The government will provide loans to non-salaried Kenyans who will have a hard time paying for the compulsory social health insurance fund (SHIF).
According to the SHIF draft, salaried Kenyans are expected to contribute 2.75 percent of their gross income monthly to the government’s health insurance scheme.
Those in non-salaried employment will pay an annual premium based on 2.75 percent of their gross annual income. This is an effort to ensure every Kenyan contributes to the insurance fund to improve healthcare in the country.
Through a public notice, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha asked Kenyans to submit their views on the regulations either through written memoranda or physical and virtual public participation meetings.
The government plans to work with private medical insurance providers and claim settling agents to review and process claims under the proposed SHIF.
The two will be the link between hospitals and the Social Health Authority (SHA), the entity that will replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Hospitals will be required to submit to the contracted insurers and agents details such as the social health insurance number of the patient, the name of the patient their hospital registration number, and the amounts being claimed.
The private insurers and claims settling agents will be required to be registered by the Insurance Regulatory Authority, have a valid license, and have at least two qualified and experienced doctors.