In a bid to advance affordable health insurance coverage across Kenya, Jubilee Health in partnership with M-TIBA & Solution Sacco have today launched a comprehensive and affordable health insurance cover dubbed “Solution Afya medical scheme”. The partnership will enable over 25,000 SACCO members and community-based organizations to benefit from the medical scheme through an extensive network of service providers across the country.
The medical scheme will enable users to sign up and manage their health policies through M-TIBA’s mobile platform. The health cover with a minimum premium of as little as KES 4,265 annually, comes with an inbuilt maternity cover, last expense, and personal accident cover. Solution Afya members will also access periodic medical checkups, health and wellness programs and trainings geared towards disease prevention in an effort to contribute to their socio-economic empowerment.
Jubilee Insurance Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. Julius Kipngetich noted that embracing digitization will lower the cost of insurance products and enable consumers meet their health needs. “The pandemic resulted to a priority reset with most individuals focusing on their spending habits, health, and wellness. Despite the changing priorities, consumers across the world are under financial pressure because of the increased cost of living. Ensuring health insurance is affordable and accessible is a high priority for Jubilee Health. “Solution Afya medical scheme” will enable members to actualize their health priorities by giving them access to quality and affordable health cover,” Dr. Kipngetich said.
Majority of healthcare expenses are paid out-of-pocket in Kenya. This not only hinders access to quality care but also exposes households to poverty in cases of increased medical bills. Financial constraints and lack of knowledge on insurance products are the biggest barriers to insurance uptake. Utilization of digital platforms is key in creating understanding and increasing insurance uptake.
MTIBA Managing Director Moses Kuria says,” With the large digital shift in the recent past, it is only correct that we bring affordable insurance solutions closer to the fingertips of our customers. Accessing Solution Afya cover through the MTIBA platform will see members view the cover details, purchase, and track their insurance spend all through their mobile devices bringing convenience and affordable healthcare solutions closer to Kenyans. Continued collaborations between different healthcare players will ensure more people are granted access to effective, reliable, and very affordable insurance solutions across board,” Mr. Kuria noted.
Solution Sacco Chief Executive Officer Daniel Marete noted that affordable premiums as well as leveraging digitization will increase distribution of insurance products and ultimately extend insurance penetration in Kenya. “High premium cost has been one of the hindrances to insurance uptake in Kenya. Through this partnership with Jubilee Health and M-TIBA, we have set up a cover that meets the different health needs among our members. We are delighted to empower our SACCO members access quality health cover without breaking their banks,” Mr. Marete noted. Jubilee Health and M-TIBA will also host educational sessions with the SACCO members to demystify insurance and to discuss the benefits of the health cover in a bid to champion socio economic empowerment.