NHIF goes for elderly, disabled

National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Finance Insurance Director Geoffrey Mwangi at the NHIF media meeting at Laico Regency Hotel on Wednesday, 14th October, 2015.NHIF is planning on working with the public sector, private sector, media and the government to increase awareness on NHIF products as part of the 2014-2017 Health Sector Development Plan. (PHOTO: ANGELA MAINA/ STANDARD)

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is now targeting the elderly and severely disabled in a move aimed at increasing the uptake of its packages. Already, the insurer is carrying out pre-tests on the implementation arrangements, effects on the poor and cost of providing health insurance for the poor by the Government.

This category of Kenyans is set to benefit from both in and out-patient care packages through the Health Insurance Subsidy Programme (HISP) that targets 23,000 households (approximately 500 households in every county).

To ensure this succeeds, NHIF has already accredited 1,600 health facilities in the country and contracted 900 of them in anticipation of the increased dependency on health cover.

Representing NHIF Chief Executive Officer Simeon ole Kirgotty, Finance and Investments Director Geoffrey Mwangi said the Government was committed to minimising pocket expenditures on health incidences.

"We are working with all stakeholders including the public and the governments, through the Ministry of Labour, to assist us identify this category of persons who are in dire need of health cover but are not financially capable. These persons are required to be registered by the ministry for consideration," Mr Mwangi said. He was speaking yesterday during a media forum with editors in which The Standard Group was represented by Managing Editor Kipkoech Tanui.

NHIF revealed that it is banking on the media to increase its insurance uptake that currently stands at 20 million beneficiaries against a population of 43 million with 5.7 million principal contributors.

"NHIF is suffering from slow uptake and the media will be very influential through civil education in facilitating the increase," Mwangi said.