Through the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Government has ordered all employers nationwide to transition to the new health insurance scheme, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) effective October 1st.
The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is an initiative operating on the principle of resource pooling. The contributing members share a fund that covers healthcare costs.
In a notice on Monday, September 16th, the MOH noted that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will transition to the new Social Health Authority (SHA).
“Ensure all employees are registered with SHA before October 1 and kindly adhere to the payment deadlines to avoid any disruptions in healthcare coverage for your employees,” the ministry added.
The last day of admission under NHIF is September 30th. It clarified that payments received on or before October 9 will be credited to NHIF, while payments received from November 9 will be credited to SHA.
The government said the SHA employer portal will be the primary tool for managing employees’ contributions.
Eligibility for SHIF
To be eligible for SHIF membership, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Kenyan citizen or legal resident
- Be over 18 years old
- Have a valid national identification card (ID) or passport
There are 2 categories of SHIF membership:
- Principal member: This is the main income earner in a household, who is responsible for the SHIF account.
- Dependents: These people are covered under the principal member’s SHIF account, including spouses and children. They must be listed at the time of registration.
How to Register for SHIF
The registration procedure is as follows:
1. Visit the SHA website and
2. Create an employer account
3. Verify your account.
4. Add employee details.
5. Make contributions
You can also:
– Dial USSD code *147#
– Log in to www.sha.go.ke or
– Visit the designated National Health Insurance Funds (NHIF) Offices and other registration points for self-registration.
MOH assured that the registration process will be free and Community health promoters will be available to assist.
Required Documents
When registering for SHIF, you will need to provide the following documents:
- National identification card (ID) or passport (PP).
- A recent colored passport-sized photograph
- Proof of income (e.g. payslip, bank statement, KRA PIN)
If you are registering dependents, you will also need to provide:
- Proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate)
- Photographs and identification documents for each dependent
Packages Under the Social Health Authority
In August, the Ministry of Health mentioned the new health packages under the Social Health Insurance Act (SHIA) medical scheme.
Health CS, Deborah Barasa, said the Linda Mama program for pregnant women will be improved and integrated under SHIF.
Under SHIF, patients with sickle cell anemia will receive a cover of up to KSh 6,800, while those with diabetes would get KSh 4,300.
SHIF provides coverage for various medical services, including outpatient and inpatient care, maternity services, and emergency treatment.
SHIF also emphasizes preventive health measures, encouraging regular check-ups and early interventions to enhance overall well-being.
The government says the digital nature of the SHI will be fundamental in erasing fraud and corruption, especially claims of management, registration, and identification of beneficiaries at the point of access to healthcare services.
