[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ld, they say, is gold and HF Group is taking this quite literally when it comes to safeguarding the health of senior citizens. Through its subsidiary, HF Insurance Agency (HFIA), HF Group has partnered with BRITAM to introduce a medical cover for people aged up to 75 years.
The medical cover, known as Afyamed, has been a major attraction to the elderly who are branded high-risk. While other insurance companies have avoided this group, HF Insurance Agency sees an opportunity to give a new lease of life to senior members of society. The reception of Afyamed in the market has been very positive with uptake growing.
“Most players in the medical insurance sector have capped their eligibility age at 60 years or lower, thus leaving many older persons without access to medical cover,” says HFIA Head of Business Development, Francis Kinyanjui.
As people age, they become more vulnerable to a number of health conditions. Without medical cover, they often have to cater for medical costs out-of-pocket resulting in financial strain.
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Under Afyamed, customers access medical cover for as low as Ksh20,000 annually for outpatient. The policy offers a minimum cover limit of Ksh200,000 and a maximum of Ksh5 million for inpatient cover.
Afyamed has waived the medical evaluation requirement which has made it very convenient for consumers. What’s more, Afyamed covers pre-existing, chronic conditions, HIV/AIDs, cancer and organ transplant costs up to certain limits. The cover also caters for treatment in India and South Africa for ailments whose treatment is not available locally.
Afyamed has transcended borders and is also available South Sudan and Rwanda.
According to the findings of a market survey conducted by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency in late 2016, just about 20% of the 46 million Kenyans have medical insurance, with 6.9 million people covered under National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), 1.5 million people under private sector insurance and 470,550 members under Community Bases Health Initiatives.
Even the government has realized the key segment of the aging population by enhancing the ‘Inua Jamii 70 years and above cash transfer programme’ under which individuals aged above 65 and living in extreme poverty get a stipend of Sh2,000 per month. Now these senior citizens can enjoy this ‘pension’ in great health with Afyamed medical cover.
HF Insurance Agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of HF Group. It was incorporated as an insurance agency and begun operations in 2012 and is headed by Principal Officer, Jane Surungai.
I would very much like to know more about Afyamed. I am going to 75 years of age. For how far do you go with age.