Written by Gloria Ngatha
Under Regulation 13 of the Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024, students who are enrolled in recognised learning institutions can remain covered as dependents under their parents’ or guardians’ Social Health Authority (SHA) health cover until they turn 21 years, provided they meet the registration requirements. The clarification follows concerns among many young Kenyans who believed they would automatically lose their health cover once they turned 18.
The clarification is based on the Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, which provide that eligible students below the age of 21 may continue receiving healthcare as dependents while they remain in school and meet the required conditions. While 18 is the legal age of adulthood in Kenya, it does not automatically mean a student loses access to healthcare under their parent’s SHA account if they are still studying and meet the required conditions.
To remain covered, the student must first register as an SHA member using their own identification details. After registration, a parent or guardian should log into the Afya Yangu portal and add the student as a dependent. Families must also upload proof that the learner is enrolled in a recognised school, college, university, or other learning institution. Acceptable documents include an admission letter, school confirmation letter, or a current fee statement.
The clarification is expected to help thousands of young Kenyans who finish secondary school and continue to colleges, universities, or technical institutions before they reach the age of 21. Without this update, some students feared they would have to pay for medical services on their own or risk going without treatment.
SHA has been issuing several public notices to help families better understand how the country’s national health insurance system works. The Authority says these updates are meant to ensure that eligible children and young people continue receiving healthcare without unnecessary delays.
SHA has also made it easier for parents to register younger children. Biological children can now be added online using their birth certificate or birth notification number. For newborn babies below six months, parents should provide a birth notification or birth certificate together with a passport-size photograph and complete the registration within 14 days to help speed up approval.
For children who are adopted or living under legal guardianship or kinship care, SHA has introduced new documentation requirements. These measures are intended to reduce paperwork problems, improve the processing of healthcare claims, and make sure every eligible child receives medical care without unnecessary delays.
Earlier this month, SHA also introduced fingerprint verification for registered child dependants aged 7 to 17 years at approved health facilities. The fingerprint is used only to confirm a child’s identity when receiving treatment, and a parent or guardian must give consent before it is taken. If fingerprint verification is not possible, healthcare providers can verify the child using the parent’s identification details and a one-time password (OTP).
Good health helps children learn, play, and achieve their dreams. When students can continue receiving medical care while they are still in school, they are less likely to miss classes because of illness. Parents also have peace of mind knowing their children can access healthcare whenever they need it.
The latest clarification from SHA is an important reminder that healthcare is an essential part of every child’s well-being. By helping families understand the registration process, more children and young people can continue receiving the medical care they need while focusing on their education.