What Will Happen to Patients on NHIF When SHA is Rolled Out? Ministry of Health Explains

The Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Medical Services Harry Kachuwai Kimtai on September 18, 2024, revealed that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) claims and payments shall cease effective 30th of September.

PS Kimtai went on to declare that from thence onward Social Health Authority (SHA) will take effect as the new health insurance scheme for all Kenyans. 

In his remarks on SHA, Kimtai said, “Anybody who will be admitted on the 30th of September and will be in the hospital for that period will be entitled to the NHIF benefits. The claims will be paid based on the NHIF rates.”

Further, he added, “Anybody who goes to hospital treated, and discharged, be it inpatient or outpatient effective 1st of October will be treated under the SHA benefits.”

Also Read: Govt Announces Last NHIF Payment Dates & Admissions

NHIF Closure Deadline

As the declaration to register for SHA continues to spread, Kenyans have almost 11 days remaining to set things right on matters of health. Failure to register under the new scheme will cause many Kenyans to be locked out of cover. Current, reports indicate that only 1.2 million have registered out of over 50 thousand Kenyans expected to register by the said deadline.

Moreover, the Ministry of Health has directed all employees to remit October NHIF deductions to the new scheme despite the present legal challenges.

Employees to Embrace SHA, not NHIF

Kenyans are admonished to register individually or to access the registration services at different health facilities across the country.

“We have notified the employers on how to register using the employer portal so that they are able to remit the employee’s salary for the month of October to SHA and not NHIF,” the PS stated.

However, in cases of emergency, when a patient gets to the hospital and they haven’t registered under SHA, PS Kimtai reported that they will post an agent appointed by SHA to carry out the registration process.

Also Read: Ruto Appoints New SHA Chairperson

Additionally, Marry Muthoni the PS for Public Health has spoken on the infrastructure problem that those in rural areas (Mashinani) are likely to face in accessing the health facilities to necessitate registration.

To counter this possible challenge, she has advised that it is integral for the Ministry of Health to utilize the community health promoters at the bottom of the pyramid to expedite the registration process.

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