SHIF Contributions: Unemployed Kenyan Youth to Pay Mandatory KSh 300 to Govt Health Scheme

 

Unemployed Kenyan youth will not be spared in the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) monthly contributions effective July 1, 2024. Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha speaking at a past meeting.  President William Ruto's administration said the new scheme will give all Kenyans access to affordable healthcare, irrespective of their employment status.  Who will be eligible to contribute to SHIF? Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha said the monthly contribution to the scheme will be mandatory for all Kenyans above 25 years. Employees in the formal sector, both public and private, will be required to make a monthly contribution of 2.75% of their gross salary. Kenyans working in the formal sector will part with KSh 300 per month towards the scheme. However, CS Nakhumicha emphasised that those not employed and are above 25 will have to pay the KSh 300 contribution. "From the records that we have from the previous NHIF, the employed are about 3 million households out of a total of 5.5 million households." In the new regulatory framework, 57% of the current contributors will go down, and 44% will get an increase in monthly premiums. Only youth below 25 years will enjoy the benefits of their parents cover," said Nakhumicha.  Why the government move SHIF implementation to July? The revelations came following the public participation exercise on the Social Health Insurance Act Draft. The CS underscored the significance of public participation, ensuring diverse perspectives are incorporated into the regulations to address concerns and foster consensus. "Public participation is a crucial aspect of good governance and the validation exercise held today at KICC allowed health stakeholders to review the draft regulations to ensure they reflect the views of all Kenyans," she said. 

BY TUKO NEWS