Health insurance in Kenya: How to choose the right plan

If you're moving to Kenya, you'll need a plan for healthcare. And there's a recent change to get your head around first.

Kenya overhauled its national health scheme in October 2024. The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) was replaced by the Social Health Authority (SHA). SHA runs a fund called SHIF (the Social Health Insurance Fund). If you're staying long-term, you'll likely need to pay into it.

So do you need health insurance in Kenya? It depends on how long you're staying, but for most expats moving here long-term, the answer is yes. Either way, SHA on its own rarely covers what you actually need.

This guide explains:

• What replaced NHIF, and whether SHA applies to you

• Your three options: SHA, Kenyan private insurance, and international cover

• Why medical evacuation cover matters in Kenya

• How costs compare for different ages and profiles

• How to choose the right plan for your situation

In the interest of transparency: Feather sells international health insurance that covers Kenya. We'll tell you where it fits, and where it might not be the right call.

How does Kenya's healthcare system work?

Kenya's healthcare splits into three tiers. Firstly, public hospitals run by county and national governments. Next, faith-based and NGO facilities. Finally, private for-profit hospitals. Government-run hospitals alone make up around half of all facilities.

The public system is now funded through SHA. It's affordable but stretched thin, with long queues and equipment shortages. The scheme is still finding its feet.

The Ministry of Health publishes the current SHIF benefit package. It's worth checking before you rely on it.

Private hospitals for expats

Private hospitals are where most expats go. One big name is Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. It's JCI-accredited with strong cardiology and oncology. Also well regarded are The Nairobi Hospital, MP Shah, The Karen Hospital, and The Mater. They're modern and English-speaking, but not cheap.

Why does medical evacuation cover matter in Kenya?

Specialist capacity in Kenya is limited, and that shapes everything else. So, take advanced oncology, neurosurgery, major trauma, and transplant patients, for example. They're often flown to India, South Africa, or Europe.

The AMREF myth

Here's where many expats go wrong. AMREF Flying Doctors offers the Maisha membership plans from around USD 50 a year. And a lot of people assume that's enough. But it covers the transport only, not the hospital bill waiting at the other end. Think of it as an evacuation service rather than medical insurance.

International plans close that gap. They cover the evacuation, the repatriation, and the treatment costs. For Kenya, that combination is why expats choose international cover.

What is the cost of going without cover?

Going without medical insurance in Kenya is a costly gamble. A GP (general practitioner) visit is roughly KES 2,000–5,000 (€14–34). A private inpatient stay or surgery can reach KES 500,000 or several million (€3,400+). And an air evacuation from a remote area can cost USD 10,000–50,000.

Your three options

SHA and SHIF: the public scheme

The Social Health Authority replaced NHIF on 1 October 2024. It was created under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023. It manages SHIF, the fund that pays for care.

The law uses the term "ordinarily resident". This means anyone living in Kenya for more than 12 months. If that's you, you have to register and contribute. Under 12 months, you're not enrolled. You're required to hold mandatory inbound travel health insurance instead. It's regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Authority.

Contributions are 2.75% of gross monthly salary, with a KES 300 minimum and no cap. Non-salaried households pay 2.75% of household income too, with the same KES 300 minimum.

What does SHA cover? Outpatient, inpatient, maternity, chronic and emergency care through the SHIF package. Plus, there’s the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund for catastrophic cases.

But there’s a problem: the limits. Care is restricted to contracted facilities, which are mostly public. There are caps on what's paid out. And since the scheme only started in October 2024, some rules are still being worked out. Most expats treat SHA health insurance in Kenya as a baseline and build from there.

Local Kenyan private insurance

Local insurers give you real access to Kenya's private hospitals. The main names are Jubilee Health, AAR Insurance, Britam, Madison, CIC, and Old Mutual.

Costs vary widely. Expect roughly KES 5,000–50,000 a month, depending on age and benefits. Budget single plans sit at the low end, with comprehensive family cover much higher. Senior cover costs more, and there's a lot less choice after 65.

