Kenyans in the informal sector can now remit their premiums
to the Social Health Authority monthly.
The Ministry of Health has said the move takes into account that some of the Kenyans in the informal sector are not able to make the payments annually.
As per the current regulations, Kenyans in the informal sector were required to make their contributions in lumpsum in what the ministry has said is to ensure a predictable financing mechanism.
On Tuesday, Health DG Patrick Amoth said the move is a stop-gap measure to address the challenge of affordability, noting that it doesn’t imply change of existing regulations.
“This was a stop-gap measure to be able to address the challenge that came that many of the people after going through the means testing platform were not able to raise the premium for the entire year and to make it possible for them to be able to access services we made an administrative decision to allow for monthly payment,” Amoth said.
The DG noted that initially, the system was not able to allow monthly payment because the way it was structured it was envisaged that premiums will be coming in annually for the informal sector.
However, after the SHA rollout, it has been observed that some Kenyans in the informal sector were struggling to raise the annual premiums.
He said the government is in discussion with various financial intuitions to be able to ensure that they can be able to provide them with Insurance Premium Financing service to people from the informal sector without unduly burdening them with high interest rates.
“We go for a monthly payment system in the interim but it will not entail a change of regulations, we know the best way to do it is to have a predictable financing mechanism and through the payment of annual premiums,” the DG said.
He said that once the entire framework is in place and contributors have the wallet where they can put deposits to cater for their premiums then the SHA will go back to what the regulations envisaged.
According to the Head Benefits designs at SHA Samson Kuhora, the authority has a reminder system that is meant to make sure that reminders go out, first three months and then two weeks before the expiry of the premium payments.
Kuhora noted that in the interim there is that provision that has been made where a member can select either to pay for 12 months or monthly.
“We appreciate that there are challenges in terms of raising the bulk amount so a member can select to pay per month. We don’t anticipate a change in regulations but if this is necessitated then we still have that option as a way to adopt,” Kuhora said.
According to Health CS Deborah Barasa, at least 13 million Kenyans have already registered under SHA.
Barasa said facilities from levels 1 to 4 are available to offer primary healthcare services until the referral systems are robust and all Kenyans are informed about the new system.
She has further noted that a multi-disciplinary team from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA) will conduct a comprehensive assessment of all the facilities around the country to look at the capacity.
“This is to ensure all our facilities are well-capacitated and are able to offer services for all Kenyans. We will be able to map out and support where interventions are needed,” Barasa said.
The CS noted that in two weeks the officials will be visiting far-to-reach areas to ensure they are able to map out, and engage the governors to see how the government can intervene, support and improve the facility capacity.
