• By Raymond Momanyi

Maternity and Insurance in Kenya – Waiting Periods Explained

Most Kenyan couples don’t think about maternity insurance until the pregnancy test turns positive… or worse, when delivery is two or three months away and hospital bills start feeling like a looming storm. Panic kicks in. Google tabs multiply. WhatsApp fundraising groups get drafted but not sent. Pride is on the line. Cash is tight. Time is running.

So you walk into an insurance office (or DM one), hopeful. Then boom 💥 — “Waiting period: 10–12 months.”

Confusion. Frustration. Anger.
“Why should I buy insurance today for something I need in 3 months?”

Fair question. But insurance doesn’t run on emotions. It runs on risk, timing, and math.

Let’s break it down, Kenyan-style.

1. When Should a Couple Buy Medical Insurance with Maternity Benefit?

Short answer? Before pregnancy.
Long answer? At least 12 months before you plan to conceive.

Maternity insurance is not an emergency product. It’s a planning product.

If you’re newly married, engaged, or even just talking kids someday — that’s your cue. The smartest couples buy medical insurance when everything is calm, not when the pressure cooker is already hissing.

Think of it like planting maize — you don’t wait for hunger to hit before you plant.

2. Why Do Waiting Periods Exist? (And Why They’re Not a Scam)

Insurance is about pooling risk.

You and thousands of others contribute small amounts so that when unexpected things happen, the insurer can pay big bills without collapsing.

Now imagine this:

• You pay Ksh 40,000
• You expect the insurer to pay Ksh 250,000 in 3 months

If everyone did that, insurance companies would shut down faster than a chama that lost its treasurer.

Waiting periods exist to:

• Stop abuse of the system
• Keep premiums affordable
• Protect the sustainability of the insurance pool

Insurance covers unforeseen risks, not known upcoming bills.

That’s the uncomfortable truth.

3. What to Expect from a Maternity Cover (If You Have One)

If you planned well and your waiting period is complete, maternity cover can be a lifesaver. Benefits usually include:

• ✔️ Antenatal clinics & scans
• ✔️ Normal delivery costs
• ✔️ Caesarean section (C-Section)
• ✔️ Hospital accommodation
• ✔️ Doctor & nursing fees
• ✔️ Sometimes newborn cover (first days)

Coverage limits vary — some policies offer Ksh 100,000, others Ksh 300,000+, depending on your plan.

This is peace of mind money can’t buy… unless you buy insurance early

4. Does SHA/SHIF Have Waiting Periods? How Much Is Covered?

Yes — SHA/SHIF also has waiting periods, but they’re generally shorter than private insurance.

What SHA/SHIF covers:

• ✔️ Basic maternity services
• ✔️ Public hospitals & selected facilities
• ✔️ Standard delivery care

Limitations:

• ❌ Limited hospital choice
• ❌ Congestion & queues
• ❌ Basic service level

This is why many couples use SHA/SHIF + private medical insurance as a combo — one handles basics, the other upgrades your experience.

5. What If You’re Already Pregnant with No Maternity Cover?

First — breathe. You’re not alone, and you’re not a failure.

Here’s what you can do:

• ✔️ Register and stay active on SHA/SHIF
• ✔️ Budget early for delivery costs
• ✔️ Talk to hospitals about payment plans
• ✔️ Avoid last-minute panic decisions
• ✔️ Still buy medical insurance (for future needs, not this delivery)

Not every financial solution is insurance. Sometimes it’s planning + honesty + structure.

6. Best Advice to Young Couples Planning to Have Children

This is the part no one tells you clearly:

• 💡 Buy medical insurance before pregnancy
• 💡 Don’t treat insurance like a fire extinguisher
• 💡 Ask questions early — limits, waiting periods, hospitals
• 💡 Combine SHA/SHIF with private cover
• 💡 Plan health the same way you plan rent, school fees, and investments

Children don’t arrive as surprises — only unplanned finances do.

Need Guidance? We’ve Got You

At Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd and MyKava Online Insurance Consultants, we don’t shame you, rush you, or pressure you.
We guide you, clearly and honestly.

🔗 Learn more & get quotes:

• https://www.imana.co.ke/insurance/health-insurance
• https://www.mykava.co.ke
  
  

📍 Physical Office: 4th Floor, Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove, Westlands – Nairobi

📲 WhatsApp / Call: +254 745 218 460 | +254 796 209 402 | +254 103 806 810

Insurance isn’t about running from shame.
 It’s about buying peace before the storm