Current NHIF Rates for Employees and Self Employed [2023 New]

It is now mandatory in Kenya for salaried public and state officers to contribute a given percentage of their gross salary towards the National Health Insurance Fund, NHIF. According to the current NHIF rates, the employer must remit 2.75% of the employee’s gross salary, every month, effective October 2023.

In the new changes, even those employed in the private sector will have to remit 2.75% of their gross pay each month.

The unemployed members of the public and those working in the informal sector will now pay a minimum of Ksh. 300, down from Ksh. 500, monthly.

NHIF offers inpatient and outpatient services in accredited hospitals. The principal member and dependents must have registered for NHIF membership and selected outpatient facilities for each of the family members before accessing the services.

NHIF Monthly Contribution Charges

Monthly Contribution Rates for the Self-Employed and Unemployed

Those in the informal sector, self-employed, retirees and voluntary individuals pay the fixed NHIF rate of Ksh. 300 per month or Ksh. 3,600 per year.

NHIF Monthly Contribution Rates for Employees

The table shows the current NHIF payment rates that are deducted by employers from their employees’ salaries at the end of each month. The rates are based on 2.75% of an individual’s gross income. The maximum cap of Ksh. 1,700 for those earning Ksh. 100,000 or above has been scrapped.

There’s a newly introduced NHIF relief on the new charges. That’s you will pay 8% less of the new NHIF charges.

Employees earning below Ksh. 30,000 will see their monthly NHIF deductions reduce by between 5% and 46%.

Employee’s  Monthly Gross Income (Ksh)	NHIF Rates Per Month (Ksh)
6,000 – 7,999	152 – 202
8,000 – 11,999	202- 304
12,000 – 14,999	304- 380
15,000 – 19,999	380 – 506
20,000 – 24,999	506 – 633
25,000 – 29,999	633 – 759
30,000 – 34,999	759 – 886
35,000 – 39,999	886 – 1,012
40,000 – 44,999	1,012 – 1,139
45,000 – 49,999	1,139 – 1,265
50,000 – 59,999	1,265 – 1,518
60,000 – 69,999	1,518 – 1,771
70,000 – 79,999	1,771 – 2,024
80,000 – 89,999	2,024 – 2,277
90,000 – 99,999	2,277 – 2,530
100,000 – 150,000	2,530 – 3,795

NHIF Penalties for Late Remittances

If the employer fails to remit the employee’s NHIF contributions by the 9th of every month, the employer will be liable to pay late payment penalties. However, this will not affect NHIF service delivery to the scheme members.

For the self-employed, failure to pay contributions by the 9th of every month will incur penalties amounting to 50% of the monthly contribution. That’s 50% of Ksh. 500 which comes to Ksh. 250 on top of the previous month’s premiums.

If you are prone to consistent late NHIF monthly payments, you will be required, in addition to penalties, to pay upfront which can be a year’s contribution.

You can find out how to pay the penalties and monthly charges here: How to pay NHIF Premiums and Penalties, view account status.

Activating NHIF Card after Default (Self-Employed)

If your NHIF card has been inactive for over 12 months due to default, you can reactivate it by paying the NHIF reactivation fee of Ksh. 1500. Note that after reactivating the card, you will have to wait for 60 days before you can use it again.

The Ksh. 1500 will enable you to start afresh and will cover three months. You will however still retain the same membership number though the card will be restricted for two months.

You can pay the NHIF reactivation fee through M-PESA paybill number 200222. Use your national ID as the account number.

NHIF Schemes Categories

NHIF provides 4 insurance schemes to various categories of its members:

• EduAfya Scheme is a unique Comprehensive Medical Insurance Cover for public secondary school students during the duration of Study.
• Linda Mama package enables expectant women and infants to have access to quality and affordable health services.
• Civil Servants Scheme is a medical insurance package negotiated by the government and NHIF for all civil servants in Kenya.
• The National Supa Cover products and services offer medical cover to those in formal and informal employment.

Read also:

1. How to Choose or Change NHIF Outpatient Facility Online, USSD Code or App
2. NHIF Branches, Offices Location and Contacts