By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
Time is of the essence for Kenyans and beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) services, as the government is resolutely committed to implementing the new medical insurance scheme under the Social Health Authority (SHA) by October 1, 2024, despite the ongoing legal challenges.
In this plan, Kenyans have only 11 days to register for the SHA or risk missing out on health insurance coverage.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, announced that the final reimbursement under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) will expire on the evening of September 30, 2024.
PS Kimtai announced that, effective October 1st, all individuals who visit a hospital whether for treatment, discharge, or as inpatients or outpatients will receive care under the benefits provided by the Social Health Authority.
“Beginning the 1st of October, all hospitals will be providing services under the Social Health Authority. Ensure you register to access these crucial services,” PS Kimtai said.
“We have also made a provision that if you reach the hospital, in case of an emergency and you have not registered by that time, which we’re not encouraging, there will be an agent who would have been appointed by SHA to take care of the registration,” PS Kimtai added.
The Ministry of Health has stated that all Kenyans are required to register as members of the Social Health Insurance scheme by the conclusion of this month.
Individuals have the option to register independently or at various health facilities throughout the nation.
The health ministry announced that starting next month, employers will be obligated to transfer the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) deductions from employees to the newly established scheme under the Social Health Authority.
“We have notified the employers on the process of how to register using the employers’ portal so that they can remit the employee’s salary for October to go not to NHIF but to SHA,” Kimtai said.
Earlier this week, the ministry reported that 1.2 million Kenyans had registered with the Social Health Authority.