NHIF police cover to be extended for 3 months
National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has been given three more months to provide comprehensive medical cover to police and prisons officer.
The Government, through the Ministry of Interior, had entered the contract for an enhanced life insurance and work injury benefits for the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service from July 1 to June 30, 2022.
NHIF chief executive Dr Peter Kamunyo said the extension would run from October 1 to December 31. “Please ensure that beneficiaries of the scheme are assisted as they seek services in various health care providers across the country,” Kamunyo said in a memo to all regional managers dated September 30.
Besides the comprehensive group life cover, NHIF has also been offering improved work injury benefits, where officers injured and killed in the line of duty are compensated. The service, which was previously offered by AON Minet, is tailored to address vulnerabilities of the surviving families of those who lose their lives in line of duty.
Hospital bills
The contract covers up to five children or legally adopted children from zero to 21 years of age.
Children from 22 years to 25 years shall be covered if fully dependent on the principal member and enrolled in full time post-secondary education.
Those or dependents with disability wholly dependent on or living with the principal member registered with the National Council of Persons with Disability shall not have an age limit.
Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said the move is part of the State’s systematic efforts to institutionalise a welfare and protection programme for the officers who have to contend with life-changing situations through the course of their duties.
This was with a view to addressing the escalating claims of unpaid life insurance and annuity benefits to service members or their designated beneficiaries.
To further caution officers, the state will launch a Trust Fund for the welfare of families of police officers killed on duty.
In June, Kibicho said the government had set a side Sh200 million to offset hospital bills for officers, who had exhausted their annual NHIF cover limits.
Elsewhere in Busia, County Director of Education Nancy Afandi has lauded the government for coming up with Edu Afya healthcare cover for learners in secondary schools.
Speaking during a sensitisation forum on Edu Afya at the weekend, Afandi said the scheme has improved attendance, retention, completion and transition rates because students are in school most of the time.
“When they are unwell they can go for treatment and come back to school and continue with their studies,” she said.
It is being implemented by NHIF in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
