Examining the responsiveness of the National Health Insurance Fund to people living with hypertension and diabetes in Kenya: a qualitative study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess the responsiveness of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Supa Cover benefit package to the needs of individuals with diabetes and hypertension in Kenya.Design, setting and participantsWe carried out a qualitative study and collected data using key informant interviews (n=39) and focus group discussions (n=4) in two purposively selected counties in Western Kenya. Study participants were drawn from NHIF officials, county government officials, health facility managers, healthcare workers and individuals with hypertension and diabetes who were enrolled in NHIF. We analysed data using a thematic approach.ResultsStudy participants reported that the NHIF Supa Cover benefit package expanded access to services for people living with hypertension and diabetes. However, the NHIF members and healthcare workers had inadequate awareness of the NHIF service entitlements. The NHIF benefit package inadequately covered the range of services needed by people living with hypertension and diabetes and the benefits package did not prioritise preventive and promotive services. Sometimes patients were discriminated against by healthcare providers who preferred cash-paying patients, and some NHIF-empanelled health facilities had inadequate structural inputs essential for quality of care. Study participants felt that the NHIF premium for the general scheme was unaffordable, and NHIF members faced additional out-of-pocket costs because of additional payments for services not available or covered.ConclusionWhereas NHIF has reduced financial barriers for hypertension and diabetes patients, to enhance its responsiveness to patient needs, NHIF should implement mechanisms to increase benefit package awareness among members and providers. In addition, preventive and promotive services should be included in NHIF’s benefits package and mechanisms to monitor and hold contracted providers accountable should be strengthened.

The Health Insurance Fund Participates in Controlling the Epidemic: Insights from German Experience in Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…While most existing studies focus on the role of the health insurance fund in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 41,42 this research chooses a different perspective and focuses on their role and impact in a global public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast to prior studies by Chinese researchers on the fund's capacity to pay during pandemics 43,44 and European research assessing the response of health insurance funds in eight countries with social health insurance systems 45 , this work zeroes in on the performance of the German statutory health insurance fund in the domain of infectious disease prevention and control.…”