No Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals, Insurance firms warn
A Kenyan nurse writes on the protective clothing of fellow nurse Lucy Kanyi, right, with her name so she can be recognized when wearing it and the time of day so that duration spent in the ward can be limited, as they demonstrate the facilities and protective equipment to members of the media, during a visit to the recently-completed infectious disease unit of Kenyatta National Hospital, located at Mbagathi Hospital, in the capital Nairobi, Kenya Friday, March 6, 2020. Kenya does not yet have a confirmed case of the new virus, but the ward will be used to isolate and treat coronavirus cases if they are identified in the country. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)
Insurance companies will only pay for coronavirus disease treatment in public hospitals after the regulator adopted proposals from insurers to drop coverage in private institutions on fears of increased expenses related to the respiratory disease that could push them into losses.
The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) told the Senate that insurance companies will not pay for treatment in private hospitals where bills range from Sh600,000 to Sh1.2 million.
Instead, they will cover expenses incurred in public hospitals where bills for treatment of the infectious virus are estimated at Sh135,000, the regulator told lawmakers.
Business Daily reported that Testing in private hospital, the cost of isolation and quarantine without treatment will also not be covered.
“The insurance industry will pay for testing and treatment offered in government hospitals. These will include facilities run by the central government and county governments,” Godfrey Kiptum, the IRA chief executive, told senators.
“Persons treated in private hospitals will be requested to make their own arrangements”.
This is a win for insurance firms who have been meeting to develop a joint response to a March directive by the IRA that all Covid-19 claims be settled. However, it is a loss for their customers as it dims hopes of their treatment in private hospitals.
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