SHA invites individuals, firms to sponsor Kenyans for health cover

SHA invites individuals, firms to sponsor Kenyans for health cover

Sponsors are required to cover beneficiaries for at least 12 months and ensure they have completed registration and means testing before payments are made.

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has opened its health insurance sponsorship programme to individuals, companies, government institutions and other organisations willing to pay contributions for eligible Kenyans, including low-income households, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Under the Bima Bora, Afya Nyumbani programme, sponsors can contribute to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to help eligible individuals and households access healthcare. Those sponsored will receive the same applicable benefits as other active SHA members under the approved benefits package.

Sponsors are required to cover beneficiaries for at least 12 months and ensure they have completed registration and means testing before payments are made.

Potential sponsors include national and county government institutions, Members of Parliament through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), companies, employers, non-governmental organisations, development partners, foundations, faith-based organisations, savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOs), community groups, families and individuals.

Sponsors can also select people who cannot afford SHIF contributions, vulnerable and low-income households, children, students, persons with disabilities, employees and their dependants.

However, belonging to one of the priority groups does not guarantee approval or funding, as beneficiaries must meet the set eligibility and registration requirements.

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Those interested in sponsoring beneficiaries must visit sponsor.sha.go.ke to register. Existing users of the SHA Employer Portal can sign in using their credentials, while new sponsors must register and provide the required information.

SHA has provided two ways of selecting beneficiaries. Sponsors can submit their own lists or choose from categories available on the authority’s portal.

Those submitting their own lists must identify the individuals or households they intend to support and download and complete the portal template with accurate names, identification details and contact information.

They must also ensure the beneficiaries have registered with SHA, added eligible dependants to their household profiles and completed means testing.

The lists must then be submitted to SHA for validation before a Payment Reference Number (PRN) can be generated.

The Authority warns that “beneficiaries with incomplete registration or means testing may be excluded from the payment list, preventing them from accessing sponsored services.”

Alternatively, sponsors can select beneficiaries from SHA’s categories, which include teenage mothers, vulnerable children and indigent beneficiaries. They must indicate the number of people they wish to support and choose a sponsorship period of at least 12 months.

After the selection process, sponsors must generate a PRN through the Sponsor Portal. The document serves as an invoice showing the applicable premiums and the total amount payable.

Sponsors are required to verify the beneficiary details and the amount before paying through the official channels indicated on the PRN. Those using bank transfers must quote the PRN in the payment narrative, while M-Pesa users must enter it as the account number.

After payment, sponsors must keep their receipts or transaction confirmations and share them, together with the PRN, with the SHA team handling their sponsorship.

SHA cautions that making payment does not automatically confirm activation of cover. Sponsors must check with the authority to establish that the beneficiaries’ cover is active.

Those requiring assistance can email [email protected] or visit their nearest SHA County Office or Huduma Centre.

Meanwhile, SHA has recognised the national government for its Health Insurance Subsidy Programme under its sponsorship recognition list, naming President William Samoei Ruto in the National Government Sponsorship category.

The authority lists 590,986 households as having been sponsored by the national government under the programme.

SHA has also recognised Members of Parliament under its Members of Parliament Edition. Those listed include Funyula MP Wilberforce Ojiambo Oundo, Moiben MP Bartoo Phylis Jepkemoi, Mosop MP Abraham Kipsang Kirwa, Narok North MP Agnes Pareyio of Mantaine Narok North Constituency, Ong’ondonbo, Kasipul MP Boyd Were, Njoro MP Charity Kathambi and others.