Men to Cover Multiple Wives on NHIF for an Extra Cost of Sh500

The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has published new regulations with a clause providing medical coverage to polygamous families.

If Parliament approves the proposed regulations, men will be allowed to get cover for multiple wives at an extra cost of Sh500 monthly for each spouse, which is to be paid before the 9th.

"Where a standard contributor extends more than one spouse as a beneficiary, the contributor shall remit an additional contribution to the Fund. The rate of the additional contribution referred to in the sub-regulation shall be five hundred shillings in respect of each spouse," the proposed regulations read in part.

Under the current rules, NHIF covers one spouse and a maximum of five children. Most private insurance companies cover the insurance holder, one registered spouse, and a maximum of four children.

Data from the Kenya Population and Housing Census shows that about 1.5 million Kenyans, representing 10 percent of the married population, are in a polygamous marriage, but women’s rights groups say the number is a gross underestimate given that most of these marriages are customary and not registered.

In addition to the clause on polygamous families, NHIF has also proposed to raise monthly contributions for workers earning a monthly salary of more than Sh100,000. They will be expected to pay 1.7 percent of their salary.

NHIF currently has about 10 million principal members.