- All non-Kenyans who reside in the country shall be eligible for registration as members of the Fund.
- This applies to a non-Kenyan resident ordinarily residing in Kenya for a period exceeding 12 months.
Image: PCS
All children born in the country will be registered as members of the Social Health Insurance Fund at birth once the new Act comes into force.
The Social Health Insurance Act signed by President William Ruto on Thursday also stipulates that all non-Kenyans who reside in the country shall be eligible for registration as members of the Fund.
This applies to a non-Kenyan resident ordinarily residing in Kenya for a period exceeding 12 months.
However, a non-Kenyan who intends to enter and remain in the country for less than 12 months shall be required to have travel health insurance coverage.
Under the Act, any person who is eligible to be registered as a member of NHIF will be required to produce proof of compliance to be allowed to access public services.
“Any person who is registerable as a member under this Act shall produce proof of compliance with the provisions of this Act on registration and contribution as a precondition of dealing with or accessing public services from the national government, county government or a national or county government entities,” the Act stipulates.
Should any person default on their contributions, the new Act has placed the penalty rates at two per cent of the amount due for contribution.
“Any person who fails to pay any contribution in respect of any period on or before the day on which payment is due shall be liable to a penalty equal to two per cent of the amount due for contribution for the period which the contribution remains unpaid and the total annual contributions,” it says.
“A person shall only access healthcare services under this Act where their contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund are up to date and active.”
The defaulter will be required to all outstanding contributions and penalties accrued before resuming access to healthcare services.
The Social Health Insurance Act will kill the National Health Insurance Fund and replace it with three new funds.
They include the Primary Healthcare Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund and Chronic Illness and Emergency Fund.
This will come into force on a date designated by the Health Cabinet Secretary through a notice in the Gazette.