President William Ruto has revealed that he is deducted close to Sh100,000 every month for Taifa Care.
Ruto said that those who earn more are deducted more money to cater for everyone to get quality healthcare.
The President said that under the Taifa Care, everyone is assured of quality healthcare regardless of their salary.
“Those who have the ability are deducted more. I’m deducted close to Sh100,000 every month. MPs are deducted close to Sh30,000. This is in a bid to move forward with every Kenyan,” the President said.
Ruto added that he is happy Kenyans understand the benefits of health insurance saying it will benefit all Kenyans.
In November, the government rebranded the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to Taifa Care.
SHIF was Kenya's latest step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), replacing the NHIF.
He expressed confidence in the model (Taifa Care) to provide effective and efficient service to the public.
The President said that under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration.
"Taifa Care has undertaken an accurate costing of all healthcare-related goods and services, to provide timely, effective and efficient service to everyone," he added.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) promised to enhance its health insurance package with new offers to woo Kenyans to register for the scheme and to counter bad publicity that has affected the uptake of the public product, according to Ministry of Health Principal Secretary for Medical Services Harry Kimtai.
Kimtai said Kenyans would appreciate the boost to the health scheme to be rolled out in the New Year, with all packages cut out to fit into the Social Health Insurance Act (SHIA).
The PS said the government has started by releasing Sh1.5 billion to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority to purchase drugs for all primary health care facilities in the 47 counties.
He said the tranche to KEMSA is meant to ensure that dispensaries and Level 1 clinics that are to offer free service for all patients registered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) have enough drugs.
Shortage of drugs has been one of the most widespread complaints by patients across the country as the overall Taifa Healthcare programme that encompasses the whole new health insurance scheme continues to face a barrage of criticism.
“Kenyans can expect a whole new experience of Taifa care in the new year. From the primary healthcare to the higher categories of the insurance scheme, the cover will work the way it was meant to operate,” Kimtai said.
He said those who seek treatment at the primary healthcare facilities will get it for free, even if they have yet to pay their contribution to the SHIF, but they must first be registered.