IHIMN's professional membership programme provides a structured platform through which practitioners may obtain professional recognition, develop their competence, participate in continuing professional development, build professional networks and progress towards senior and executive professional recognition.
The Institute recognizes that health insurance and managed care are multidisciplinary fields requiring professionals from clinical, administrative, financial, actuarial, legal, technological, managerial, regulatory and other related backgrounds.
Accordingly, membership is open to suitably qualified persons whose professional activities, education, experience or interests are relevant to the objectives of the Institute.
The Institute's existing published membership principles recognize professionals in health, health insurance, managed care, social care and related fields and emphasize professional experience, competence and commitment to improvement in healthcare delivery.
THE IHIMN MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME SHALL:
- Promote professionalism in health insurance and managed care.
- Provide professional recognition to qualified practitioners.
- Establish a structured career progression pathway.
- Encourage continuous professional development.
- Promote ethical and accountable professional practice.
- Strengthen professional networking.
- Encourage research and knowledge sharing.
- Develop future leaders in the industry.
- Promote excellence in health insurance and managed care.
- Support the advancement of healthcare financing and universal health coverage.
- Encourage collaboration among HMOs, health insurance agencies, healthcare providers, regulators, government institutions, academics and other stakeholders.
PRINCIPLE OF PROFESSIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
Payment of a higher membership fee shall not, by itself, qualify an applicant for a higher membership grade.
Membership grade shall be determined by the applicant's:
- Academic qualification;
- Professional qualification;
- Relevant experience;
- Competence;
- Professional responsibility;
- Leadership;
- Professional contribution;
- Good standing; and
- Compliance with the applicable requirements.
ELIGIBILITY AND ADMISSION
An applicant may be considered for IHIMN membership where the applicant:
- Has a qualification or professional background relevant to health insurance, managed care, healthcare or a related field;
- Has relevant professional experience where required;
- Demonstrates professional competence appropriate to the grade sought;
- Is of good professional character;
- Has not been found guilty of serious professional misconduct that would make membership inappropriate;
- Agrees to comply with IHIMN policies and regulations;
- Agrees to comply with the Institute's professional and ethical standards;
- Submits authentic supporting documentation;
- Pays the applicable membership fee upon approval.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL FIELDS
Relevant fields may include, but are not limited to:
- Health Insurance;
- Managed Care;
- Healthcare Administration;
- Healthcare Management;
- Health Economics;
- Public Health;
- Medicine;
- Nursing;
- Pharmacy;
- Health Information Management;
- Medical Billing and Claims;
- Insurance;
- Actuarial Science;
- Risk Management;
- Finance;
- Accounting;
- Law;
- Information Technology;
- Digital Health;
- Health Policy;
- Quality Assurance;
- Provider Management;
- Enrollee Management;
- Customer Service;
- Healthcare Financing;
- Monitoring and Evaluation;
- Research and Academia.
FULL MEMBER — MIHIMN
Definition
Full Membership is the foundational professional membership grade for practitioners who have acquired suitable academic qualifications and/or relevant professional experience.
Eligibility
An applicant should normally meet one of the following:
Route A
- Bachelor's degree, HND or equivalent; and
- At least one year of relevant post-qualification/post-NYSC experience.
Route B
- OND, Diploma or equivalent; and
- At least three years of relevant professional experience.
Route C
A person without the above academic qualifications may be considered where the applicant has substantial relevant professional experience and demonstrable competence.
The Institute's historic published criteria already recognize OND/Diploma and BSc/HND routes combined with relevant professional experience.
Designation
A Full Member in good standing may use:
MIHIMN
ASSOCIATE MEMBER — AIHIMN
Definition
Associate Membership recognizes a practitioner who has developed further professional competence and experience beyond the foundational membership level.
Eligibility
An applicant should normally possess:
- Bachelor's degree, HND or equivalent; and
- At least three years of relevant professional experience;
or:
- A recognized professional qualification; and
- Relevant professional experience considered acceptable by the Institute.
An existing member may apply for upgrade after meeting the applicable experience and CPD requirements.
