How to Apply for SHA Health Benefits in Public Hospitals

The Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits in Kenya provide access to a comprehensive range of healthcare services for all citizens. These include outpatient and inpatient care, maternity, mental health, and specialized treatments like oncology, dialysis, and assistive devices.

The SHA benefits package comprises three main funds: the Primary Healthcare Fund (for basic services), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) for specialized care, and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) for emergencies and ongoing conditions.

This system replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and is designed to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare by expanding coverage for preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services.  

Key SHA benefits and services

Outpatient care is covered for primary care services at health facility levels 2 to 4, with specific costs determined by the level of the facility. Inpatient care includes coverage for general ward stays, encompassing nursing, meals, medical procedures, and post-discharge care.

Maternity, newborn, and child health services are also provided. These include antenatal care, normal deliveries, cesarean sections, and essential newborn services such as Vitamin K administration and immunizations.

Chronic disease management is supported through specific outpatient packages for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. Specialized services are available and include chemotherapy, PET scans, MRI and CT scans, hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis.

Assistive devices are covered for eligible beneficiaries, including hearing aids, crutches, walking frames, and therapeutic footwear. Mental and behavioral health services are also included under the SHA framework.

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Lastly, emergency care is part of the comprehensive benefits offered, in which emergency treatment and evacuation services for accidents and sudden health threats are provided.

SHA manages three funds that provide different types of benefits: 

• • Primary Healthcare Fund: Covers basic health services at primary care facilities (Levels 2 & 3). 

• • Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF): Provides coverage for specialized care at higher-level facilities (Levels 4-6). 

• • Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF): Addresses urgent health needs, emergencies, and long-term conditions. 

To access these benefits, all Kenyans are required to register and contribute to SHA, with the government subsidizing contributions for vulnerable groups. 

How to register

SHA benefits in public hospitals, you must first register with the SHA by dialling *147#, visiting the SHA portal, through a community health promoter or visiting Huduma Centres.

Also Read: Anonymous Philanthropist Among Stakeholders Paying SHA for Over 2 Million Kenyans [LIST]

Step-by-step registration:

Registration methods

USSD: Dial *147# on your mobile phone and follow the on-screen prompts. 

Online portal: Visit the official SHA website at sha.go.ke. 

Assisted: Contact your Community Health Promoter (CHP) for assistance with registration. 

Physical location: Visit a SHA branch or a Huduma Centre. 

Complete the registration process by providing the required personal information and verifying your details. For employees, employers must register them and remit SHIF contributions. 

After registration, you must complete the required contributions to become eligible for benefits, which you can use at any registered public or county facility.  

The contributions must be made for a certain period to become active. With an active status, you can visit a registered public, county, or faith-based facility to receive services under your SHA benefits, including inpatient services, outpatient services, maternity care, and management of chronic illnesses. You can view the detailed SHA Benefits Package here: (SHA Benefits Package)

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