Kenyans are poised to begin contributing to the newly established Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from July 1, following the issuance of final regulations by the Ministry of Health, just months after the start of the implementation of the Affordable Housing levy....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
According to the Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024, citizens will now pay 2.75 per cent of their gross salaries towards the SHIF, starting July 1.
The uncertainty surrounding the commencement of deductions has now been put to rest with the publication of these regulations, which also mandates the completion of member registration by June 30.
“Payment of contributions and access to healthcare services under the Act and these Regulations shall commence on the 1st July 2024,” the regulations assert.
A photo of the NHIF building in Nairobi’s Upper Hill taken on March 4, 2020. This move marks the culmination of efforts to transition from the 57-year-old National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the SHIF, a change aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility and efficiency across the country.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, amidst previous fluctuations in announcement dates, reaffirmed the implementation timeline, emphasising that services will be available from July onwards.
“Our projection is that we need three months to prepare ourselves. We need a digital system to do the registration and test it ahead of the official rollout on 1st July,” she stated in March.
Last month, President William Ruto urged citizens to register for the SHIF, in what is his government’s commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare provision through Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“In this programme, even low-income earners will contribute, with the government covering those unable to pay,” President Ruto stated, highlighting the adoption of advanced technology to bolster accountability and curb corruption within the system.
Comparatively, the SHIF introduces a modified contribution structure, with all workers expected to contribute 2.75 percent of their salaries towards the fund, eliminating the previous NHIF cap of Ksh1,700 for higher earners.
Under the new scheme, individuals earning Ksh20,000 will contribute Ksh550, while those earning Ksh100,000 or more will see a higher deduction of Ksh2,750. This marks a significant change from the previous NHIF deductions.
Contributors not employed or classified as vulnerable individuals will now pay a monthly contribution of Ksh1,000, with the national and county governments allocated responsibilities to cover contributions for needy citizens.
Furthermore, the SHIF mandates mandatory contributions for all adults seeking government services, including foreigners residing in Kenya for more than 12 months, reflecting a comprehensive approach to healthcare financing…CONTINUE READING>>
