How To Make NHIF Payments Via Self Care Portal

6 min readFeb 10, 2024

Making payments to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) is now easier than ever thanks to the NHIF self-care portal. This online portal allows you to register as a member, view your statements, make payments and access other services from the comfort of your home or office.

In this comprehensive guide, you will learn how to make NHIF payments via the self-care portal in simple steps.

Benefits of Making NHIF Payments Online

Making NHIF payments through the self-care portal has numerous benefits including:

Convenience — You can make payments anytime, anywhere at your convenience without having to physically visit an NHIF branch.
Time-saving — The process is quick and seamless allowing you to make payments in minutes. No more standing in long queues.
Secure payments — The portal uses robust security measures to safeguard your personal information and ensure safe transactions.
Payment history — You can view your NHIF payment history and statements in real-time to keep track of your account.
Self-service — The portal allows you to register, make payments and access services independently without assistance.
Mobile access — You can make NHIF payments on-the-go directly from your mobile phone through the portal.

Step-by-Step Guide on Making NHIF Payments Through the Self-Care Portal

Follow these simple steps to make NHIF payments online:

Step 1 — Register on the NHIF portal

Visit the NHIF self-care portal and click on “Register” to create an account.
Fill in your personal details including national ID/passport number, KRA PIN, phone number and email address.
Create a username and strong password for your account.
Verify your email address by clicking on the activation link sent to your email.

Step 2 — Log into your NHIF portal account

Go to the NHIF portal login page.
Enter your registered username and password.
Click on “Login” to access your portal account.

Step 3 — Select the payment option

Once logged in, you will see multiple payment options:

Pay bill — Make a one-time NHIF payment for the current period.
Buy Stickers — Make annual lump-sum payments for yourself and dependents.
Renew Membership — Make monthly payments automatically via check off.

Choose your preferred payment method.

Step 4 — Enter payment details

If paying a bill, enter the amount due for the payment period.
For stickers, select the number of members under your account to pay for.
For check-off renewals, confirm your employment details.
Carefully review the payment summary to ensure accuracy.

Step 5 — Select payment method

You can pay via:

Credit/Debit card — Visa and MasterCard accepted.
Mobile money — M-PESA, Airtel Money or T-Kash.
Bank transfer — Pay via your bank’s online banking platform directly.

Select your preferred payment method and enter the required details.

Step 6 — Make payment

Review all payment details for accuracy before submitting.
For cards and mobile money, enter your PIN/password to confirm payment.
For bank transfers, login to your online banking account and initiate the transfer to NHIF bank details provided.
Save or print your payment receipt.

And that’s it! You will receive an SMS and email notification confirming your NHIF payment. The payment may take a few hours to reflect on your portal account.

Other Services on the NHIF Portal

Apart from making payments, the self-care portal also allows you to:

Check NHIF statements and payment history.
Print and share NHIF documents.
View pending payments.
Download forms and letters.
Update personal profile and dependents info.
Replace a lost or damaged NHIF card.
File complaints and send inquiries.

Explore all these services by logging into your portal account.

NHIF Payment Guidelines

When making payments online, observe the following guidelines:

Regular payments should be made before the 4th day of every month to remain active.
You can pay 3 months in advance to get a compliance certificate.
Payments can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
Payment for supplementary dependents should be made separately.
Keep your payment receipts for reconciliation and compliance.
Payment for members aged 18–65 years is Ksh 500 per month.
Senior citizens above 65 years pay Ksh 300 per month.
Payments can be made anytime online, 24/7.

Troubleshooting Common NHIF Payment Issues

Sometimes you may encounter problems when making NHIF payments online. Here is how to fix the common issues:

Problem: Payment delay in reflecting on your statement.

Solution: Allow up to 48 hours for payments to be updated. If not reflected, contact NHIF.

Problem: Payment deducted but receipt not issued.

Solution: Login to your account and navigate to payment history to obtain the receipt.

Problem: Wrong amount charged for payment period.

Solution: Contact NHIF to reconcile the correct amount payable for that period.

Problem: Payment declined by bank.

Solution: Confirm you have sufficient funds and retry payment. If issue persists, contact your bank.

Problem: Forgotten username/password.

Solution: Use the “Forgot password” option to reset credentials.

Problem: Portal access issues.

Solution: Clear browser cookies/cache and try again. Check internet connection.

Benefits of Being an Active NHIF Member

By making prompt payments, you remain an active NHIF member and can enjoy:

Inpatient care — NHIF will cater for your hospital bed, doctor’s fees, surgeries, tests and more.
Outpatient care — NHIF covers chronic illnesses treatment, cancer care, physiotherapy, CT scans, MRI, and lab tests.
Maternity care — NHIF covers antenatal, delivery and postnatal care for the mother and child.
Emergency services — NHIF covers ambulance, casualty department costs, and ICU hospitalization.
Medical appliances — NHIF provides wheelchairs, hearing aids, crutches, among other appliances.
Overseas treatment — NHIF covers treatment abroad that is not locally available.
Last expense — NHIF provides Ksh 10,000 funeral expenses for members.
Rehabilitation services — NHIF covers costs for rehabilitation at accredited providers.
No copayments — NHIF members don’t need to make copayments at accredited hospitals.
Family coverage — NHIF payment covers you, your spouse and dependents.

Renewing Expired NHIF Membership

If your NHIF membership expires due to missed payments, you can renew it through the self-care portal in a few easy steps:

Log into the portal using your credentials.
Go to “Renew Membership” and fill in the renewal form.
Tick declaration box to agree to terms.
Confirm details and click “Validate Renewal”.
Make payment for renewal via preferred method.
Download and save the renewed membership certificate.
Start enjoying NHIF benefits again!

With the NHIF self-care portal, managing your membership and making payments is now easy, fast and convenient. Sign up today and start accessing this game-changing service that puts you in control!