• By Raymond Momanyi

What Does Maternity Insurance Cover in Kenya? (SHA/SHIF vs Private Medical Insurance 2025)

Pregnancy is one of life’s most beautiful seasons — but it also comes with medical bills that can pile up fast. Whether you rely on the Social Health Authority (SHA) / Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) or go for a Private Medical Insurance plan, knowing what’s covered makes all the difference.

1. Maternity Cover under SHA/SHIF (Public Cover)

Under Kenya’s new SHA/SHIF system, maternity and newborn care are officially part of the national benefit package.

Here’s what SHIF covers:
✅ Antenatal care (checkups, tests, scans, supplements)
✅ Delivery (normal and caesarean section)
✅ Midwifery & maternity ward stay (up to 48 hours for normal, 72 hours for C-section)
✅ Newborn care (Vitamin K, immunisation, warmth, resuscitation)
✅ Postnatal care & family planning services
✅ Emergency C-section procedures
✅ Blood transfusions and diagnostics where required

Limits:

• Normal delivery: Ksh 11,200
• Caesarean section: Ksh 32,600
• Short hospital stay (2–3 days)

Waiting period:
Officially, SHIF has no waiting period, but you must be registered and up-to-date with contributions to enjoy maternity benefits.

2. Maternity Cover under Private Medical Insurance

Private medical insurance goes beyond SHIF, offering wider hospital options and higher benefit limits — ideal if you prefer private facilities or specialised care.

Typical private maternity plans cover:
✅ Antenatal visits and routine lab tests
✅ Ultrasound scans
✅ Normal and Caesarean deliveries
✅ Complications of pregnancy & newborn care
✅ Postnatal care and medication
✅ Hospital stay, theatre, and doctor’s fees

Waiting period:
Most insurers in Kenya apply 9–12 months before maternity benefits become active — so you must get insured before pregnancy.

Extra benefits:
Some advanced plans include newborn baby cover for up to 30 days, and optional upgrades for fertility-related complications.

3. Why You Should Combine Both

• SHA/SHIF gives you the foundation (basic public cover).
• Private Insurance tops it up with broader benefits and private hospital access.
  Together, they provide peace of mind before, during, and after childbirth.

Compare & Buy with Imana and MyKava

At Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd and MyKava Online Insurance Shop, we help you:

• Compare top maternity and family medical covers in Kenya
• Understand benefits and waiting periods
• Enroll easily online and get instant confirmation
• Save time and money by finding the right policy for your needs

📞 Call/WhatsApp: +254 796 209 402 || +254 745 218 460
📍 4th Floor, Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove, Westlands – Nairobi

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