COVID-19 – Information Portal.

We are currently in uncharted territory and at this time our clients welfare is more important to us than ever. In order to be able to support and guide you over the next few weeks we have collated all the information we feel is important and relevant to you with regards to your insurance policies and your health. The situation and the information we are receiving is ever changing and we promise to update this page as and when is necessary.
What do I do if I am showing symptoms?
This is the advised protocol from the Kenyan Ministry of Health:
If you suspect you have the symptoms for Covid-19, you should follow these steps:
- Stay home and ensure you self-isolate for 14 days with minimum contact with people outside your home
- You can call the Ministry of Health hotline numbers (see below).
- You will undergo a telephone screening. After assessment, if it is deemed necessary, a Rapid Response Team (RRT) would be sent by the Ministry to your location.
- Test samples would be taken on site and dispatched to the testing laboratories. To see the full list of testing laboratories in Kenya, click on the link: Approved testing laboratories in Kenya.
- Test results are expected to be confirmed within 24 hours.
- You would then be taken to quarantine in an isolation wards at an approved facility. Click the link for a full list of Covid-19 Treatment Centers: https://khf.co.ke/covid-19-treatment-centers/
- If you test positive – you would be treated whilst in quarantine
- If you test negative – you would be released and told to self -isolate for 14 days.
In any instance that you wish to go their nearest medical facility, you may do so. However, please note that you may risk spreading the virus through travel. All major hospitals and clinics have a screening tent at the entry:
- Upon in initial screening, if you deemed at risk, the Rapid Response Team will be contacted to take test samples.
- You would then be taken to quarantine in an isolation wards at an approved facility
- We have confirmation that Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital and Aga Khan Hospital are equipped for Covid-19 cases
- If you test positive – you would be treated whilst in quarantine
- If you test negative – you would be released and told to self -isolate for 14 days.
If you wish to seek a telephone consultation, you may call Columbia Africa on +254 (0) 707 333 666 / +254 (0) 709 496 000 to book your consultation.
Vaccination Centres in Kenya
Covid-19 vaccination in Kenya is currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Health. To access the full list of medical facilities across the country where you can get vaccinated click here.
Tanzania:
Please see the link for testing laboratories in Tanzania: https://pimacovid.moh.go.tz/#/booking
UK
Please follow the NHS guidelines and call 111 (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/)
Useful contacts
Kenya
Aga Khan Hospital: +254 (0)709931700
Click here for website
Ministry of Health: +254 (0)729471414 / +254 (0)732353535
Health Helpline: 719 or dial *719#
Toll-free lines: 0800 721 316
http://www.health.go.ke/covid-19/
http://www.health.go.ke/press-releases/
AAR Hotline: +254 (0)709701000
Columbia Africa:+254 (0) 707 333 666 / +254 (0) 709 496 000
MP Shah Hospital: +254 (0)704419736
Mbagathi Hospital: +254 (0) 202724712
Tanzania
Hotline number: 0800110124 / 0800110125
https://www.moh.go.tz/en/
World Health Organisation
To find out more about corona virus and to stay abreast of all the developments please consult the World Health Organisation website: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
World Health Organisation Mobile: +41 79 893 18 92 – Save this on your phone book and send a whatsapp message “Hi”. You will get latest guidance and prevention news on Covid-19 Pandemic on whatsapp directly form WHO Geneva
Dial Daktari
For consultations with a doctor call +254 (0)705 11 00 11 or +254 (0)732 11 00 11
http://www.dial-daktari.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DialDaktari
To see the impact of Covid-19 on your insurance policy please see the sections below.
General Insurance
Life Insurance
There are no exclusions relating to epidemics and pandemics on death benefits for Unilife and JWS Protect policies. From local insurers CIC, APA, Jubilee & Prudential confirm Covid will be covered.
Local Medical Insurance
Local Medical Insurers have advised their current position allows for all medically necessary treatment and testing for Covid-19 to be covered as per your policy benefits and limits. However, the following conditions will apply:
Cases must be diagnosed and treated in a medical facility or public hospital that has been authorised by the Kenyan Government.
The authorised facilities are:
- Kenyatta National Hospital
- Mbagathi District Hospital
- KEMRI Stations (Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa)
- Level 4 and Level 5 Hospitals
All eligible claims arising from Covid-19 will be reimbursed on a pay and claim basis
Please note, there may be restrictions to coverage based on your specific plan, location and any personal medical exclusions that have been applied to your policy
Telehealth
Telehealth allows you to access expert medical advice without leaving your home, which is extremely reassuring in the current environment. Please click on your individual health policy below for more information.
For those that don’t have access to telehealth services via their insurer or simply want to access medical advice locally in Kenya, we have partnered with Valentis Health to provide our clients with access to their telehealth service Dial Daktari. For just 300/- Dial Daktari provides a medical consultation inclusive of expert medical advice and a prescription if necessary.
For consultations with a doctor call +254 (0)0705 11 00 11 or +254 (0)0732 11 00 11
Download the free Valentis Health App on Play store or the App store.
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valentis.valentishealth
- https://apps.apple.com/ke/app/valentis-health/id1458611318
To find out more about Dial Daktari and how it can be of assistance, please take a look at the webinar with Dr Don Othoro from Dial Daktari here. If you are unsure what your current policy benefits are, please do get in touch with your Client Relationship Manager.
If you are unsure what your current policy benefits are, please do get in touch with your account manager
International Private Medical Insurance
The response to COVID19 is being organised and managed by each country’s respective government and health authorities and insurers are obliged to adhere to the processes that each country dictates. People may be routed to (some private) or public hospitals for testing/isolation and then referred onto the key providers for treatment, if it is required. This will deviate from typical member experience but the COVID testing/screening and isolation response is not being arranged by international insurers and we have to work within the parameters of what each government puts in place.
The general message across all international private medical insurers is that testing for, and treatment of Covid-19 is permissible but there may be restrictions to covere based on your specific plan, location and any personal medical exclusions that have been applied on your policy. We therefore strongly advise that you contact your insurer for a confirmation of your personal coverage and to seek pre-authorisation for any necessary treatment relating to Covid-19.
With more people having to self-isolate at home there are potential concerns over their jobs, health and any financial impact. Some insurers do offer additional benefits such as assistance programmes, that offer 24×7 confidential short-term counselling support, and telehealth services, that provide access to medical support and advice whenever you need it, without leaving your home. We view both of these types of service as extremely useful sources of support in times like this.
If you are unsure what your current policy benefits are, require assistance pre-authorising treatment or would like to know whether your policy provides additional support, please do get in touch with your Client Relationship Manager.
To get more information, please click on your healthcare policy providers name below:
Covid-19 – Healthcare FAQ
We have understandably received many questions over the past few weeks asking how your health insurance might be impacted by Covid-19. We have collated all these questions and answers and formed an FAQ document which you can find below.
If you don’t find the answers to your questions in the FAQs then please just get in touch.