The counties of Laikipia, Kiambu, Nairobi and Nyeri are leading in health insurance uptake showing caution residents take in unforeseen expenditure associated with illnesses.
The absorption of any type of health insurance whose uptake according to a survey by the Kenya Bureau of Standard goes up per income is however low in the counties of Tana River, Mandera, Garissa, Marsabit, West Pokot and Siaya.
Health Insurance coverage varies across the 47 counties from a low of 5 per cent and 6 per cent respectively in Tana River and Mandera counties to a high of 46 per cent and 44 per cent in Nairobi City and Laikipia Counties respectively.
Patterns by background characteristics shows the coverage is twice as high in urban areas than in rural areas; 40 per cent of household populations in urban areas have some form of health insurance compared to 19 per cent in rural areas.
The pattern also reveals that the coverage increases with increasing wealth, from 5 per cent the lowest wealth quantile to 58 per cent in the highest wealth quantile.
“Health Insurance for the population ensures that people are protected against unforeseen expenditures that may arise. It is one of the key components of financial protection for the population, because the cost associated with health payments during a disease episode can drive families into poverty,” notes the survey.
“Nationally, one in four persons (26 per cent) have some form of health insurance. The National Hospital Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is the most common type of health insurance.”
The study finds out that in Kenya, people pay an average of Sh37,362 for each in-patient visit per year and an average of Sh1,735 for each outpatient visit per month.
PATTERNS BY BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS
Males spend twice as much as females on inpatient admissions. Males spend an average of Sh52,924 per year for inpatient admissions whereas females spend an average of Sh27,536 per year.
The average monthly expenditure for outpatient visits also is slightly higher among males than females (Sh1,858 among males and Sh1,637 among females). Outpatient health expenditure increases with an increase in age, with the oldest respondents reporting the highest outpatient health expenditure (Sh898 for age 0-4 and Sh4,078 for age 60 and older).
Generally, persons in urban areas spend, on average, twice the amount spent by those in rural areas on inpatient (Sh59,493 in urban areas and Sh24,731 in rural areas) and outpatient (Sh2,281 in urban areas and Sh1,455 in rural areas) health expenditure.
Cash payments, followed by NHIF payments, are the most common means of payment for both inpatient and outpatient expenditure. Household members paid by cash for inpatient expenditures an average of Sh13,621 per year and Sh9,330 through NHIF compared to Sh6,202 paid through private insurance.
SOCIAL PROTECTION
According the study, nationally, 17 per cent of households receive cash transferor social assistance mainly from government at 11 per cent followed by assistance received from friends, relatives and neighbors.
Households receive cash transfer mostly for supporting older persons (4 per cent) and for food, for work or cash for work (3 per cent).
The survey (Kenya Demographic and Health Survey) was the 7th to be carried out in the country following similar surveys conducted in 1989,1993,1998,2003,2008-09 and 2014.
The objective of the survey is to provide up to date information on socio-economic, demographic, nutrition and health indicators for planning, monitoring and evaluation of various health programmes and policies.
Insurance Claims Rise 10% to KSh18.43 Billion in Q1 2022 – Kenyan Wallstreet
