TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION MEDICAL SCHEME POSITION ON COVERAGE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Medical Scheme was launched in 2015 with a view to consolidate resources and avail a comprehensive cover to all the 328,000 teachers of Kenya, and up to five of eligible dependants/family members.
In 2019, the TSC responded to feedback from their teachers and further enhanced the medical cover offering higher benefits and a better structure. It ensured that patients who may need critical care in the country and those who are referred abroad are well catered for without the family benefits being depleted quickly.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caught the world by surprise, leading to millions of infections and deaths.
To tackle the pandemic, the Government of Kenya put in place robust measures to protect citizens and mitigate against the negative impacts of the pandemic on the people of Kenya.
The Ministry of Health has continually issued guidelines to ensure that the effects of the disease are mitigated in the best ways possible.
Additionally, other agencies such as the Insurance Regulatory Authority and the Association of Kenya Insurers also committed to work in support of Government efforts by offering some level of cover at the Ministry of Health designated facilities, even where their insurance cover did expressly exclude pandemics.
In line with this, the Minet Kenya-led Consortium in conjunction with TSC has been and will continue to support the Government’s efforts to combat COVID-19 by ensuring that any scheme member diagnosed with the Coronavirus and exhibits symptoms, is able to access medical treatment at the designated scheme medical facilities.
We confirm that teachers and their dependants are covered for treatment of Covid-19 subject to the Medical Scheme terms and conditions.
In addition to access to service, the following mitigation measures have been put in place in an effort to support teachers and their dependents and to reduce the risk of contracting the virus:
a) Introduction of a COVID-19 Incidence Reporting USSD Tool *202*07# for teachers and their dependents.
b) Mental Health ( Psycho social support) tele-counselling toll-free line 0800720029.
c) Allowing members to access treatment via telemedicine.
d) Delivering drugs to registered chronic patients.
e) Distribution of hand sanitizers to members.
f) Utilising the option of OTP (One Time PIN) identification to avoid contact and likely infection through the use of biometric fingerprint readers.
g) Introduction of facial and eye recognition for identification is on course for rollout in the next two months.
We wish to call upon all members of the Scheme to take all Ministry of Health preventive measures seriously, including regular hand washing, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, wearing face masks and keeping social distancing.
Only when all of us exercise responsible citizenship through strict compliance to all mitigation measures shall we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teachers’ Medical Scheme Consortium
It is a good thing to get such a comprehensive report for Covid-19 patients who are teachers and their dependants being covered.
I thought that it is an obvious thing, though, for teachers’ two insurances (NHIF and AON-MINET) to meet their medical cover no matter the sickness. What the government is doing to mitigate the cost of treatment for all Covid-19 patients is uniform to all citizens, teachers inclusive.
It’s great to have the toll free numbers for teachers to call in the evening of contracting Covid-19. Thank you.