Blow to police officers as medical cover expires midnight

Joseph Boinett with Fred Matiang'i. (Photo: Courtesy)

Medical cover for more than 150,000 police officers expires today.

AON Chief Executive Officer Sammy Muthui said the contract ends at midnight.

A letter from AON to selected hospitals has advised them not to take in any more patients from the police.

“As communicated earlier, the scheme for the above client will expire on September 30 midnight and will not be renewed effective October 1. Subsequently, no further credit facilities should be offered under the National Police, Kenya Prisons Service and Aon Kenya account,” reads the letter.

The letter dated September 28 is addressed to all service providers and signed by Edwin Kodege of AON.

It was not immediately clear where the police will seek medical services.

However, Deputy Inspector General Joel Mboya Kitili said there was no cause for alarm as police will revert to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The letter further asks all the hospitals to ensure all claims are submitted to AON for settlement.

“To ensure that we close out on this account amicably, please ensure that all claims for the period ending September 30 are submitted to AON within the contract timelines,” reads the letter.

In addition, medical facilities are expected to submit their closing statement of account to facilitate final reconciliation and payment of valid claims.

A few months ago, a proposal was made to have the police officers contribute more money to boost their reserve fund to enable them access medical loans in the event they exceed the NHIF limit.

Take loans

An internal memo revealed that the Utumishi Fund–established in 1995 – that loans police officers up to Sh50,000 is no longer enough to cater for members medical bills that at times run into millions of shillings.

The communication dated May 22 sent from the National Police headquarters explained that currently, the Fund only allows police officers to be loaned money enough to pay up to half of the accrued medical bills but not exceeding Sh50,000.

“In the advent of AON cover, requests have suddenly shot up because the cover has limits and many officers have exhausted their cover and are still undergoing treatment meaning they are accruing bills running into millions of shillings,” reads the memo by Deputy Inspector General and signed by John Kamau.

The memo is sent to all formations, directorates police headquarters and

A consortium of three insurers – AAR, Jubilee and UAP, jointly provide the teachers and police health cover.

AON is an intermediary between the insurers and beneficiaries. It administers the day-to-day activities of the schemes.

Low cadre police officers have an in patient cover of Sh1.5 million and an out patient of Sh150,000 while officers under the highest job group have an inpatient cover of Sh2.5 million.

Police enjoy a flat rate optical cover of Sh50,000, maternity cover of Sh125,000 and last expense benefit of Sh50,000.

Two proposals were floated to increase the maximum officers can get to Sh5 million.

“A proposal of Sh500 monthly contribution with maximum assistance being raised from Sh50,000 to Sh2.5 million was been suggested.

And the second proposal is to have the officers pay Sh1,000 per month and this raises their assistance to Sh55 million.