The proposed law has listed optical services among the services to be provided under the fund.
Optical services have been missing from new offerings that NHIF introduced like outpatient cover, chemotherapy, kidney dialysis and major surgeries following the upward review of contributions in 2015.
Workers monthly contributions were increased from Sh320 to a graduated scale of between Sh500 and Sh1, 700.
Members of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) will access eye treatment and optical glasses if a new Bill before Parliament becomes law.
The proposed law has listed optical services among the services to be provided under the fund.
Optical services have been missing from new offerings that NHIF introduced like outpatient cover, chemotherapy, kidney dialysis and major surgeries following the upward review of contributions in 2015.
Workers monthly contributions were increased from Sh320 to a graduated scale of between Sh500 and Sh1, 700.
“Insert the words “and optical services” immediately after the words “boarding costs”,” reads the amendments to the NHIF Act.
If the Bill sails through, any contributor, his named spouse, child or other named dependent will be able to access treatment of eye diseases and refraction for visual defects.
NHIF will provide the limits of the optical cover. Most insurance firms offer limits of between Sh25,000 and Sh40,000 annually.
The advent of smartphones has seen a trend in overuse of the devices, which opticians have warned increases their risk of eye damage.
