Health insurance is that insurance that covers the medical expenses of a person either in whole or partly. Finding the best health insurance companies in Kenya is an important step. A good health insurance company should provide wide range of medical coverage such as hospitalization expenses, surgery fees, doctor visits, medical checkups, medicine cost, maternity plan among others.
What To Check Before Buying a Health Insurance Cover
- Co-payment Clause
- Waiting Period
- Network of Hospitals
- Claim Process Efficiency
- Maternity Coverage
- Age Specifications
- Medical check-up
- Post and Pre-Hospitalization Coverage
- Right Combination of Coverage and Premium
- Renewable Period
There are different types of health insurance covers available in the Kenyan market. Each health insurance policy quote depends on factors listed above such as pre-existing conditions, limit of coverage, and co-payment clause among others.
Top 7 Best Health Insurance Company in Kenya
1. National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)
NHIF Kenya is a public institution that provides health insurance cover to both informal and formal sector employees. The fund provides medical insurance cover to its members, spouse and children below eighteen years. It’s one of the best health insurance companies in Kenya because it covers the low- and middle-income groups.
In addition, NHIF has 98 service stations and can also be accessed in all the Huduma centers in Kenya.
For inpatient, NHIF covers Hospital bed charges, nursing care, diagnostic, laboratory, operating theatre charges, specialist’s consultation, all drugs and medications, and dressing charges.
Other essential services covered by NHIF Kenya are, consultation, laboratory, drug administration, radiology, nursing services, dental health services, optical care, physiotherapy services, occupational therapy services, minor surgery services, and referrals.
In dental treatment, NHIF covers consultation, tooth extraction, X-Ray, teeth cleaning, scaling, root canal, filing, and bad breath management. Note that NHIF does not cover teeth replacement and cosmetic dentistry.
2. Britam
Britam offers a mix of health insurance solutions. Britam is one of the best health insurance companies in Kenya. Britam Milele Retail and Kinga Ya Mkulima cover individuals and families.
Britam Milele Corporate, provides an inpatient cover and a fund- managed outpatient cover for its employees and their dependants. One of the best health insurance covers for registered companies, NGOs, and Chamas with above 10 members is Britam Milele Corporate. It manages the members’ and their families’ health needs right from hospitalization until post-hospitalization.
| BENEFITS | ADVANTAGE | PREMIER | ESSENTIAL 1 | ESSENTIAL 2 |
| Lifetime cover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Health lifestyle and Stress Management Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-existing, chronic and congenital conditions covered to the full limit | Yes | No | No | No |
| Free professional health checks up on principal and spouse | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Access to all service providers countrywide | Yes | Yes | Access to tier II and tier III providers. | Access to tier III providers. |
| Minimum premium | Minimum premium per annum Kshs.17,332 | Minimum premium per annum Kshs.11,099 | Minimum premium per annum Kshs.9,001 | Minimum premium per annum Kshs.8,127 |
| Critical illness for kshs. 5M and kshs. 10M limits | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Free personal accident | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Last expense | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| COVID-19 Treatment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Telemedicine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online Pharmacy & Medicine delivery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Source Britam
3. Jubilee Insurance Company
Jubilee Insurance is one of the best health insurance companies in Kenya. It has different packages that are ideal for different groups of people.
J-Care Individual /family health medical insurance that covers individuals and family health. The benefits are such as free drug delivery, regional presence, free tele-medicine services, cover for pre-existing conditions, overseas inpatient referrals, and 24-hour call center among others.
Jubilee Health insurance also has a cover for corporate. The corporate health cover ensures you cater for the overall employee well-being.
Key Benefits for Jubilee Health Insurance Cover>Wide range of plans to choose from:>Cover for pre-existing, chronic, psychiatric, congenital and HIV/AIDS including related conditions>Country wide provider network>Overseas inpatient referrals on credit with listed hospitals>Cover for inpatient dental and optical treatment>Post hospitalization benefit>Funeral expense benefit for the family shared>Free Personal Accident benefit for the principal member and optional for Dependents
4. CIC Insurance
CIC insurance has Medisure family and corporate medical cover that covers:
- Hospital bed accommodation charges (minus NHIF rebate amount)
- Pre existing conditions are declared and accepted
- Diagnostics for member and spouse
- Major organ transplant procedure
- In- patent prescribed physiotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, nursing care, prescribed drugs/medicine, dressing and diagnostic test.
- Non-accident maxillofacial and ophthalmologic, dental surgery subject to authorization.
- Day care surgery
- Resident mother/doctors fee
5. AAR Insurance
AAR is one of the best health insurance companies in Kenya and it has individual and family medical plans.
Out Patient Services
- Pathology
- Diagnostic tests and procedures
- Radiology
- Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
- Access to personal consultant for platinum cover
- Cancer tests and consultation
- Dental treatment including simple extractions, difficult, extractions, fillings, scaling and polishing, gum surgery, root canal treatment, pulpotomy & minor oral surgery.
- Optical services- prescribed lenses, contact lenses, dioptric power +/- 0.25 D and more, and frames.
- Pre-natal and Post Natal Care
Inpatient Services
- Maternity services including both normal, elective or emergency CS delivery.
- Parent/Guardian accommodation when insured child is under the age of 8 years (Lodger fee) for both local and international hospitals.
- Organ Transplant
- Post hospitalization discharge medication of up-to 14 days.
- Re-constructive surgery
- Accidental damage to natural teeth
- Accidental damage to eyes
- Ectopic pregnancy.
Value added services include:
- Cover for medical injuries resulting from political violence
- Local & International rescue & evacuation services
- Nutritional Advice
- 24-hour call centre
- Health camps and health alerts
6. APA Insurance
APA health insurance has options such as the Jamii Plus that people between 18 and 80 can take. It is one of the best health insurance companies in Kenya.
APA Insurance also offers flexible tailor-made corporate products for groups above (10) or more employees. It has a fully insured in-patient scheme.
Jamii Plus:
Optional Benefits:
- Outpatient cover.
- Maternity cover.
- Dental & Optical Cover.
- Last expense cover
- Personal Accident Benefit Cover.
The cover also has enhanced benefits such as: (source APA)
- Cover for Pre-Existing, Chronic, Psychiatric, congenital and HIV/AIDS including related conditions.
- Countrywide Provider Network.
- Overseas inpatient referrals covered on credit under-listed hospitals.
- Cover for inpatient dental and optical treatment.
- Post hospitalisation benefit.
- Funeral expenses benefit.
- Free Personal Accident benefit for principal member.
Regardless of which health insurance company that you opt for, always make sure that you read their terms and conditions. It is without a doubt that the above list of the best health insurance companies in Kenya.