Designation
An Associate Member in good standing may use:
AIHIMN
GRADUATE MEMBER — GIHIMN
Definition
Graduate Membership recognizes graduates and developing professionals who are building their professional careers within health insurance, managed care, healthcare financing and related fields.
Eligibility
An applicant should normally possess:
- Bachelor's degree, HND or equivalent; and
- Relevant professional experience.
Recent graduates may be considered where they satisfy the Institute's prescribed professional development requirements.
Designation
A Graduate Member in good standing may use:
GIHIMN
SENIOR MEMBER — SIHIMN
Definition
Senior Membership recognizes experienced professionals who have demonstrated competence, responsibility and sustained professional practice.
Eligibility
An applicant should normally have:
- A Bachelor's degree, HND, professional qualification or equivalent;
- At least five years of relevant professional experience;
- Demonstrable professional competence;
- Evidence of increasing responsibility.
Experience in supervisory, specialist, managerial or technical roles shall be considered favourably.
Designation
A Senior Member in good standing may use:
SIHIMN
EXECUTIVE MEMBER — EIHIMN
Definition
Executive Membership recognizes senior professionals who have attained substantial management, executive, strategic or leadership responsibility.
Eligibility
An applicant should normally have:
- A recognized academic or professional qualification;
- At least eight years of relevant professional experience;
- At least three years in a management, senior management, executive or equivalent leadership position.
The applicant should also demonstrate:
- Strategic leadership;
- Professional competence;
- Good professional standing;
- Significant responsibility within an organization or the industry.
Designation
An Executive Member in good standing may use:
EIHIMN
FELLOW OF THE INSTITUTE — FIHIMN
Status
Fellowship is the highest professional membership grade of IHIMN.
It is a professional distinction conferred upon individuals who have demonstrated sustained professional excellence, leadership, integrity and significant contribution to health insurance, managed care, healthcare financing, healthcare management or related areas.
Minimum Requirements
An applicant should normally:
- Have at least ten years of relevant professional experience;
- Have occupied a senior management, executive, specialist, academic or equivalent position for at least five years;
- Demonstrate significant professional achievement;
- Demonstrate meaningful contribution to the industry;
- Have a satisfactory professional and ethical record;
- Meet applicable CPD requirements;
- Be a member in good standing where applying through the membership progression route.
IHIMN's historical Fellowship criteria similarly required ten years of professional experience, at least five years in senior management and significant contribution to the industry.
Fellowship Is Not Automatic
Meeting the minimum years of experience shall not automatically confer Fellowship.
The applicant must demonstrate professional contribution and satisfy the Institute's Fellowship assessment.
Designation
A Fellow in good standing may use:
FIHIMN
APPLICATION AND ADMISSION PROCEDURE
Every applicant shall:
- Select the appropriate membership grade.
- Complete the approved IHIMN membership application.
- Submit required supporting documents.
- Submit evidence of professional experience where required.
- Submit a valid means of identification.
- Submit passport photograph where required.
- Pay the prescribed application/membership fee.
- Consent to verification of credentials.
- Agree to abide by IHIMN regulations.
- Complete any assessment or interview required by the Institute.
IHIMN currently maintains application forms for membership, Associate, Executive and Fellowship applications, which can be consolidated and modernized under this policy.
DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
The Institute reserves the right to verify:
- Academic certificates;
- Professional qualifications;
- Employment history;
- Professional experience;
- Membership of other professional bodies;
- Professional references;
- Other information relevant to membership eligibility.
Submission of fraudulent or materially misleading information may result in rejection, withdrawal of membership or disciplinary action.
ADMISSION APPROVAL
Membership applications may be reviewed by:
- Membership Administration Unit;
- Membership Committee;
- Authorized Management Officer; or
- Governing Board,
depending on the membership grade and applicable Institute procedures.
Fellowship shall be subject to the specific approval process prescribed under these Regulations.
HEAD OFFICE
3rd floor, Katukoma Plaza, Opposite Prince and Princess Estate Junction, Gudu District. Abuja, Nigeria.
Tel. Numbers: 08064147185, 08032352310
Lagos Office:
Prof. Godwin Arotiba,
Robert dental 49,
Ogunlana Drive Simulate Lagos.
Tel: 08140055611
