NHIF To Cover Bills For Covid-19 Patients In Designated Hospitals

By Getrude Matayo

As cases of Covidi-19 continues to spike across the country, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) said that will only provide cover for covid-19 patients admitted to public hospitals. A decision that is likely to rattle a lot of people amid rising infections

According to NHIF CEO, Peter Kamunyo, the fund will only pay rebates on treatment bills incurred by covid-19 patience at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital and other Health Ministry-designated hospitals in the counties

Despite the pandemics not covered by insurance policies, the NHIF CEO said that they would support the government’s efforts if curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We shall support all covid-19 positive members and their declared beneficiaries who get admitted to the ministry of Health designated facilities. NHIF shall not be liable for bills incurred in non-MoH designated health facilities,” he said

In May this year, while speaking to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Covid-19, Association of Kenya Insurers Executive Director Tom Gichuhi said that insurance companies would review their policies based on the rate of infections in the country.

The move by NHIF piles anxiety among many Covid-19 patients and their households, in the wake of a decision by private insurers to end cover for such patients.

‘The health and wellness of our members is of utmost importance to us and in support to the government support in mitigating and containing the spread of covid-19, we shall support all Covid-19 positive members and their declared beneficiaries who get admitted to the ministry of health designated facilities’’ NHIF CEO

The private Insurers hold that Covid-19 is a pandemic hence doesn’t qualify for cover. This means that patients have to dig into their pockets to offset accrued bills.

The pricing of private hospitals is generally high compared to that of public facilities and this has resulted in conflict with insurer even before Covid-19.