How To Add Your Child, Spouse To SHA

In an attempt to simplify the process of enrolling loved ones into the newly launched Social Health Authority (SHA) health insurance scheme, the government has rolled out clear guidelines on how parents can add their children and spouses to the programme.

For parents wishing to add their child to the SHA, the process has been simplified through the SHA portal.

According to the guidelines revealed on Thursday, parents are required to log in to their personal SHA accounts and input their child’s birth certificate number.

If the child is under six months old, additional documents are required.

Parents will need to provide either the child’s birth notification or birth certificate, along with a passport-size photo.

However, before initiating this process, parents of newborns are reminded that they must inform the Health Authority at least 14 days in advance to seek approval before proceeding with the registration.

Enrolling your spouse

The process of adding a spouse to the SHA scheme involves a few more steps. First, the spouse must be registered on the Afya Yangu portal.

Once this is confirmed, the primary beneficiary (the person seeking to add their spouse) must provide the spouse’s national identity number and first name.

Additionally, the system will prompt the user to check if a marriage certificate or affidavit is required.

Afterwards, a One-Time Password (OTP) will be sent to the spouse’s registered phone number. The spouse will need to enter this OTP to confirm whether they are listed as a contributor or a dependent in the system.

Once verified, the beneficiary can submit the application to complete the process.

The announcement about these changes comes just hours after Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa addressed concerns over the growing pains of the SHA scheme.

Speaking on Citizen TV on Wednesday, the CS acknowledged that while the program is still in its early stages, the government is committed to resolving any issues beneficiaries are facing.

“The programme is less than 100 days old, so these are transitioning challenges, but we are committed to improving the efficacy of the system and this is through engagement,” Barasa said.

She noted that the government is focusing on capacity building, mentorship, and support at the county and regional levels to ensure a smooth transition for users of the new system.

As the scheme continues to evolve, both parents and spouses should ensure they follow the correct steps when adding family members to their SHA health insurance coverage.

The government’s efforts to streamline this process aim to make it more accessible and reduce any obstacles for citizens during the transition.