NHIF headquarters in Nairobi. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
Employers in Kisumu County have been warned against deducting National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) money from employees’ salaries and failing to remit the money to the Fund.In an interview with this writer on Wednesday, Kisumu County NHIF registration and compliance officer Philip Odaga said NHIF has a mandate to take up legal measures against employers who fail to remit their workers deductions to NHIF, those who remit less money and those who fail to register their employees with NHIF.“Under NHIF act number 9 of 1998 we have the power to legally deal with employers who engage in the mentioned malpractice,” he warned.He said that last month, he took certain employers to court for not remitting employees’ NHIF deductions.Odongo said their projections indicate that a good number of residents are registering with NHIF on a daily basis. “Medical bills have gone up and Kenyans have now realised that joining NHIF is a sure bet in terms of paying hospital bills in times of sickness,” he added.NHIF registers all eligible members from both the formal and informal sector.For those in the formal sector, it is compulsory to be a member. For those in the informal sector and retirees, membership is open and voluntary.Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Kisumu County that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by joining this group and have it published. http://bit.ly/2EOgy6Q