6 Ways of Finding Cheap Medical Insurance in Kenya

The Kenyan medical insurance sector is replete with several reputable companies offering inexpensive plans. Nevertheless, before you decide to buy a cheap medical plan, you need to carefully assess your health needs and budget and ensure that the coverage you choose does not leave you vulnerable in case of unexpected or unpredictable medical disorders or injuries in the future
. Here are 6 tips on how to find cheap health insurance in Kenya.

1.       Buy medical insurance when healthy

Medical insurance is easier to buy when healthy. In Kenya, most insurers exclude pre-existing health disorders and focus majorly on essential conditions that respond speedily to treatment. This means that you will have problems finding a good insurer when you are already sick. Kenyan health insurance policies also tend to exclude long-term treatment, such as treatment of asthma or kidney dialysis. Nonetheless, you can still find a suitable medical plan even when having a pre-existing condition, though this means you will work harder and may need to speak with a broker.

2.      Consult a reputable broker

Medical insurance is a complicated product that requires insider knowledge to get the best deals possible. A reputable broker will not only help you to correctly identify your needs and find the right insurer, but will also help you overcome the challenges faced by those with pre-existing conditions or those who need specialist cover for certain health problems.

3.      Tweak your current policy to reduce the cost

Tweaking your cover is a great way of reducing the cost of medical insurance. For example, if your insurer has a list of preferred doctors or hospitals, you can reduce the cost of insurance by opting for just a few providers. Likewise, you can tweak the policy by adding an excess to it so you can contribute to the cost of treatment yourself and in turn reduce your monthly premiums. Just make sure the excess you choose is a sum you can comfortably pay.

Another way of tweaking the policy is to have some treatments covered by NHIF. Many Kenyan medical insurance companies allow you to choose discounted coverage plans that kick in only when the NHIF can’t provide it quickly (often in 6 weeks). You can opt for this compromise if quick treatment is your reason for going private. Lastly, decide which parts of the cover are more important to you (many Kenyan insurers will allow you to pick from different modules). For example, removing or reducing doctor consultations and routine scans from your outpatient cover can remove thousands from your annual premium.

4.      Beware of the consequences of switching and ditching

Medical insurance isn’t like home and car insurance where switching each year may bring savings. Trying to ditch or switch medical insurers can be really tricky as any medical conditions you have developed over the life of your current plan are unlikely to be covered by your new provider because they will be considered as pre-existing conditions. Furthermore, as you grow older and get considered more of a health risk by insurance companies, your monthly premiums will increase, making it more difficult for you to find a cheaper deal. Before you can switch or ditch your current policy, make sure to compare it with the potential new policy and ascertain that you will have everything you need at a cheaper rate.

5.       Maintain good health

Some Kenyan medical insurers will give you huge discounts if you can stay healthy. For instance, if you can remain considerable healthy for the life of a policy, you may be given up to 15% discount when renewing the policy.

6.      Read and understand the terms and conditions thoroughly

Medical insurance policies come with specific terms and conditions that must be adhered to strictly. Therefore, you need to read and understand the details so you are not caught up in trouble when making claims. If you aren’t sure about any aspects of your cover, call the insurer or speak with a broker to enable you make the right decisions and avoid unnecessary extra costs.