By Silverstein Kipchumba
A section of self-employed locals within Eldoret town have expressed concerns over the current mode of contributions to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The locals who spoke to Uasin Gishu News said the Ksh500 they are required to pay monthly is too high considering the current harsh economic times they are facing.
However, they admitted that being in possession of the NHIF card helps lower the cost of health services in the country.
“The medical cover has been of much help. A patient can be treated at fair price since a huge percentages of the medical bill is usually catered for,” said Francis Ng’etich, a resident in Eldoret.
The NHIF Act provides that a self-employed Kenyan pays Ksh500 monthly to the national medical cover.
However, an employed individual contributes to NHIF depending on his/her salary.
According to the locals, most of them are struggling to raise the Ksh500 monthly.
Delays in release of NHIF funds
They further raised concerns after many of them were recently turned away due to the government’s failure to pay claims raised by various health service providers.
“Patients have been denied treatments in various hospitals,they have been sent away severally due to no cash,” another local said.
The government has since released the funds to the Ministry of Health to facilitate payment of the claims made.
But even as treatment of patients with NHIF cards is expected to resume, the Eldoret locals want the mode of payment to the fund reviewed downwards.
They want the amount reduced to at least Ksh300.
“We cannot afford to pay for the health services. The government should intervene and help in paying some amount,” noted Ng’etich.
Calls from locals come at a time President William Ruto has indicated that the government has already initiated a plan to lower NHIF contributions for the self-employed Kenyans.
The President last week said they are already working on amending the NHIF Act that will see ‘hustlers’ pay Ksh300 for NHIF while salaried Kenyans will contribute 2.7 percent of their monthly salary to the fund.
