NHIF Members to be Paid for Overseas Treatment

National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) members are set to receive payments of up to Sh.5 million for their hospital bills for those with chronic diseases who will be seeking medical treatment abroad.

Patients suffering from diseases such as Cancer, Kidney Failure, liver diseases and traumatic brain injuries will be the ones to benefit more since these are among the many illnesses that mostly require foreign medication.

The Chief Executive of NHIF Mr. Simeon Ole Kirgotty said that members will start receiving treatment from abroad in February 2016. Those suffering from chronic diseases will get Sh.5 million while other ailments will receive Sh.1.2 million. He added that the foreign bill payment will be one of the benefits of the higher premiums passed in April this year.

In April, the medical scheme established new monthly premiums rising from Sh.320 to Sh.1700 based on the monthly income of its members.

Many of NHIF members have been undergoing difficult times especially when medication was to be sought from foreign lands especially in India. This news comes as a big relief to them.

Many Kenyans mostly rely on contributions from family, friends and well-wishers when it comes to financing the coats of treatment from foreign countries since they are very expensive. There will be a selection of specific hospitals to be on NHIF’s shortlist that will be done through a tender.

The increased premiums are meant to cater for both in-patient and out-patient treatment other than before when it only catered for in-patient treatment.

Most public hospitals offer cheaper services to patients though most of them are not well equipped. This makes the low income households to undergo a lot of strain before getting access to treatments such as chemotherapy in the few referral hospitals in Kenya.

Most oversees hospitals are preferred since they provide quality medical services and they also have advanced facilities and well trained medical practitioners. NHIF is therefore looking for hospitals that are a bit cheaper in Turkey and India.

Article by Vera Shawiza.