Family Narrates How Ksh500 NHIF Contribution Saves Them Ksh172K Monthly

Photo of a Patient being taken to an Ambulance
Photo of a Patient being taken to an Ambulance shared by Judy Karanja on Facebook
Facebook: Judy Karanja

A family with a diabetic patient is saving up to Ksh172,000 every month on dialysis and treatment thanks to their Ksh500 monthly contribution to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

In a post shared on her Facebook page, Judy Karanja, a faith and family relationships Coach, narrated the experience of a family whose diabetic kin's hospital bills are being covered by the national health cover

"Just going for dialysis twice a week costs around Ksh180,000. This does not include physiotherapy thrice a week, medications, doctors appointments or any emergencies," Karanja wrote on her Facebook page. 

Patients queue in order to access medical services.
Patients queue in order to access medical services.
courtesy

She went ahead to breakdown the various costs that the family faces every week since their matriarch has two appointments with the doctor after seven days. 

According to the family member, the ambulance ride that takes the patient to hospital due to a recent back complication costs Ksh22,000 every week one way.

"In a month, that is a minimum of Ksh88,000," Karanja writes.

Furthermore, the patient needs to attend dialysis twice a week with every session costing Ksh9,500 effectively costing the family a minimum of Ksh76,000 every month. 

"She gets some blood protein (EPO) twice a week to help her mitigate dialysis caused anemia," Karanja writes adding that this costs Ksh2,050 per session effectively totaling to at least Ksh16,000 per month.

According to the family member, NHIF pays for dialysis, pays for the ambulance, pays for one EPO administration per week effectively saving the family up to Ksh172,000 every month. 

This highlights the importance of NHIF to every Kenyan, both in the formal and informal sector considering its capacity to provide cover to all eligible Kenyans.

The minimum amount you can pay for NHIF cover is Ksh500. Universal Healthcare was one of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's pillar, with the aim of making medical care accessible and affordable. His successor William Ruto has also outlined plans to reform NHIF and make it serve Kenyans better.

An image on NHIF headquarters in Upperhill, Nairobi County.
An image on NHIF headquarters in Upperhill, Nairobi County.
Photo
NHIF