How to Pay SHA (Formerly NHIF) Using M-Pesa Paybill
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NHIF is gone, but the paybill lives on. Since October 2024, the National Hospital Insurance Fund has been replaced by the Social Health Authority (SHA). If you are self-employed or work in the informal sector, you pay your Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) contributions yourself, and the easiest way is M-Pesa. Employees don’t need to do this: your employer deducts 2.75% of your gross salary and pays it for you.
How Much to Pay
Non-salaried members pay 2.75% of household income, as worked out by SHA’s means-testing, with a minimum of KES 300 a month. Your assessed amount is shown when you register or on the Afya Yangu member portal.
Requirements
- You must be registered with SHA. Not sure? Check with your ID number on eligibility.sha.go.ke or see how to check your SHA membership.
- A Safaricom line with enough money in M-Pesa.
How to Pay SHA via M-Pesa Paybill
- Open M-Pesa on your phone (the M-PESA app or the M-PESA menu on your SIM toolkit).
- Select Lipa na M-PESA, then Pay Bill.
- Enter the business number 200222.
- Enter your National ID number as the account number.
- Enter the amount.
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN and confirm. Check that the recipient name shows the Social Health Authority before you send.
- Keep the M-Pesa confirmation SMS as your receipt.
Can’t Afford a Lump Sum? Use Lipa Pole Pole
SHA’s Lipa Pole Pole plan lets you pay in small daily, weekly or monthly amounts:
- Dial *147#, select “Lipa Pole Pole” and follow the prompts; or
- Dial *254#, go to Hustler Fund, then Lipa Pole Pole, then SHA Payment, and choose a repayment plan. You can set up M-PESA Ratiba for automatic deductions.
SHA says you first pay an upfront premium (four months) through paybill 200222 using your ID number as the account, then spread the rest. Read the full terms on the Lipa Pole Pole page before you sign up.
Tips and Warnings
- Pay on time. Your cover depends on being up to date with contributions.
- Remember to register your dependants so that your family is covered.
- Questions or a payment not reflecting? Call SHA toll-free on 0800 720 601.
Only pay to paybill 200222. Never send money to a personal number or “agent” who promises to activate your SHA cover.
