Healthcare is one of the most important services as a healthy body and mind is paramount for quality life. Unfortunately, this essential service is bogged down by lack of enough staff and resources as the demand for healthcare is never ending. This means that quality healthcare tends to be expensive and out of reach for many, especially if payment is made out of pocket.
It is not uncommon to come across fundraisers for healthcare and every Kenyan has had this experience, whether fundraising for a friend or relative or even themselves. Universal healthcare is the goal for the world but putting in the infrastructure is proving a challenge for many countries. Kenya is on the road to universal healthcare coverage with free maternity healthcare in public hospitals among other initiatives, but there’s still a lot of work.
According to the Kenya Medical Association, less than 20% of Kenyans have some form of medical cover. Medical cover tends to be expensive for most, although in comparison to paying out of pocket for health services, it is not nearly as expensive.
Kenyan teachers, through Minet, now have access to a medical scheme that is a great blueprint of what is possible with universal healthcare coverage. All teachers who are registered with TSC and are in active service are eligible. The registered teacher’s (principal member) cover extends to dependants – one spouse and 4 children (biological or legally adopted). The children are covered up to 20 years old if there is proof that the children are in a high school. There is no age limit for children with special needs.
The scheme benefits are graduated according to job groups, with inpatient cover ranging from Ksh 500,000 to Ksh 1,500,000 and are quite impressive as they cover things that even private insurance providers do not and do so without the pre-existing clause for chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cardiac failure, schizophrenia, chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS related conditions, dialysis, occupational therapy and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Other benefits include emergency road and air rescue including treatment abroad, maternity, dental, optical, psychiatric and counselling services and last expense of Ksh 100,000.
Even though the teachers are in theory covered by being registered with TSC, they still must register with Minet to activate the cover. Registration is simple and convenient as it is done through mobile phone:
- The principal member only needs to dial *865# from their Safaricom or Airtel line and follow the prompts.
- Enter their ID number, TSC registration number, name, role and gender.
- The next prompt is to add dependents, though this can be done at a separate time by still dialling *865#. To register dependents, you need to have their full name, date of birth, I.D. number of birth certificate number.
- When they make a visit to the hospital, they will need to do a biometric registration for ease to access of services.
- To find out which clinics and hospitals are under the scheme, dial *340# and follow the prompts to access the list based on the kind of service you are seeking. The recommendations are based on outpatient, inpatient, optical, dental and maternity and direct and referral hospitals from the Sub County and County levels.
