By Luke Anami
National Hospital Insurance Fund ( NHIF) has hiked its rates for salaried employees starting next month.
Medical Services minister Anyang Nyong’o said the rise in NHIF remittances will allow Kenyans to access outpatient services affordably.
This is the second time the Government has announced implementation of new NHIF rates after workers umbrella Central Organisation of Trade Unions blocked the bid two years ago. Under the new NHIF rates, the lowest paid employee earning Sh6,000 will contribute Sh150, while the highest paid employer earning Sh100,000 and above will part with Sh2,000 per month.
Self-employed and volunteers will contribute Sh500 and Sh300 respectively. However, the minister warned that the rates could go up if recommendations by the IFC-World Bank 2010 report are implemented.
“ NHIF has since inception concentrated on offering in-patient cover but now there is an urgent need to move and contain the catastrophic spending in the outpatient costs,” Prof Nyong’o said on Friday at a press conference held at his Afya House office.
“To roll out these services, monthly contributions will be adjusted upwards as per Kenya Gazette Supplement No50, Legal Notice No107 and 108 of August 6, 2010,” he added.
Those who earn between Sh8,000 and Sh12,000 will contribute Sh400.
Similarly, those earning Sh30,000 and Sh50,000 will contribute Sh1,000 while earners of between Sh50,000 and Sh100,000 will remit Sh1,500 monthly.
Outpatient services
The new rates will enable contributors to receive both outpatient and in-patient health care services including dialysis and complex diagnostic services. “Under the former rates, the lowest earner paid Sh30 and the highest paid Sh320. I have been paying Sh320 since I last taught at the university. In fact, the new rates of Sh150 and Sh2,000 are much lower than those that were recommended by IFC,” said Nyong’o who was accompanied by acting NHIF CEO Simon ole Kirgotty and senior NHIF managers said.
