Time to plan for health needs after retirement

Life after retirement comes with special health-related challenges. The advanced age and less active lifestyle predispose retirees to certain illnesses and conditions, whose management is costly.

Unfortunately, this is also the time when many of these persons, having exited active service, have significantly less income. Medical insurance, which could come in handy at such times, considering its catalytic value in social and economic development, is sadly inaccessible to majority of the 1.7 million people aged 65 years and above, according to the Kenya Economic Survey 2018. Even those who had a cover during active service typically bid it farewell when they retire, leaving them dependent on settling bills out of pocket.