Jubilee & DTB Launch Flexible Health Insurance Payment Solution

: Jubilee Health and DTB introduce ‘Lipa Polepole’ for flexible, affordable health insurance payments in Kenya, making coverage accessible to more people.
    By Charles Wachira

In a move to boost healthcare accessibility in Kenya, Jubilee Health Insurance, in partnership with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), October 28,introduced “Lipa Polepole” (Pay Slowly), a digital payment solution that allows customers to pay health insurance premiums in flexible installments.

 This new offering enables a larger segment of the Kenyan population to access essential health coverage without the barrier of upfront payments, addressing one of the biggest affordability challenges in Kenya’s health insurance landscape.

With a health insurance penetration rate hovering around 3%, Kenya trails significantly behind other African nations like South Africa, which has an insurance penetration rate exceeding 12%, and Namibia at approximately 8%. 

This low uptake in Kenya highlights a pressing need for more accessible, flexible, and affordable insurance solutions—needs that Jubilee’s “Lipa Polepole” directly addresses.

Meeting Demand for Flexibility in Digital Payments

For many Kenyans, the traditional model of paying an annual insurance premium in a single, large installment has long been financially prohibitive, especially for rural and lower-income households. 

Through “Lipa Polepole,” Jubilee Health Insurance and DTB are pioneering a pay-as-you-go model that allows customers to choose payment plans that suit their budgets and needs. 

This solution also sets Jubilee and DTB apart in the insurance sector, where most competitors still rely on fixed, rigid payment structures that do not account for cash-flow variations in households.

Jubilee Health Insurance’s CEO, Njeri Jomo, emphasizes the potential impact: 

“This innovation is a game-changer for the industry. We understand that today’s customers need flexibility, convenience, and affordability. Our solution delivers all of these, allowing them to get the coverage they need without the burden of upfront payments. This milestone reflects our commitment to making healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.”

In comparison, most of Kenya’s digital payment solutions in insurance remain limited to premium reminders or basic mobile payments without installment flexibility. 

Unlike M-Pesa, which powers a wide range of digital payments in Kenya but is not integrated into any specific health insurance installment plan, “Lipa Polepole” offers an end-to-end solution with installment-based payments that adapt to users’ financial capacity.

Addressing Catastrophic Healthcare Costs with Seamless Digital Infrastructure

According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, around 20% of Kenyans are without any health insurance, while nearly 30% face catastrophic healthcare costs due to the burden of upfront medical expenses. 

These statistics underscore a significant gap in healthcare coverage and highlight the need for innovative insurance solutions like “Lipa Polepole” to relieve financial strain on individuals and families.

The integration with DTB also brings a smooth, reliable financial infrastructure to manage installment payments through a secure, user-friendly digital platform. 

DTB Group Chief Executive Nasim Devji highlighted the bank’s focus on accessibility and financial inclusion: 

“We are proud to collaborate with Jubilee Health Insurance on this transformative solution, which directly addresses the challenge of affordability in health insurance. We are committed to driving financial inclusion by offering flexible payment options that make it easier for more Kenyans to access essential healthcare services. This partnership allows us to leverage our financial expertise to provide solutions that reduce the financial burden on individuals and families, ensuring that health coverage is within reach for a larger portion of the population,” said Nasim

Real-Time Access to Health Insurance: A New Era in Kenya’s Health Sector

Beyond affordability, the “Lipa Polepole” solution leverages advanced technology for real-time approval, meaning customers can activate their health cover instantly through a digital platform without the paperwork or lengthy approval times that characterize traditional insurance processes.

 This instantaneous access is another layer of convenience that aligns with Kenya’s tech-savvy and mobile-first population.

By combining flexible payment options with instant digital access, Jubilee Health and DTB are establishing a new model for health insurance in Kenya. 

This approach not only stands out in the local insurance market but also demonstrates how innovative digital solutions can enhance inclusivity, positioning Kenya closer to countries with higher insurance penetration rates.

Ultimately, the launch of “Lipa Polepole” represents a forward step for Kenya’s insurance sector, potentially setting the standard for how financial and insurance providers can collaborate to bridge the gap in healthcare access across Africa.

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