How to Remove or Add New Spouse & Children on SHA Cover; What You Need
The leaders of the Social Health Authority (SHA) have confirmed that it is possible to change the dependents listed under your SHA cover. This includes spouses and children.
Since the SHA system is still new, having been in place for less than a year, many Kenyans are still trying to understand how it works. One of the common questions people ask is whether they can change their dependents, particularly their spouses.
During a live session on X (formerly Twitter) held on Wednesday, Kenyans raised concerns about updating their dependents. Some wanted to know what happens if they separate, divorce, or, in unfortunate cases, if a spouse passes away. SHA officials clarified that it is possible to remove an old spouse and add a new one if the circumstances change.
Requirements
SHA representative Gilbert Osoro explained the process, saying that a contributor can modify their list of dependents but must provide the necessary documents as proof.
If a contributor wants to add a new spouse, they must submit their spouse’s ID and a marriage certificate as proof of the marriage. In case of a divorce, the member must present an official divorce decree to remove their former spouse from the SHA cover.
“The law requires that marriages be officially registered, and the proof is a marriage certificate. Similarly, in case of a divorce, a member must provide a decree of divorce. If a spouse passes away, a death certificate must be presented to update the details,” Osoro stated.
For those who have adopted children, they need to provide a court order confirming the adoption. If the child has a legal guardian, the parent must submit either a will or a court order. For biological children, parents must present birth certificates or birth notifications as proof.
How to Make Changes
Once the required documents are available, the contributor should log into their SHA account, upload the documents, and update the details of their dependents.
For members who have not yet registered for SHA, there is an option to add dependents at the time of registration. The SHA system has a section where members can enter details of their dependents, including spouses and children.
To add a spouse, the spouse must first register for SHA independently because the system is based on households.
Osoro noted that one of the biggest challenges SHA faces is that many Kenyans register but do not log in to update their information. This sometimes leads to cases where patients visit hospitals and are told they are not registered in the system.
How to Remove or Add New Spouse & Children on SHA Cover; What You Need
