Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has explained how the government determines individuals who will not need to pay a monthly contribution to the Social Health Authority (SHA)
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday evening, the CS was put on the spot over some of the grey areas regarding the new Taifa Care, which is gradually replacing the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Barasa explained that over 2 million Kenyans under the country's National Social Protection have been integrated into the new Social Health Authority.
Asked how the government determines which Kenyans did not need to make contributions towards the new healthcare model, the CS said they were using three key mechanisms.
"We are conducting an assessment using harmonized tools, proxy means testing, and community validation of the status of individuals," she said. "If we notice they are vulnerable and needy, they are paid for by SHA."
The CS also revealed that the government was seeking support from donors to enable the facilitation of more needy and vulnerable Kenyans to SHA without having to make a monthly contribution.
Another pressing issue presented to the CS on Monday was the question of the monthly contribution tariff after a concerned citizen claimed to be asked to remit Ksh1,030 monthly instead of Ksh300.
In a rejoinder, the CS revealed that the ministry was open to readjusting everyone's rates provided they can prove they belong to a specific pay bracket.
"In case you are not comfortable with that (payment) then just contest and we will look into it," CS Barasa added, "What it will involve is someone to come and validate to ensure the concerns are in sync with what they shared."
Under the new Taifa Care, salaried employees will make a contribution of 2.75% of the gross salary, with a minimum contribution of Ksh300 per month and no maximum limit. This contribution needs to be made by the ninth of the subsequent month. Non-salaried people will contribute 2.75% of the household income with a minimum contribution of Ksh300.
Households that fail to make their contributions on time will be subjected to a penalty equivalent to 2% of the unpaid contribution for the period in question. Employees' SHIF contributions will be primarily managed through the SHA employer portal.
Barasa's latest clarification came after the government disbursed Ksh3.7 billion to various hospitals to serve several claims, including paying for the Linda Mama Program. Ksh1.35 billion from the total disbursed was used for SHA capitation payments, while Ksh1.25 billion was used to pay all the pending NHIF claims.
