLDER.
4.20 Designated courts
All disputes arising from the interpretation or execution of this SCHEME shall be settled by the relevant Nigerian courts in whose jurisdiction lies the office of the AGENCY which issued the SCHEME.
4.21 Data protection
The AGENCY and all other parties authorized by the AGENCY shall obtain and process personal information for the purposes of providing and improving services related hereto including but not limited to preparing quotations, underwriting policies, collecting premium, verification of identity, paying claims, customer support, customer communication, research and for any other purpose which is directly related to administering policies in accordance with the insurance contract.
The AGENCY and all other parties authorized by the AGENCY have the right to communicate with the INSURED PERSON(S) by various means including but not limited to SMS, telephone and email.
The AGENCY shall not share your personal information without your consent to third parties or unauthorized persons, except as provided in this policy, to act on your behalf or request, as required by law or when necessary for operation fulfilment of the services hereunder or related hereto. For certain services the AGENCY may be required to use third party services. The AGENCY shall remain responsible for the protection of your personal information and shall take every step to ensure your privacy.
The AGENCY retains the right to pursue legitimate interests by processing and sharing anonymized data and results with various partners and stakeholders . This includes carrying out, or having third parties carry out, statistical analyses to support the AGENCY and carrying out the services and for the benefit of improving access to healthcare and to evaluate and improve the quality of healthcare services offered by healthcare providers and/or any other service necessary to provide you with the services.
The confidentiality of patient and INSURED PERSON information is of paramount concern to the AGENCY. The INSURED PERSON(S) has a right to access the personal data that is held about them. The INSURED PERSON(S) also has the right to request that the AGENCY amend or delete any information which the INSURED PERSON(S) believes is inaccurate or out of date.
The AGENCY will not retain the INSURED PERSON’s data for longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was obtained.
In some instances the AGENCY will pay a percentage of the costs for the specific benefit. Where a specific benefit limit applies the POLICYHOLDER bears the cost of the additional care.
All limits are per INSURED PERSON, per Insurance Year, unless otherwise stated in the Table of Benefits
If the INSURED PERSON is covered for maternity benefits, these will be stated in the Table of Benefits along with any benefit limit and/or waiting period which applies. Benefit limits for “Routine maternity” and “Complications of childbirth” are payable on either a “per pregnancy” or “per Insurance Year” basis (this will also be confirmed in the Table of Benefits). If the benefit is payable on a “per pregnancy” basis and a pregnancy spans two Insurance Years, please note that if a change is applied to the benefit limit at SCHEME renewal, the following will apply:
• All eligible expenses incurred in the first year will be subject to the benefit limit that applies in year one and not transferable to year two.
• All eligible expenses incurred in the second year will be subject to the benefit limit that applies in year two.
Changing state of residence
Coverage is only limited to care within Lagos State. It is important that the POLICYHOLDER advises the AGENCY when they or their covered dependents change state of residence, as it may impact their cover.
Medical necessity and customary charges
This SCHEME provides cover for medical treatment, related costs, services and/or supplies that the AGENCY determines to be medically necessary and appropriate to treat a patient’s condition, illness or injury as stated in the Table of Benefits. The AGENCY will only pay for medical costs as stated on the tariff agreement and for the treatment provided, in accordance with standard treatment guidelines. If a claim is deemed by the AGENCY to be inappropriate, the AGENCY reserves the right to reduce the amount payable by them.
The “Notes” section of the Table of Benefits will confirm if pre-existing conditions are covered.