Private health insurance in Kenya has clear upsides. It's cheaper than international cover for younger expats. It's accepted at the top private hospitals. Some plans also include AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation.

However, cover is usually Kenya-only, sometimes East Africa. It doesn't travel with you. Age cutoffs are common, too. Many insurers cap cover or load premiums heavily after 65. Pre-existing conditions are often excluded or delayed. And evacuation, where included, usually only reaches nearby countries, not your home country.

International health insurance

International health insurance covers you in Kenya, back home, and everywhere in between. We mentioned how often complex cases leave the country. So, that worldwide reach is the feature that often counts most.

With Feather, international health insurance in Kenya is available up to age 75. That's well past the local 65 cutoffs. Also, pre-existing conditions are assessed individually at application. So, you get a clear answer rather than a blanket exclusion. Claims are handled in English, and the whole application is digital. Pricing starts from €85 a month.

One thing to be clear about. International cover supplements the mandatory SHA contribution, it doesn't remove it. If you're resident over 12 months, you still register and pay SHA. Many expats add private or international cover for hospital access and evacuation.

Comparing SHA, local private cover, and international cover

Here's how the three options compare on what matters most for expats.

How do you choose the right plan?

The right plan usually comes down to your profile. How long are you staying? Are you on a work permit or retired? How much cover do you want beyond SHA?

Employed expats resident over 12 months should pair SHA with international cover. SHA is mandatory but thin, so it adds hospital choice, evacuation, and portability.

Digital nomads and remote workers are best served by international cover. It's portable, not tied to an employer, and covers evacuation home. Our guide to international health insurance for digital nomads goes deeper.

Retirees on a Class K permit usually want international cover too. Local plans cap or price out the over-65s, while Feather covers you up to age 75. See our guide to international health insurance for seniors for long-term plans.

Families relocating together often do best on a single worldwide family plan. These usually include evacuation for everyone. Check out our guide to international health insurance for families for more info.

Short-term visitors under 12 months need inbound travel insurance, which is mandatory. For stays over three months, add an international plan for hospital access. Applying for a visa rather than a residence permit? Our guide to international health insurance for visa seekers covers what you'll need.

Related guides

New to international cover? Start with how international health insurance works.

Working for yourself? See our guide to international health insurance for freelancers. It explores cover built around independent work.

Studying in Kenya? Read our guide to international health insurance for students before you enroll.

How much does health insurance cost in Kenya?

So how much does health insurance in Kenya actually cost? It depends on your age, provider, and whether you choose local or international cover.

Here's a rough picture by profile:

Figures are indicative and convert at roughly KES 148 to €1 (rate verified June 2026). Verify premiums and the exchange rate before relying on them. Kenyan rate cards and the shilling both move. SHA is separate, at 2.75% of income with a KES 300 minimum.

How to get insured

Getting covered follows a clear path:

1. Work out your stay. Over 12 months makes you SHA-eligible. Under 12 months means mandatory inbound travel insurance applies instead.

2. If you're resident over a year, register and contribute to SHA through afyayangu.go.ke or the SHA portal.

3. Check your permit. A Class D work permit is employer-sponsored. A Class K residence permit suits retirees with USD 24,000 or more a year in income from outside Kenya. Confirm any insurance or medical-fitness requirement on the immigration portal.

4. Compare Kenyan private insurance against international cover. Focus on hospital access and, above all, evacuation and repatriation.

5. Apply. With Feather, most people get their certificate immediately. So, you can move straight into permit applications or renewals.

Ready to get covered in Kenya?

Moving to Nairobi for work, or retiring to Kenya on a Class K permit? SHA is mandatory once you're staying over a year. But it won't get you admitted to Aga Khan or fly you home in an emergency.

International health insurance from Feather gives you access to Kenya's best private hospitals. It includes repatriation, and worldwide treatment, with cover up to age 75. The application takes minutes, entirely online, with pricing from €85 a month.