Mandatory registration of all Kenyans into the new Social Health Insurance Fund will begin on March 1.
The registration under the newly enacted Social Health Insurance Act of 2023 will be done once the public participation phase is completed and the views of all stakeholders are incorporated.
Under the new law, all children born in the country will be registered as members of the fund at birth.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura in a statement on Thursday said the SHIF will pool funds to cover quality healthcare services for referrals from primary to higher-level facilities.
“Contributions to this fund are designated for indigents, vulnerable persons and those under lawful custody as appropriated by the National Assembly,” Mwura said.
“Meanwhile, the emergency, chronic and critical illness fund steps in to manage chronic illnesses after SHIF benefits are depleted, also covering emergency treatments.”
The Social Health Insurance Act stipulates that all non-Kenyans who reside in the country shall be eligible for registration as members of the Fund.
This applies to a non-Kenyan resident ordinarily residing in Kenya for a period exceeding 12 months.
However, a non-Kenyan who intends to enter and remain in the country for less than 12 months shall be required to have travel health insurance coverage.
Under the Act, any person who is eligible to be registered as a member of NHIF will be required to produce proof of compliance to be allowed to access public services.
The court last week however suspended Section 26(5) which makes registration and contribution a precondition for dealing with or accessing public services from the national and county governments or their entities.
The suspension remains in force pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
Section 27(4) which provides that a person shall only access healthcare services where their contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund are up to date and active also remains suspended.
Mwaura has noted that 54 per cent of Kenyan ‘hustlers’ will benefit from the reduced SHIF contributions, resulting in enhanced profitability for essential healthcare services.
“The act ensures fairness by introducing a modest 2.2 per cent upward adjustment for the remaining 46 per cent of the population, contributing to a more balanced distribution of healthcare financing,” he said.
Already, the Ministry of Health has begun public participation in two sets of regulations; the Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations 2024 and the Social Health Insurance (Dispute Resolution Tribunal) Regulations 2024.