Kenyans can still register for Social Health Insurance after October 1 launch

Kenyans will still have the opportunity to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund after the October 1, 2024 launch date, Social Health Authority Acting Chief Executive Officer Elijah Wachira has said.

Speaking during an interview, Wachira clarified that while October 1 marks the beginning of the new enhanced healthcare financing system by the Social Health Authority (SHA), registration remains ongoing.

“October 1 is not a deadline. Kenyans will continue to register as long as new citizens are being born every day. However, we encourage early registration, as illness can strike at any time. We don’t want a situation where someone falls sick and is unable to access services,” Wachira explained in an interview with Citizen TV.

However, he cautioned that from October 2 onwards, anyone seeking healthcare services without being registered will first need to sign up for the scheme.

“If you walk into a hospital and have not registered, you will be required to do so before accessing services. The good news is that registration can easily be done on your phone by dialling *147# or visiting our website at www.sha.co.ke,” he added.

Wachira also highlighted that hospitals would assist unregistered individuals in signing up on-site to ensure they can access healthcare services.

“We are encouraging as many Kenyans as possible to register,” he said.

CEO SHA, Mr. Elijah Wachira: We're urging more Kenyans to register for the Social Health Authority. Starting 1st October, hospitals will require registration for access to services. You can easily register now by dialing *147#. pic.twitter.com/piaup8HHDo

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) September 25, 2024

Explaining the shift from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the SHA, Wachira pointed out that the former system benefited only a limited number of Kenyans.

“We are moving to SHA because NHIF has had very many benefits to Kenyans, and we would like to build on the benefits that NHIF has had. Only a few Kenyans have benefited from NHIF because it was a contributors club. We are looking at a product that will benefit every Kenyan. That's why we are calling it universal,” he said.

“We are looking at a more equitable arrangement where everybody is contributing the same percentage of their income. NHIF benefits have been retained in SHA but then enhanced. We are giving much more benefits in SHA than we were giving in NHIF.”

Principal Secretary of the State Department for Medical Services Harry Kimtai disclosed that 1.7 million Kenyans have already signed up for the SHA.

“When we initially informed Kenyans about registering for SHA, the numbers were low. However as we continued with awareness efforts about SHA and the benefits, we saw an increase in registration. As of now, 1.7 million Kenyans have enrolled,” Kimtai stated.

Under the SHA, formally employed individuals will contribute 2.75 per cent of their gross salary. For the unemployed, the Ministry will assess household income using a means-testing tool to determine appropriate contributions.