Equity Insurance Agency has launched a healthcare product targeted at the diaspora market to benefit their loved ones back home.
The product dubbed ‘Equimed’ is a reliable, affordable and flexible medical insurance that is underwritten by Britam and covers outpatient, inpatient, maternity, dental, optical and numerous other benefits, the agency says.
The rollout of Equimed abroad was borne out of research findings from a poll conducted by Equity bank on Kenyans living abroad, where nearly 30 per cent of them said medical care was their biggest concern
This was the second highest rating after investments which polled at 36 per cent, a report by the agency indicates.
“Paying medical bills was one of the top concerns as well; with investments being their foremost concern.
As the world becomes more globalized, many enterprising Kenyans have left the country and made other countries abroad their second home, obtained jobs or started businesses and are supporting their families back home,” the agency reported.
This comes on the backdrop of increased remittances by Kenyans living abroad which has risen by 4.1 per cent in the first half of the year to $887.6 million (about Sh91.6 billion) in comparison to a similar period last year, according to the Central Bank of Kenya statistics.
The CBK data indicates that the Kenyans in diaspora sent more money home in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the first, peaking at an all-time monthly high of $161.5 million (Sh16.6 billion) in May.
Equity Bank Insurance general manager David Muchiri said the diaspora population has emerged as a strategic partner in pushing for the growth of its products abroad.
“Equimed is a comprehensive medical insurance package offered to individuals, families, groups and SMEs that will allow diaspora customers take care of their loved ones back home while realizing huge savings on the amount of money they spend on healthcare in Kenya,” Muchiri said.
“We continue to enhance our product portfolio to ensure that we become a one-stop shop information portal that has information on how customers are able to access funds especially through our Eazzy banking platform,” he added.
By Martin Mwita
