Lack of NHIF card to deny Kenyans government services

Kenyans without a National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) membership will not be able to access government services.

This is according to new regulations being developed by the NHIF to operationalise the new NHIF Amendment Act 2021 which came into force this week.

The NSSF’s board chairman Lewis Nguyai said the new law President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to law early this week is expected to be gazetted tomorrow.

“You may not be able to renew your business operating licenses if you are not an NHIF card holder,” he said.

According to Nguyai, the Act has to go through public participation by the end of February.

In the new reforms, anyone above 18 years of age will be required to be part of the national insurance scheme contributing Sh500 monthly.

“At present for the next two years, the NHIF contributions will remain the same. The act now provides powers for the board to determine the extent of contribution but it can only be done and reviewed every two years,” Nguyai said.

This will affect even mama mbogas, shoe shiners, boda boda operators among other smallest scale entrepreneurs, and even merchants who want to do business with the government.

Currently, the cover is Sh500 per family which caters for a principal member, their spouse and their children who are under 18 years.

Kagwe called on county governments to work with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) and faith-based organisations such as churches to help identify vulnerable Kenyans who should be helped to pay for their premiums.

“These clergy know their flock, they know who is very poor and they know who can afford it because sometimes when you ask for these lists you have to remove 200,000 people because you have identified them as people who are able,” Kagwe said.

The planned mandatory NHIF membership will be an upgrade of the scheme where only workers in the formal sector are compelled to join.