Photo: Isaiah Maghanga, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Health insurance in Ethiopia
Health insurance in Ethiopia: community-based cover and private plans
Short answerChecked 23 September 2026
Most Ethiopians with health cover are in community-based health insurance (CBHI), run by the Ethiopian Health Insurance Service (EHIS). In the 2024/25 budget year it covered 1,195 districts, 13.67 million households and 63 million people, with a goal of universal health coverage by 2030. Private health insurance is sold by the insurers supervised by the NBE.
Community-based health insurance (CBHI)
According to the Ethiopian Health Insurance Service, CBHI covered 1,195 districts, 13.67 million households and 63 million beneficiaries in the Ethiopian budget year 2017 (2024/25).
Private health insurance
Private medical cover — individual, family or group through an employer — is sold by the licensed insurers. Before you sign, compare the annual limit, inpatient and outpatient cover, the hospital network, waiting periods and exclusions.
What would you like to do now?
Frequently asked questions
How many people have health insurance in Ethiopia?
Community-based health insurance covered 63 million beneficiaries in 13.67 million households in 2024/25, according to the Ethiopian Health Insurance Service.