Kenya Diaspora Alliance Launches New Medical Insurance Cover for Kenyans Abroad in Partnership with Jubilee Health Insurance and BUPA Global
The Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA), through its welfare arm, the Kenya Diaspora Alliance Welfare Association (KWA), has launched a new Diaspora Medical Insurance Cover to address a longstanding gap in healthcare protection for Kenyans living abroad and their families.
Developed in partnership with Jubilee Health Insurance, BUPA Global, and Kenbright Insurance Brokers, the cover provides seamless access to quality healthcare for Kenyans in the diaspora. It also supports their loved ones back home, many of whom have relied on informal fundraising to handle medical emergencies.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, diaspora remittances reached USD 5.8 billion in 2024, with a significant portion going toward household welfare and healthcare. Despite these massive contributions, few structured insurance products have effectively linked remittances to sustainable medical coverage—until now.
The new diaspora medical cover formalizes that informal safety net by creating a reliable and structured healthcare solution. It offers comprehensive medical access for families in Kenya and for Kenyans living abroad.
Jubilee Health Insurance CEO, Ms. Njeri Jomo, said the partnership aims to connect healthcare across borders at a time when Kenya’s health system is undergoing significant reform.
“Health insurance is no longer confined by geography. Families today live across continents, but their care needs remain connected. Our partnership with KDA and BUPA is about making that continuity possible through one integrated system,” said Ms. Jomo.
Dr. Shem Ochuodho, Global Chair of the Kenya Diaspora Alliance, emphasized that the new cover directly responds to the realities of Kenyans abroad.
“It gives Kenyans abroad a reliable and formal way to ensure their families back home have access to care without the distress that often accompanies medical crises,” said Dr. Ochuodho.
Mr. Uditha Jayaratne, CEO and Principal Officer of BUPA Global Kenya, noted that the diaspora medical cover will leverage BUPA Global’s vast international network.
“Through BUPA Global’s reach, members will have access to over 2.4 million healthcare providers worldwide, including leading hospitals and specialists,” he said.
Research by the African Development Bank and the International Organization for Migration shows that healthcare is among the top three spending priorities for Kenyans abroad, alongside education and housing. Nearly 60% of Kenyan households that receive remittances use part of the funds to pay for medical expenses.
This new medical insurance solution addresses that reality by offering predictable, pooled health coverage that reduces the financial shock of illness and strengthens family resilience across borders.
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