“The Bill proposes to insert a new Section 15A to make it mandatory for any person who has attained the age of 18 years and is not a beneficiary to register as a member of the Fund,” states the memorandum of the Bill.
The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Amendment Bill mandates that all Kenyans be enrolled in the new Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme through the NHIF.
If Parliament accepts State-backed revisions to the legislation in the drive to give medical coverage to all Kenyans, every adult Kenyan will soon be required to contribute an annual NHIF payment of Ksh. 6,000 contribution to NHIF.
The government-backed National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill aims to make NHIF membership and contributions mandatory for all Kenyans over the age of 18.
After 21 years, only individuals who are mentally or physically disabled and completely reliant on contributions are not eligible for their own insurance.
In a revamped universal health care (UHC) plan, they would be forced to pay Sh500 per month for outpatient and inpatient treatments like as maternity, dialysis, cancer treatment, and surgery.
The proposed required NHIF membership will be an improvement over the current program, which merely requires workers in the formal sector to participate.
The bill under review, which is now before Parliament, would benefit more than 16 million adult Kenyans who are not covered by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
What The New NHIF Bill Means
1. It’s a MUST to register for NHIF whether or not you have private insurer as long as you are above 18 years and not mentally ill or physically challenged who is fully dependent.
2. You MUST pay Ksh. 6,000 annually for you to be a beneficiary
History Behind NHIF Bill Changes
The Health Ministry imposed a minimal user charge for basic healthcare institutions when former President Mwai Kibaki assumed office.
The National Social Health Insurance Fund Bill, which was launched in 2004, suggested that the state contribute Sh11 billion to the NHIF each year to cover the expenses of poor people’s insurance. Mr Kibaki, on the other hand, vetoed the bill, citing the bill’s astronomical cost to the economy.
After years of campaigning, the NHIF increased workers’ maximum contributions from Sh320 to a graded scale of Sh500 to Sh1,700 per month based on monthly income, as well as adding outpatient coverage and better benefits for specialized treatments including cancer and renal dialysis.
After carrying out a trial in four counties Machakos, Nyeri, Isiolo, and Kisumu, President Uhuru Kenyatta is making another attempt to provide health coverage to all Kenyans by 2022.
Efforts to expand the mandate of the national insurer have been met with opposition from private sector actors, who prefer to retain the status quo for fear of losing revenue.
Easy Method To Pay Your NHIF Payments
If you would like to start making NHIF payments and do not know how to pay NHIF via MPESA, you only need to
- Go to MPESA menu
- Lipa na MPESA
- NHIF Payblill Number 200222
- Put your ID number as Account.
- Then enter amount you wish to pay
- Enter your Mpesa Pin.
- Then click Send.
- You will receive message from both MPESA and NHIF.
Wrap Up
The effort to offer universal health care is admirable, but the program’s viability hinges on a reformed NHIF, increased service quality, and ensuring that no one is left behind. At the NHIF, immediate improvements are required to increase efficiency, openness, and accountability.
Furthermore, the success of this bill calls for the NHIF to strengthen its involvement and communication with the public and providers. NHIF also has to improve how it compensates providers by promoting high-quality treatment.