Kenya to Compel Foreigners to Buy Local Health Cover

Kenya will require all visitors, irrespective of their length of stay, to purchase local health insurance.

The insurance industry is expected to benefit significantly from a new requirement directing all visitors coming into the country to secure travel health insurance owing to the annual influx of over 1.5 million foreigners. Parliament’s National Assembly Health Committee is presently considering an amendment to the Social Health Insurance Bill of 2023. Additionally, this new bill would benefit the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) as well as accepted private insurance companies. The move aims to enhance the NHIF’s financial state in exploring the introduction of universal health coverage (UHC) as outlined by President William Ruto.

To enrich the Social Health Insurance Fund and offer the insurance sector a fresh income source, this proposal secures safeguards for tourists against emergencies like pandemics. The Bill’s initial phase suggests compulsory membership for foreigners residing in the nation for one year or more. If the legislation is enforced, Kenya will follow suit with countries in the Schengen region that call for compulsory travel health insurance. Therefore, individuals without it will be barred from entering. France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Denmark currently have these laws in place. However, the consequences for not enlisting and contributing to the national health insurance fund are not specified in the Bill.

Kenya received 1.48 million visitors last year, mainly consisting of tourists. Moreover, the fresh insurance program will fund not only their medical treatment, but it will also provide for the treatment of continual illness. The Health Committee in Parliament has given the green light to four health Bills including the Social Health Insurance Bill, 2023 which could become law after approval from President William Ruto. The remaining Bills are the Digital Health Bill, 2023, the Facility Improvement Financing Bill, 2023, and the Primary Healthcare Bill, 2023. These legislative proposals aim to boost healthcare services around the country.

The Kenyan Parliament is expected to pass new social health insurance Bills this week, a prospect that National Assembly Health Committee chairman Robert Pukose is optimistic about. To safeguard against the financial problems that plagued the NHIF, all adults residing in Kenya will be required to contribute to the Fund, with foreign residents being no exception. Those who do not show proof of payment will find themselves excluded from government services. Despite increased collections from members, the NHIF has struggled to reimburse hospitals due to an influx of claims and ongoing fraud that causes it to lose billions of shillings annually.