National Health Insurance Fund (Kenya) Explained

National Health Insurance Fund
Foundation:1966
Location:Nairobi, Kenya
Key People:
Industry:Insurance
Products:Health insurance

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is a Kenya government state corporation with a mandate to provide health insurance to Kenyans.[2] The core business and mandate for NHIF is to provide accessible, affordable, sustainable and quality health insurance for all Kenyan citizens. The National Hospital Insurance Fund has published new NHIF rates which took effect on April 1, 2015. Citizens can check their National Hospital Insurance Fund's status by using the following methods; NHIF's official website, My NHIF App, via SMS, and USSD code.[3]

History

The National Hospital Insurance Fund was established in 1966 as a department within the ministry of health, by an Act of parliament. This has been reviewed over the years and it is now governed by ACT NO. 9 of 1998 - National Hospital Insurance Fund Act.[4] The Act was amended in 2022 to become the National Health Insurance Fund Act, and the name of the corporation was changed to National Health Insurance Fund.

The core business and mandate for NHIF is to provide accessible, affordable, sustainable and quality health insurance for all Kenyan citizens. The NHIF has published new NHIF rates which took effect on April 1, 2015.

Scandals

NHIF Ambulance Scandal

See main article: NHIF Ambulance Scandal. In 2001 a scandal relating to irregularities in purchase of ambulances for the NHIF resulted in the sacking of the Minister for Medical Services Amukowa Anangwe.[5]

Euro Bank Scandal

See main article: Euro Bank Scandal. The NHIF is estimated to have lost 479m shillings in the collapse of Euro Bank after the bank collapsed with deposits from state corporations.[6]

Civil Servants Scheme Scandal

See main article: NHIF Civil Servants Scheme Scandal. In early 2012, the NHIF was embroiled in a controversy surrounding revelations on the Kenya Civil Servants Health Care Scheme.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: iThemesLab . NHIF Management Structure . Nhif.or.ke . 2021-02-15.
  2. Web site: iThemesLab . National Hospital Insurance Fund . NHIF . 2021-02-15.
  3. Web site: 2023-08-15 . How to check your NHIF status with all methods . 2023-08-18 . A3Techworld . en-US.
  4. Web site: National Hospital Insurance Fund Act . Government of Kenya . 22 May 2023 . 2012.
  5. Web site: Kenya: The Ambulance Saga That Cost Minister His Job . Ndichu . Lucy. allafrica.com. 31 December 2001. 2021-02-15.
  6. Web site: Business | Kenyan tax chief resigns . BBC News . 2003-03-03 . 2021-02-15.
  7. Web site: Fresh scandals unearthed in health scheme - Daily Nation . 2013-01-01 . 2016-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235621/http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Fresh-scandals-unearthed-in-health-scheme-/-/1056/1459554/-/v8fb4q/-/index.html . dead .