This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Published on September 17, 2019, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) offers medical cover to Kenyans, helping them pay for services from accredited facilities.
Some of the services offered to NHIF members include maternal care, inpatient and outpatient services, reproductive health services, cancer treatment, renal dialysis, and radiology imaging.
Membership can be through one's employer or on an individual basis. NHIF registers all eligible members from both the formal and informal sector, with compulsory membership for those in the formal sector.
To register, you'll need to provide copies of your national ID, employer appointment or introduction letter, a colored passport photo, and original plus copies of birth certificates for dependants.
Contributions for employees in the formal sector are automatically remitted by the employer, while those in the informal sector can pay via MPesa or through the bank.
Existing members can check their account status by sending an SMS with their ID number to 21101.
Members under the voluntary category pay Kshs.500 per month (Kshs.6000 per annum), while those in formal employment make contributions as per their income.
To pay for NHIF using MPesa, follow these steps:
- Go to the MPesa menu and select Lipa na MPesa option
- Choose the Paybill option
- Enter the business number, which is 200222 (NHIF business number)
- Choose the account number and insert your national ID number
- Put the amount you want to pay
- Insert your MPesa PIN and send
- You'll receive a confirmation screen from MPesa to validate the payment
For existing members who have stayed for over 12 months without payment, NHIF is offering a reprieve. You can take advantage of their amnesty to reactivate your NHIF card by paying Ksh.1,500 via MPesa Paybill 200222. The card will become active again for use after two months from the date of payment.
