Reliance HMO(reliancehmo.com) and Lafiya(lafiya.ng)
Sector: Health Tech.
An HMO is a Health Maintenance Organization. A person in need of health insurance can choose from a choice of health insurance providers. Each with its own set of characteristics. A health maintenance organization (HMO) is an insurance structure that provides coverage through a network of physicians. It is also one form of insurance provider which is popular in the health insurance marketplace.

An HMO is a collection of medical insurance companies that agree to limit coverage to medical care supplied by doctors. And other HMO-approved providers. These agreements allow for lower rates because healthcare providers benefit from having patients diverted to them. They also impose more constraints on HMO members.
Who can benefit from HMO?
Participants in HMO plans must first seek medical care from a designated provider known as a Primary Care Physician (PCP). Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and point-of-service plans are two forms of healthcare plans that are alternatives to health maintenance organizations.
How Do HMOs Work?
HMOs, charge a monthly or annual premium for health insurance coverage. HMOs, restrict member coverage to medical care supplied by a contracted network of doctors and other healthcare providers. Because health providers benefit from having people steered to them, premiums for these contracts are cheaper than standard health insurance. They also impose extra limitations on HMO members. When selecting whether or not to enrol in an HMO insurance plan, consider the cost of premiums, out-of-pocket costs. Also, any specific medical needs you may have, whether or not having your primary care provider is important to you.
People’s attitude to Health Insurance Schemes
Many Nigerians or majorly Africans do not see the need for having a health insurance package. At the grassroots level, the government has been trying to sensitize the masses over the use of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). But very few individuals have availed themselves of the opportunity, we majorly think that insurances are not needed. If we fall sick, self-medication first before even thinking of going to see a physician. I once worked at a company, that had health insurance for its workers. The HR failed to communicate this with me, not until two days into the sickness, that a colleague mentioned it. Generally, there’s a lackadaisical attitude towards the issue of health individually and corporately. This will lead us to our point of discussion today.
Reliance HMO and Lafiya…..
Reliance HMO is a health insurance company that uses software, data science, and telemedicine. They do this to make health insurance delightful, affordable, and easier to access. Founded in 2017 by Femi Kuti and Opeyemi Olumekun. Getting health insurance in Nigeria is hard. Furthermore, with the context of having to wait to fill out long forms, and having to wait for a response from the hospital. Reliance decided to solve this problem with technology by creating a health insurer that has your interests at heart. To achieve this, they use technology and data science to make everything easier. Also from paying for your health insurance to accessing care, etc.
Reliance on HMO health plans
They have three health plans; For you and your family, for your business, for your parents. They also have an extra health plan for people with pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetics, peptic ulcer, arthritis. This is ideal for elderly parents, senior citizens, or anyone suffering from one of these ailments. Pre-existing conditions are serious illnesses that have existed any time before the insurance plan began.
Download the App on the Apple store or the Play store, you can then register and select your preferred plan. You can also request a consultation on the app. This allows you to report your symptoms to a doctor. They’d reply with the necessary steps to be taken, the drugs to get will be related to you within minutes. The App also contains Hospitals near your current location, where you can walk in to access healthcare. A variety of health tips are also available on the app.
Organizations that make use of Reliance HMO;
Businesses that make use of Reliance HMO; Paystack, ZTE, OPay, Nivea, CowryWise, Jumia, Bolt, BellPoint, Kuda, Kudi, nahco aviance, Nivea, etc.
Buying a Plan on Reliance
Reliance allows you to pay monthly, quarterly, or annually using your debit card option. After picking your preferred plan, you enter your card details online, and you can start accessing the healthcare on their platform.
Lafiya
Lafiya was founded in September 2018 by Oluwatoyin Akintayo. An online platform that provides health insurance quotes in one place. The platform makes health insurance shopping and management simple and hassle-free. Lafiya allows for multiple opt-in points to join a health insurance scheme. Compare and buy health plans via SMS, web, Facebook, WhatsApp, and more.

The Lafiya app allows you to manage your plan. Lafiya is more than just an insurance health scheme, it offers additional benefits, programs, and services. Money-saving discounts on health and wellness-related activities, like gym memberships and Weight Watchers, etc. Lafiya has plans for; employers, individuals, families and, community groups.
App Usability
Users can download the Lafiya App on the Apple Store or the Google Play Store. The contrast is just that you’d need a larger amount of data to do so than to download for Reliance. The Lafiya App allows you to have a video conference call with a Doctor. It also allows you to personally choose from a list of specialists you’d like to attend to you.
A range of users has different things to say concerning the response time from the reliance app support services, while this should be based balanced by having a predictable response time so users don’t get stranded whilst consulting with a doctor on the app. Users generally complained about the long hours it takes their support team to reply to hospital’s mails sent to reliance HMO, this should be improved upon.
Lafiya’s response time is being commended by the users but a number of them have complained about the telecommunication option. They get to fix appointments with a specialist for a slated time and there’s a lot of complaint about the doctors not showing up. This can also be improved upon.
Customer Care Service
They both have a smooth response time. Both app interfaces seem to be pretty much the same. I think to be a step ahead of each other in respect to user experience. Either of them should work on making theirs different and better.
Distinct Difference
The distinct difference between Lafiya and Reliance Hmo is that Lafiya also offers the services of a network of HMO’s. The Lafiya app has a Video conference option.
Furthermore, Lafiya has a platform called OVAREC, an easy tool to use. It monitors and manages your child’s complete vaccination for the first 24 months after delivery. It keeps track of your child’s vaccination record and you get SMS reminders on your next visit.
Buying a plan on Lafiya
To buy a plan, Opt-in via the web, SMS, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, and Twitter. Compare health plans that best suit your requirements, Pay and manage your account.
Payments Plans
The premium plan for any healthcare plan is an annual fee. You can pay via web or USSD. The amount you will be required to pay is the premium amount for your selected plan. You can make payments via Web or USSD.
You will be required to present your HMO enrollee number as Identification when you visit the hospital.
To sign up on either of these platforms, you can visit their website @ lafiya.ng or reliancehmo.com.
There are other numerous health insurance providers making use of technology to provide solutions to stakeholders in Africa, Nigeria especially. Some of them include; Wellahealth, Mdaas Global, Fleri, Hygeia HMO, Redcare HMO, and others. We hope to take a look at them in our subsequent writings.
Thank You for reading.