Photo: Matti Blume, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0NHIS Ghana: how to register, get your card and what it covers
- Register: the MyNHIS app or any NHIS district office, with your Ghana Card (NHIA membership).
- Renew or check your membership by phone: dial *929# (NHIA mobile renewal); steps in NHIS renewal.
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Who must register, and who pays
Section 27 of Act 852: "A resident of Ghana shall belong to the National Health Insurance Scheme", and may also belong to a private health insurance scheme. An employer must make sure each employee is registered (section 27(12)); an employer who does not is liable to a fine of up to 200 penalty units for each employee not registered (section 27(13)).
Members pay the contribution the NHIA Board prescribes with the Minister (section 28), plus a processing fee where applicable (NHIA membership). The Act exempts these groups from the contribution:
| Exempt from the NHIS contribution (Act 852, s. 29) | What NHIA asks for at enrolment |
|---|---|
| Children | Not specified on NHIA's membership page |
| Pregnant women (ante-natal, delivery and post-natal care) | Proof of pregnancy: antenatal card, signed note from a doctor or midwife, endorsed test result or scan report |
| Persons with mental disorders | Not specified on NHIA's membership page |
| Indigents classified by the Minister for Social Welfare | Enrolment at a district office (NHIA: indigents cannot use the digital platforms) |
| Categories of differently-abled persons set by the Minister for Social Welfare | Not specified on NHIA's membership page |
| SSNIT pensioners | SSNIT number (pensioners under 70) |
| SSNIT contributors | Proof of active SSNIT membership |
| Persons above 70 years | Not specified on NHIA's membership page |
The table combines section 29 of the Act with the proof NHIA lists on its membership page. NHIA also notes that pregnant women and indigents cannot use its digital platforms, because those platforms require a payment.
How to register: district office or MyNHIS app
- At a district office: an officer interviews you to decide whether you are a contributing member or exempt, takes your personal details (full name, date of birth, marital status, phone number, residential address, Ghana Card details), your photograph and biometrics, and your payment if you pay.
- On the MyNHIS app (Google Play Store and iOS App Store): download it and follow the enrolment steps (NHIA membership).
- You receive your membership number at once: NHIA says the card is issued "instantly" after registration (NHIA FAQ).
- Wait one month before using the scheme, unless you are pregnant, under five or over 70 (same FAQ).
A newborn can be treated on the mother's NHIS card until three months of age, and should be registered by then (NHIA FAQ).
What NHIS covers
NHIA says over 95% of the disease conditions that afflict Ghanaians are covered (benefits package). The package includes:
- Outpatient care: consultations, investigations (laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound), outpatient surgery such as hernia repair, physiotherapy, and medicines on the NHIS Medicines List.
- Inpatient care: general and specialist admissions, surgery, general-ward accommodation, blood and blood products, cervical and breast cancer treatment.
- Maternity care: antenatal care, normal and assisted deliveries, caesarean section, postnatal care.
- Emergencies: all emergencies, including road traffic and workplace accidents.
- Oral and eye care: pain relief, extractions and simple fillings; refraction, cataract removal.
What NHIS does not cover
From NHIA's exclusion list (benefits package): appliances and prostheses (spectacles, hearing aids, dentures), cosmetic surgery, HIV antiretroviral medicines, assisted reproduction, dialysis for chronic kidney failure, heart and brain surgery other than after accidents, cancer treatment other than cervical and breast cancer, organ transplants, medicines not on the NHIS Medicines List, treatment abroad, medical examinations for jobs, school, visas or driving licences, VIP wards and mortuary services.
NHIS in figures
From the NHIA 2024 Annual Report: 18.47 million active members at the end of 2024, 56.3% of Ghana's population; 11.25 million renewals in 2024, 69% of them by mobile phone; 5,483 credentialed health facilities; claims expenditure of GH¢2,292.39 million, GH¢124.11 per member.
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Frequently asked questions
Is NHIS compulsory in Ghana?
Yes. Section 27(1) of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852): a resident of Ghana shall belong to the National Health Insurance Scheme. Employers must make sure their employees are registered.
Who does not pay for NHIS?
Children, pregnant women, persons with mental disorders, indigents, categories of differently-abled persons, SSNIT pensioners and contributors, and persons above 70 (Act 852, section 29). A processing fee may still apply.
How long before I can use my new NHIS card?
One month, except for pregnant women, children under five and persons above 70, who have no waiting period (NHIA FAQ).
Can I register for NHIS online?
Yes, on the MyNHIS app. Pregnant women and indigents use a district office: NHIA says they are exempted from its digital platforms, which require a payment.
I lost my NHIS card. What do I do?
Go to the nearest NHIS district office with your Ghana Card, fill in a replacement form and pay the processing fee if one applies (NHIA FAQ; Act 852, section 27(7)).
Sources
- National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852) — NHIA copy (Web Archive copy of 25 May 2025)
- NHIA — Membership: registration, exempt groups, renewal (Web Archive copy of 13 October 2026)
- NHIA — Mobile renewal: steps for *929# (Web Archive copy of 14 April 2025)
- NHIA — Frequently asked questions (Web Archive copy of 3 October 2026)
- NHIA — Benefits package and exclusions (Web Archive copy of 28 September 2026)
- NHIA — 2024 Annual Report (Web Archive copy of 28 October 2026)