The Ministry of Health has released a set of guidelines for employers regarding the transition of employees from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), the organization responsible for overseeing the Social Health Insurance Fund.
In a public announcement on Monday, the ministry declared that the transition from NHIF to SHA will take effect on October 1, 2024.
The notice stated, “It is a legal requirement for every Kenyan citizen, including their dependents, to register as a member of the SHA. This announcement provides crucial details about the transition process, payment timelines, and the utilization of the SHA Employer Portal.”
Employers can access the SHA Employer Portal at https://sha.go.ke, which serves as their primary resource for managing employee contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The portal offers three key functionalities: it enables the registration of employees and their dependents with SHA, facilitates the remittance of SHIF contributions on behalf of employees, and allows for the generation of reports and statements.
Guidelines for Accessing and Utilizing the Portal
Create Your Account: Start by visiting the SHA website to establish an employer account.
Account Verification: Follow the provided instructions to validate your account.
Register Employees: Input the necessary information for your employees to register them with SHA.
Make Contributions: Utilize the portal to submit SHIF contributions promptly.
“Please ensure that all your employees are registered with SHA by October 1, 2024, and be sure to meet the payment deadlines to prevent any disruptions in their healthcare coverage,” urged Elijah Wachira, the acting CEO of SHA.
The transition from NHIF to SHA is part of the government’s initiative to implement universal health coverage (UHC). However, a court ruling has deemed both the SHIF and the Primary Healthcare Act, alongside the Digital Health Act, as unconstitutional. On July 12, a three-judge panel, comprising Justices Alfred Mabeya, Robert Limo, and Friday Mugambi, found two provisions within the Social Health Insurance Act (SHIA) to be unconstitutional. This Act was intended to establish the Social Health Authority, responsible for managing three funds that would replace NHIF: the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund.
The contested sections of SHIA, namely Sections 26(5) and 27(4), stipulate that individuals may access health services only if their contributions are current and active, and they must provide proof of compliance with registration and contributions beforehand.
The court has granted the government a 120-day period from the date of the judgment to rectify the identified legal violations, stating that should they fail to do so, the Act will remain suspended.
The ministry has been actively encouraging the public to register with SHA for inclusion in SHIF. It has announced that the last opportunity to enroll in NHIF will be September 30, 2024, with SHA benefits set to begin on October 1, 2024. “Any payments received by October 9, 2024, will be credited to NHIF. Payments made from November 9, 2024, onward will instead be credited to SHA,” Wachira noted.
