Teachers want to withdraw from AON medical scheme over ‘poor services’

Teachers

Nakuru Kuppet members sing union slogans on May 20, 2015 as they expressed opposition to the AON Minet medical scheme. 

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Mr Edward Olando of Kisumu Knut branch said they have received several complaints from teachers who have been denied services.
  • The teachers have also alleged that apart from being denied the services, others were getting substandard services.
  • But when contacted, the insurance company said they were yet to receive any formal complaint from the counties.
  • Private hospitals have previously argued that the amount allocated per teacher is not enough to cover them.

Teachers have called for the withdrawal of their monthly remittance to a medical scheme which they claim is giving them poor services.

The teachers from Kisumu, Kericho, Siaya, Busia and Vihiga counties accused AON Minet of failing to foot their medical bills despite signing an agreement with their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

They said the insurance company had failed to remit their monthly deductions to health facilities in time hence they were being denied services when they visit the hospitals.

AON Minet was contracted by TSC to manage the teachers’ medical scheme.

The decision was part of demands made by the teachers during the collective bargaining agreement signing in 2015.

Mr Edward Olando, the executive secretary of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kisumu County said they have received several complaints from teachers who have been denied services yet they are in dire need of it.

“Why would a hospital refuse to treat a teacher claiming that the insurance would not pay the money in time?

“Where do they take the money they deduct every day,” he asked.

SH5.6BN ANNUAL COVER

The cover was meant for over 288,000 teachers who would share a comprehensive Sh5.6 billion annual medical cover.

The teachers have also alleged that apart from being denied the services, others were getting substandard services.

But when contacted, the insurance company said they were yet to receive any formal complaint from the counties.

The company, however, admitted to only receiving complaints of clients being overcharged by health facilities as opposed to being denied services.

“Let me get detailed information from our officers on the ground and give you an informed answer,” said an officer who identified himself as Mr Muthui.

Mr Acadius Liyayi, Kakamega County Knut Secretary said they will lead protests if the matter is not solved by June.

GIVE TEACHERS OPTIONS

“We want AON to live up to what they were contracted to do.

“We want them to come out and tell us what they are able to cover [so as] to give teachers other options,” said Mr Liyayi.

“We [will] tell our teachers not to validate their services come July. Money is deducted from teachers and given to AON, we are demanding to be told where our money is?” he added.

Private hospitals have previously argued that the amount allocated per teacher is not enough to cover them in a well-to-do private hospital.

The Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) vice-chairman, Dr Abdi Mohamed, said with the tight budget given, it was difficult for them to give appropriate treatment.

HOSPITALS YET TO BE PAID

A number of hospitals which did not wish to be named said they were yet to be paid by the insurance provider for the services rendered to teachers from January 2016.

“Here in my hospital, the insurance has not paid us over Sh3 million. We have been forced to stop offering teachers services although most of them had registered with us. We can’t provide services without being paid,” said one hospital official.

“There are some ailments that we cannot treat with the cover since the money allocated is little, the teachers must have been short-changed on this,” said the doctor who sought anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Ms Alice Atieno, a teacher in Kisumu, said most of the hospitals in Kisumu no longer give services to teachers because it takes time for the insurance company to pay.

“I had to borrow money from my sister to have my child treated,” she said.

Another teacher, Ms Pauline Okwiry, said she waited for six hours at a private hospital in Kisumu for her son to be admitted since it was an AON cover.

“We cannot admit you unless we get a go ahead from the insurance that the cover is genuine,” one of the workers told her.