Kenyans in the diaspora to benefit from new cross-border medical cover

Kenyans in the diaspora and their families are set to gain improved access to healthcare through a new Diaspora Medical Insurance Cover launched by the Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA).

The cover, introduced through KDA’s welfare arm—the Kenya Diaspora Alliance Welfare Association (KWA)—has been developed in partnership with Jubilee Health Insurance, BUPA Global, and Kenbright Insurance Brokers. It aims to address long-standing gaps in health protection for Kenyans living abroad and their dependents back home.

For years, informal fundraising has served as the main response to medical emergencies among Kenyan families with members abroad.

According to the Central Bank of Kenya, diaspora remittances reached USD 5.8 billion in 2024, with a significant portion directed toward household welfare and healthcare. Yet, despite this contribution, few structured health financing mechanisms have connected remittances to sustainable medical coverage.

The new cover seeks to formalise that safety net by offering continuous medical protection for both diaspora members and their families in Kenya.

Jubilee Health Insurance CEO Njeri Jomo said the initiative comes at a time of major reform in Kenya’s health financing framework, noting the ongoing transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

“Health insurance is no longer confined by geography. Families today live across continents, but their care needs remain connected,” she said. “Our partnership with KDA and BUPA is about making that continuity possible through one integrated system.”

KDA Global Chair Dr. Shem Ochuodho said the product responds to a pressing need among Kenyans abroad.

“It gives Kenyans in the diaspora a reliable way to ensure their families back home have access to care without the distress that often accompanies medical crises,” he said.

BUPA Global Kenya CEO Uditha Jayaratne added that the scheme will leverage BUPA’s international healthcare network of over 2.4 million providers, allowing diaspora members to access services in leading hospitals worldwide.

Studies by the African Development Bank and the International Organization for Migration indicate that healthcare ranks among the top three spending priorities for Kenyans abroad, after education and housing. Nearly 60 percent of households receiving remittances use part of it to cover medical costs.

The new cover, stakeholders say, is expected to provide a predictable, pooled solution to ease the financial burden of illness and enhance family resilience across borders.