TSC tells teachers to register for medical scheme by end June

More than 288,060 teachers have until the end of June to register for their Sh6 billion comprehensive medical scheme.

Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) chief executive Gabriel Lengoiboni said AoN Kenya Insurance Brokers Ltd will handle registration, member education and sensitisation sessions in all counties across the country.

“During these sessions, you will have the opportunity to interact with the scheme administrator who will address any questions you may have,” said Mr Lengoiboni in a circular to education officials and teachers union leaders.

Mr Lengoiboni also said that from July 1, the Aon TSC Medical Scheme 24hr call centre will be operational for use by teachers.

“The purpose of this circular therefore is to bring to your attention the contents of the scheme. You are required to bring the contents of the same to all the teachers working under you,” said Mr Lengoiboni.

He added that all teachers are required to read and understand the contents of the scheme and provide the required information to facilitate implementation of the scheme.

CONVERSION OF ALLOWANCES

The CEO said the comprehensive medical scheme will be funded through conversion of the current medical allowances into a medical fund.

“The entire medical allowance will therefore be withdrawn from your earnings to fund the medical scheme with effect from July 1, 2015,” said the circular.

All teachers are eligible for a medical allowance at a monthly rate of Sh767 to Sh4,412 depending on job groups, which amounts to about Sh500 million per month.

The highest-paid teachers will benefit from a Sh1 million cover for in-patient while the lowest will be entitled to Sh300,000.

The circular comes a day after the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) warned that it would move to court to stop implementation of the scheme, claiming that it would not benefit teachers.

However, TSC insists the awarding of the tender for scheme was above board and all stakeholders were consulted, including the teachers unions.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) supports the scheme.

Mr Lengoiboni said teachers will be required to have duly completed the Aon/TSC member registration forms, provide two passport-size photos and marriage certificate, kadhi certificate, civil marriage certificate, and a signed affidavit for spouses.

They will also be required to have birth certificates, legal adoption papers for dependent children and documentary evidence that dependants over 18 years are enrolled full-time in a recognised post-secondary institution.

Apart from the member, the cover will also cater for one legal spouse of the teacher, four dependent children (biological/legally adopted) until the age of 18 or up to the age of 25 if residing with their parents and enrolled in a recognised post-secondary institution. However, there will be no age limit for child dependants with disability.