A new survey by the Twaweza East Africa shows that a vast majority of Kenyans feel that NHIF offers affordable and quality health care services.
According to the Sauti za Wananchi mobile phone panel survey, seven out of ten National Health Insurance Fund members (71%) commend the fund for providing quality and affordable health services.
Some 34 per cent of those polled said, NHIF is the most affordable health cover for most Kenyans.
However, on dislikes, some 49 per cent of those surveyed lamented that the medical cover has limitations when it comes to covering all medical conditions and hospital choices.
They expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that not all ailments are covered under the fund.
This gap in coverage was a significant concern for nearly half of the respondents.
Furthermore, 36% of members were unhappy that they can only attend specific hospitals, limiting their options for receiving care.
Another 35% reported that they were unable to access services if they were late with their payments, adding a layer of financial stress for those who may face payment difficulties.
Corruption within the system, though a less frequently mentioned issue, was still noted by 1% of the respondents.
This indicates that while the problem may not be widespread, it is still a concern for some members.
The survey also gathered suggestions on how NHIF could be improved and the top recommendation cited by 49% of those surveyed stated that the NHIF cover should allow members to visit any hospital for treatment.