The death of a beneficiary under Kenya’s Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has legal and administrative implications. The procedures following the death of a beneficiary ensure proper deregistration, and continued access to benefits for the remaining household members. This article outlines the steps involved in the deregistration process based on the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap. 149.
Deregistration of a Deceased Beneficiary of SHIF
Under the SHIF regulations, a beneficiary must be deregistered upon their death. The authority responsible for this process, according to Section 15(1) of Cap. 149, ensures that all relevant administrative steps are followed.
Step 1: Notification of Death of a Beneficiary of SHIF
According to Section 15(2), the Principal Registrar of Births and Deaths, appointed under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, must notify the SHIF authority of the beneficiary’s death. This is done by submitting a copy of the death certificate to the authority.
However, it is not only the Registrar who has the responsibility to report the death. Under Section 15(3), the household of the deceased is also required to notify the SHIF authority and provide a copy of the death certificate.
Step 2: Revocation of Benefits and Insurance Card
Once the SHIF authority receives the death notification, they will proceed with the necessary actions. These include:
- Retiring the deceased beneficiary’s social health insurance number (Section 15(4a)).
- Revoking the Social Health Insurance Card (Section 15(4b)) to prevent any further access to benefits under the deceased person’s name.
Step 3: Continued Access for Household Members
Even after the deregistration of a deceased person, household members are not left without support. If the deceased beneficiary was contributing on behalf of the household, the remaining beneficiaries can continue to access healthcare benefits. This provision is valid until the contributions paid prior to the death are exhausted (Section 15(5)).
This continuation is crucial for ensuring that the death of a breadwinner does not leave their dependents without medical coverage, allowing them time to adjust.
Conclusion
The death of a beneficiary under SHIF prompts a series of formal steps to ensure proper deregistration and revocation of benefits, as outlined in Cap. 149. Notifications must be sent to the authority by either the Registrar of Births and Deaths or the deceased’s household, and the system must retire the deceased’s social health insurance number. Importantly, household members are still protected under the deceased’s contributions, ensuring continued access to healthcare benefits.
This process ensures accountability, transparency, and protection for the surviving family members during their period of transition.