The Kenyan Government has mandated every Kenyan aged 25 years old to be subjected to a mandatory deduction towards the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
This is according to the the Social Heath Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024 which are provided in the Social Health Insurance Act.
SHIF which has replaced the National Health Insurance Fund will see every 25-year-old pay a mandatory minimum fee of Ksh300.
“A person who has attained the age of twenty-five years and has no income of his or her own or is living with the contributor shall be treated as a household separate from the contributor and shall pay Ksh300 per month,” the regulations read in part.
Salaried 25-year-olds will be subject to a 2.75 per cent deduction on their gross income.
Unemployed Kenyans under 25 years will be eligible to be listed as a beneficiary by their parents.
To be listed as a beneficiary, the parent must provide particulars of their children including full names, date of birth, place of birth and gender of the beneficiary.
Other details of the beneficiary that will be needed are a passport photo, contact information, disability if any and any other information that may be required by the government.
Once approved, it will enable the beneficiary to access the benefits under their parent’s cover.
Unemployed Kenyans who will not be able to raise the Ksh300 will be eligible to apply for a loan towards the same.
The Ministry of Health will engage financial institutions including; cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and other financial institutions to advance loans to youth who attain the mandatory deduction age but are still jobless.
Once they get formal employment, their salaries will start getting deducted immediately to clear the loans and make subsequent SHIF contributions.
