Government Services

How to Activate NHIF After Breaking Payments

What happens when you break your NHIF contribution?

NHIF insurance cover is a better form of insurance that allows members to contribute the principal amount on a monthly basis. This allows members to put in deposits of 500 shillings each on the minimum for informal contributors. Although monthly contribution is a good model, sometimes due to unavoidable circumstances contributors break their payments.

If you happen to break your NHIF monthly contribution, you will be deactivated,meaning you will not be able to use the NHIF card when you visit the hospital.

Two ways to activate NHIF 

There are two options to reinstate your NHIF membership if you are deactivated.

  1. You can decide to pay the principal amount and then wait for sixty days before you can resume to use the service.
  2. Alternatively you can pay the arrears plus penalties and be activated on the spot.

What are the penalties for late NHIF payment?

Usually NHIF members need to pay their NHIF contribution by the 9th of each new month. If you fail to pay by this date then you or your employer depending on your type of contribution will have to pay extra to continue enjoying NHIF services.

In the case of an employer missing payment they will be required to pay double the principal.

When an individual or as they call them informal contributor fails to pay on time they will need to pay 50% on the principal. That would be 500 plus 250 which will be 750.

HowKE Team

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30 thoughts on “How to Activate NHIF After Breaking Payments

  • is there an option of paying ksh 6000 for the whole year and get reactivated immediately instead of waiting for 60days?

    Reply
  • Robert.

    My Nhif card is inactive for last one year and I want to use it urgently. What should I do?

    Reply
  • PURITY KINYA

    Hello ,i haven’t paid for my NHIF since 2017. How do i activate it .And do i have any penalties for defaulting ?kindly help

    Reply
  • Joseph wahiu

    Hi nhif,I lost my job last year in September 2020.My former company used to pay for me.I have never contributed since then. Now that I want to start contributing as a self employee ,what is the procedure. I visited one of your offices bt the conditions they gave me I can’t for they said I pay all months I sķipped together with penaulty.Advice

    Reply
  • Lucy Muthoni Wangechi

    I want to use my card this month en I have not been paying for long,how much will I pay for me to use it

    Reply
    • Lucy Muthoni Wangechi

      But how much is required for me to use it this month.en sorry for my email

      Reply
  • Abdalla simiyu pwoka

    how can i activate my membership as a personal contributor after i lost my job some years back. please help

    Reply
    • joseph muiruri kamau

      how can i activate my card ?after loosing my job want to be active

      Reply
  • My nhif has been dominant since April this year can it be activated

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  • lorna nzyoka

    i defaulted on only july 2019 but have paid august onwards can i use my nhif card?

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    • Rosemary njoki waithiegeni

      I HV defaulted since July 2019 due to unavoidable circumstances how do I get on track please help

      Reply
  • what if i failed to pay for a year.Am i allowed to reapply for another number

    Reply
  • hi i lost my job on December and now i have a new job how can i start paying my nhif contributions

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  • Can I add my son to my nhif today and still use it to settle his hospital bills

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  • Ibrahim maina

    Hi,mine has been dormant since 2007,can I revive it?and how much should I pay?

    Reply
    • Francis chege

      Hi can i include my family in my nhif card and how much will i be paying

      Reply
  • Mwangi Margaret Njeri

    Can I activate my nhif using my phone or must I visit the offices?

    Reply
    • Vivian Awino

      After paying the 1500 for activation should I pay 500 the following month

      Reply
  • Eric mutinda

    Hi I lost my job 2016 and I have been making any contributions and I want to start making my payments.

    Reply
    • Esmily Kitanyi

      Hello nhif i lost my job oct 2017 n that was the last contribution to my nhif.Is my card deactivated n if so how do i activate it

      Reply
  • Hi . I left my job in September 2018 . I wanted to start paying for myself but the system says that my employer had not paid my NHIF since June , that was while I was still in the company. NHIF said I would have to pay all the charges plus penalties , including the ones not paid by my employee . I cannot raise the whole amount from June. Will it be okay if I just continue my monthly payments from January,2019 without paying those charges ?

    Reply
  • Kevin Kinyanjui

    I was employed till 2017 and i’m now self-employed. I’d wish to continue paying for the Nhif but on querying on my status via the sms platform i was advised to contact my former employer, whom i can’t reach. Please, advice on how to go about the payments as a self-employed person.

    Reply
  • hallo. have not paid my nhif for the past 1 year and i want to pay as from now. will i still be penalised?

    Reply
    • Hi Khalil
      When the physical year is over .All you need to do is start fresh payments without any penalty. So, say if you were paying for 2018 then stopped mid way and its now 2019,you start paying for 2019 as from January.

      Reply
  • calton Abung'Aana Matekwa

    Hallow!need to know if my NHIF card can help me,was employed but unfortunately lost my job in early January leading it nit to be paid but got a new job in may till now,can i use it now
    Kindly reapply will appreciate alot
    Thanks very much for your assistance
    Calton matekwa.

    Reply
    • Best bet is to start payments in January next year. Meaning you cant use the card in the meantime.

      Reply
  • calton Abung'Aana Matekwa

    Hallow!need to knownif my NHIF card can help me,was employed but unfortunately lost my job in early January leading it nit to be paid but got a new job in may till now,can i use it now
    Kindly reapply will appreciate alot
    Thanks very much for your assistance
    Calton matekwa.

    Reply
    • Hi,
      You should be able to use your card without any problem. Do payments as from January.

      Reply
      • Challenge is you will have penalties seeing as is the year is already over

        Reply

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