Abstract: Nigeria, in 1999, established the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with the primary goal of bringing health care closer to the greater mass of the populace. However, a decade after inauguration, the rate of participation has not been as high as anticipated. This study examines the extent to which any of six factors-income, occupation, gender, age group, marital status and family size-play an explanatory role in the slow pace of usage of the NHIS. The study confirms that these factors do enjoy some explanatory power. Policy recommendations to help repackage and redirect awareness about the scheme are made.