Kenyan insurers have made an about-turn on paying Covid-19 bills in what has left hundreds of patients in hospitals high and dry.
When Kenya announced its first case of coronavirus in March, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) said it had met with players in the industry and agreed to cover bills for patients despite the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying Covid-19 as a pandemic.
The IRA said in a statement that it had held meetings with Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) chief executive Tom Gichuhi and had agreed that insured victims would be covered.
"The public is hereby assured that the insurance companies will continue to provide their services to policyholders affected or infected with the virus," said the regulator.
TURNING AWAY PATIENTS
But it appears all that was just public relations. On the ground, things are very different.
Insurers are turning away patients in droves, who despite having hundreds of thousands of shillings still unsent on their medical covers, on grounds that the classification of the Covid-19 disease as a pandemic meant that patients have to pay for their bills.
Last week, Atieno* went to a Nairobi hospital when her child had flu, sore throat and blockage of the nose. When they got to the reception, they were told that the directive from the management is that any patient seeking healthcare at the facility has to be tested for Covid-19, however, patients have to pay in cash Sh10,000 for testing. This is before they start treatment.
Being that Ms Atieno also had flu-like symptoms, she decided to test along with her son. She paid Sh20,000. She had an insurance cover that was not able to carter for the expenses.
She is not alone, Awino* also experienced the same when she went to a hospital and contacted her insurer after a test is done and all she was told that they only cover tests in public facilities.
"Our insurance advised us. If you get tested in a private hospital and turn positive they will send an ambulance to take you to a government facility and after treatment is done, one will pay cash and then claim from the insurance, however, it is unlikely that one would a refund," says Ms Awino.CIC Insurance Group and APA Insurance Limited have already communicated the same to their clients that they will only foot bills incurred in public facilities.As they refuse to pay, a number are announcing double-digit profits and handsome dividends to […]