Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers locked out of teachers’ billion-shilling medical cover

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) multi-billion shilling medical scheme will settle teachers’ medical bills that had not been paid by July 1, 2015.

And all teachers admitted to hospital or are currently getting outpatient medical assistance, have been asked to contact AON Kenya immediately.

The details are contained in a circular released to all the 47 TSC County Directors of Education.

“AON officially rolled out the teachers’ comprehensive medical scheme on July 1, 2015,” said Sammy Muthui, AON Chief Operating Officer.

The statement, however, states that members of Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) will not benefit from the services until the court case lodged by union officials is determined.

“Kuppet members will be enlisted as soon as their union officials clear the matter in court,” said Muthui.

He said the rest of teachers are covered. “They should no longer have a problem with their medical bills because the TSC has procured a medical scheme for them. Ours is to implement it to the latter,” said Muthui.

TSC contracted AoN Kenya to manage the teachers’ comprehensive medical cover.

Speaking yesterday, AON said the cover has already taken over the medical management for the teacher involved in an accident in Garissa on Thursday.

He said six other teachers have been lined up to seek specialised medical treatment overseas.

A document seen by The Standard on Saturday states one of the teachers from Kericho County suffers from disc desiccation with nerve root compression and will be flown to India for treatment that will cost Sh765,000.

Another one from Machakos County is listed as suffering from leukemia and will be flown to South Africa or India, based on doctor’s advice.

“We are currently making travel plans for all the patients,” said Muthui.

A TSC circular dated May 22, 2015 says the medical scheme will apply to all teachers employed by the commission.

The circular sent to all TSC County Directors of Education says under inpatient care, the scheme shall cover hospital accommodation, doctor’s fee, theatre charges, drugs or medicines, dressings and internal surgical appliance.

Also to be covered are pathology, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI Scans, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Beneficiaries will have inpatient cover of between Sh300,000 to Sh1 million annually. Outpatient services shall have no limit. Maternity cover has been pegged at a flat rate of Sh75,000 among others.