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COVID-19 – Information Portal2022-11-16T15:41:12+00:00

COVID-19 – Information Portal.

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:

  1. Stay home and ensure you self-isolate for 14 days with minimum contact with people outside your home
  2. You can call the Ministry of Health hotline numbers (see below).
  3. 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.
  4. 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. 
  5. Test results are expected to be confirmed within 24 hours.
  6. 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/
  7. If you test positive – you would be treated whilst in quarantine
  8. 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:

  1. Upon in initial screening, if you deemed at risk, the Rapid Response Team will be contacted to take test samples.
  2. You would then be taken to quarantine in an isolation wards at an approved facility
    1. We have confirmation that Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital and Aga Khan Hospital are equipped for Covid-19 cases
  3. If you test positive – you would be treated whilst in quarantine
  4. 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

UK

Hotline: 111
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Tanzania

Hotline number: 0800110124 / 0800110125
https://www.moh.go.tz/en/

Mauritius

Hotline number:
8924  (during weekdays 9 a.m – 4 p.m)
8928  (during weekends /Public Holidays or after 4p.m)

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

Premium Rates

As predicted in May 2020, https://www.jwseagon.com/what-might-happen-to-insurance-premiums-post-covid-19/ this pandemic would have a massive affect on the insurance industry and premium costs.

We have already started to see rates rising in sectors such as Management Liability, Professional Indemnity, Aviation, Events insurance, Employers Liability and many other sectors. Whilst Property insurance has not been affected massively, this sector is seeing rises already internationally, in effect, to ‘refill’ the emptying ‘pot’ of Insurer coffers. Kenya has started to see major rating increases on Fire, Consequential Loss, Engineering and Bonds, imposed by reinsurers which local Insurers have to pass on. Sadly, it will get a lot worse before it gets better.

Business Interruption (Consequential Loss)

We previously explained that local Business Interruption policies do not have any cover for interruption as a result of Covid-19. Many clients of ours have referred us to the massive court case brought in the UK, whereas the insurance regulator won the case against many Insurers over policy wordings.

It is an extremely complex legal case and one that we are happy to discuss with you individually, but very simply, the ‘non-damage Business Interruption’ extension does not exist in Kenya and Tanzania, so there is no opportunity to bring the case to this area.

Travel Insurance

With so little travel for the past 12 months, the market really hasn’t done very much. Most Insurers still exclude Covid-19 related claims, the ones that do provide cover, there is still the ‘advisory’ exclusion, that makes the policy almost null and void anyway.

The JWS Travel policy still excludes Covid related claims, but the rest of the policy is still excellent since we removed the ‘advisory’ exclusion. We think there will be more movement on Travel insurances, when the vaccination has been rolled out Worldwide and travel becomes more commonplace.

WIBA/Employers Liability cover

All local Insurers are dealing with Covid -19 claims on an ‘each case on it’s merits’ basis. We are not aware of any payments being made to date, but the market probably keeps a tight lid on data on this. There is no exclusion of Covid-19 on either policy, but we do believe the onus of proof will be on the employee to prove that the disease was contracted at work.

Public Liability

Members of the public may be entitled to sue as well, and we have seen attempts to claim, but again, the onus of proof issue is still of paramount importance.

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.

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:

JWS Worldwide Health Plan
Africa Wellness Solutions
JWS Safari Health Plan
Bupa Global
Aetna International
AXA International
Now Health International
William Russell
Hollard Cigna Health
Allianz Care
Cigna Global Health Options
Exeter Worldwide InterPlan

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.

News and Blog Updates

October 2020

August 2020

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