Kenyans will start contributing to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in July 2024 instead of the earlier announced March 2024.
Speaking During the National Validation Exercise for the Draft Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024 at KICC, Terry Rotich- the acting corporation secretary at the Social Health Authority said all Kenyans will be required to have registered by June 30 as members of the SHIF.
According to her, all Kenyans including existing members of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will have to register afresh by the set deadline.
Meanwhile, however- employees and employers will continue contributing towards NHIF until the new fund comes into effect.
In addition, members of NHIF will continue benefiting from its cover until the new SHIF is rolled out in July.
“All persons in Kenya shall continue to pay their contributions to the repealed NHIF and receive services under the repealed NHI,” Terry said.
The announcement represents a shift from the earlier announcement stating that Kenyans would start contributing 2.75% of their pay to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from March.
In the event held at the KICC, various stakeholders got an opportunity to review and offer feedback on the draft regulations that will govern the new social health insurance in Kenya.
Also Read: REVEALED: When Kenyans Will Stop Using NHIF Cover
Making her remarks during the exercise, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha explained that the delay in rolling out SHIF will allow talks between the national government and governors in a bid to iron out emerging issues about its implementation.
Journey to implement SHIF
Once rolled out, the SHIF will phase out the NHIF that has been in place as Kenya’s health insurance fund for years now.
The new fund has been touted as game changer in social health insurance, with the government stressing that it would ensure equality among members of the program.
Also Read: 5 Questions & Answers on New Health Fund Replacing NHIF
Amid opposition in its onset stage, the Ministry of Health embarked on a public participation exercise across the country to ensure the interests of all stakeholders were taken into account.
This then paved way for the government to hold a National Validation Exercise on the Draft Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024, the Draft Social Health Insurance (Dispute Resolution Tribunal) Regulations, 2024 and the Draft Regulatory Impact Statement.
In the new fund, employed Kenyans will be required to contributed 2.75% of their salary per month with the minimum a family would pay being Ksh300.