The National Insurance Corporation of Liberia (NICOL) has officially launched a pilot project.
The project aimed at providing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
At the Ministry of Information regular press briefing on Thursday, June 5, 2025, NICOL’s Acting Managing Director, Abdullah Swaray, announced the rollout of the initiative across Montserrado, Margibi and Bomi counties, targeting an initial group of 3,000 to 5,000 Liberians.
“This initiative is about ensuring no Liberian is denied medical care, simply because they cannot afford it,” said Swaray.
He added: “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege and that’s the foundation of the UHC.”
NICOL, once a dominant player in the country’s insurance sector during the 1980s, saw its influence diminished due to the civil conflict (1989-2003) and prolonged underinvestment.
However, under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, efforts are underway to revitalize and reposition the institution as a key driver of national development.
Swaray highlighted NICOL’s historical role as the country’s sole reinsurance firm, noting the negative impact of its collapse.
“Today, reinsurance payments are sent abroad, causing capital flight. Reviving NICOL means those funds can be reinvested right here in the country,” he informed the journalists.
The pilot program is being implemented in collaboration with the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), and the National Identification Registry (NIR), under a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU). Each agency will play a critical role
LTA is spearheading the digital payment platform to facilitate seamless premium transactions.
NICOL will design and deliver the health insurance products, while NIR will ensure only verified Liberian citizens with national ID cards are eligible for enrollment.
“This partnership is more than paperwork; it is a technological leap forward,” Swaray said.
One of the most groundbreaking components of the pilot is its digital claims system, a stark departure from the country’s traditional paper-based insurance model.
According to Swaray, the new system will allow real-time communication between hospitals and NICOL, automating the processing of patient data, diagnoses and billing.
“This means fewer delays, less fraud, and faster payments to healthcare providers,” he said, adding that participating hospitals will also receive technology upgrades to support digital health verification and insurance processing.
Swaray clarified that the NICOL pilot is not a duplication of the Ministry of Health’s Equity Fund, an ongoing healthcare financing mechanism.
Instead, he described the initiative as a ‘complementary project that will provide critical actuarial data to inform the country’s broader health financing policy.’
“Our goal is to support the national conversation around sustainable healthcare financing,” he said.
Drawing comparisons to the country’s transformation from war-torn nation to peacekeeping contributor, Swaray acknowledged the ambitious nature of the project, but remained it is optimistic.
“Just as our peacekeepers changed the narrative of the country, this health insurance initiative can do the same,” he said.
He continues: “We want to be remembered not only for peacekeeping, but for healthcare justice.”
He meanwhile, reaffirmed NICOL’s renewed mission to “protect, insure, and uplift” Liberians through innovative and inclusive insurance solutions.