The Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced the disbursement of a second batch of payments to healthcare providers with verified pending claims of KSh10 million and below inherited from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
In a notice dated August 15, 2026, SHA said the payments had been made after completing the verification and sign-off process for the affected claims.
“The Social Health Authority (SHA) informs healthcare providers that the second batch of payments for verified pending claims of KES 10 million and below arising from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) have been disbursed,” the authority said.
The latest payment is part of a phased programme launched by SHA to settle outstanding NHIF claims following the transition from the former insurer to the new Social Health Authority.
What does the payment mean for hospitals?
The payments are aimed at healthcare facilities that had outstanding NHIF claims and whose claims were verified and approved by SHA.
Facilities that have been paid under the second batch can check the list published by SHA to establish whether they are among the beneficiaries.
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The authority said the claims settlement process will continue, with further updates to be issued as additional payments are made.
The phased approach means that not every healthcare provider with an outstanding NHIF claim will receive payment at the same time.
SHA has been conducting verification and sign-off exercises before releasing funds to ensure that the claims being settled are genuine and properly supported.
Why are the NHIF claims being paid by SHA?
The claims date back to the period when NHIF was responsible for providing health insurance services.
NHIF was subsequently replaced by SHA as part of the government’s overhaul of Kenya’s health financing system.
However, the transition left healthcare providers with outstanding claims.
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Hospitals and other medical facilities have repeatedly raised concerns over delayed reimbursements, arguing that unpaid claims have affected their cash flow and, in some cases, their ability to meet operational expenses and maintain services.
SHA began processing the claims of KSh10 million and below in August, with the payments planned in batches following verification and sign-off.
Earlier reports indicated that the government had set aside KSh4 billion to help settle verified NHIF claims in this category.
The exercise initially targeted thousands of healthcare providers whose claims fell within the KSh10 million threshold.
What about claims above KSh10 million?
The latest payment programme is specifically focused on verified claims of KSh10 million and below.
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SHA has also been undertaking verification of larger claims exceeding the KSh10 million threshold.
These claims require a separate verification process before any payments can be made.
This means healthcare providers with larger outstanding NHIF claims should not interpret the latest announcement as confirmation that their claims have been settled.