NHIF outpatient services: Members of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) will no longer be required to choose an out-patient healthcare facility to access healthcare services. They will now be able to access any hospital that has been accredited by the NHIF from 1st of Nov 2017.
NHIF chief executive Geoffrey Mwangi says that patients will from this month be able to access any hospital they prefer from a list provided by the fund.
“In line with these changes, members will no longer co-pay as was the case previously and will continue enjoying the same benefits package,” Mwangi said in a statement.
This means that members will be free to access more than 2,000 hospitals accredited to the NHIF including the high-end facilities like Aga Khan hospital, Nairobi Hospital and Karen Hospital.
Previously members were restricted to one hospital. NHIF last month added 204 public, private and faith-based hospitals and dispensaries to its list of accredited facilities, offering Kenyans more places for accessing healthcare.
Formal sectors workers contribute between Sh. 150 and Sh. 1,700 monthly depending on their income to the fund while the self-employed pay Sh. 500.
Previously, Kenyans who are subscribed to the NHIF health fund have been applying to get the services at specific hospitals and dispensaries across the country.