Health Cover Now, Lipa Polepole: Why More Kenyans Are Choosing to Pay in Installments

What happens when your child falls sick and you don’t have KSh 50,000 lying around? That’s the reality for many Kenyans — until now.

For years, health insurance has been viewed as a privilege for the few, a safety net reserved for the formally employed or those with predictable monthly incomes. But that perception is changing fast. A quiet revolution is underway in Kenya’s healthcare financing space — one driven by innovation, empathy, and technology.

At the heart of this shift is Lipa Polepole, a flexible digital insurance installment payment facility offered by insurers like Jubilee Health Insurance. It allows Kenyans to access comprehensive health cover without paying the full premium upfront.

For many middle-income earners, freelancers, and small business owners, paying for an annual health insurance premium in one lump sum can be daunting. Between rent, school fees, and daily expenses, even well-intentioned plans to “get insured this year” often end up shelved. Jubilee Health’s solution addresses this long-standing pain point — making health cover attainable not as a luxury, but as a manageable monthly commitment.

Take Sarah, a freelance photographer in Nairobi. Her work is seasonal; some months are good, others lean. For years, she postponed getting health cover because she couldn’t manage the lump-sum payment.

“When I heard about Jubilee’s Lipa Polepole option,” she recalls, “I realized I could finally plan my cover around my income flow. It was such a relief.”

Then there’s James, a middle-income earner with two children in school. His salary covers the essentials but leaves little room for large, one-off expenses.

“Paying in installments has been a game-changer,” he says. “Instead of worrying about how to pay for the whole year, I just budget for it monthly — like I do with other bills.”

These real-life stories reflect Kenya’s evolving health insurance landscape. The idea of “Health Cover Now, Lipa Polepole” is about more than just payment flexibility — it’s about financial dignity, inclusivity, and empowerment.

At the core of this model is Digital Insurance Premium Financing (IPF). It allows customers to apply for health cover, get instant approval, and start their protection immediately — all online — without paying the full premium upfront. Once approved, customers begin enjoying the benefits while repaying the amount in manageable monthly installments.

This digital approach eliminates the traditional barriers of paperwork, long approval times, and delayed access to cover. Everything happens seamlessly through a digital ecosystem, ensuring that no one has to postpone protection due to cash flow constraints.

The simplicity of the process means that more Kenyans — including those in the informal sector — can now access quality healthcare without needing to save up large amounts in advance.

Middle-income earners and freelancers form the backbone of Kenya’s economy, yet they remain among the most underinsured. The flexibility to pay in installments allows them to enjoy comprehensive medical cover without financial strain.

For freelancers, the benefit is psychological as much as financial — knowing they can access care even during low-income months brings peace of mind. For families, it’s the assurance that a health emergency won’t derail their financial plans.

By blending technology, empathy, and financial innovation, Jubilee Health has taken a major step toward democratizing health insurance in Kenya. “Health Cover Now, Lipa Polepole” captures a growing realization: access to healthcare should not depend on the timing of one’s paycheck.

In a country where medical emergencies are a leading cause of financial distress, this initiative offers more than convenience — it offers hope. It’s a bridge between aspiration and access, ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of income pattern, can secure their health and that of their loved ones.

As the cost of living continues to rise, flexible digital solutions for paying health insurance are not just welcome — they are essential. Thanks to Jubilee Health’s Lipa Polepole model, the dream of universal health coverage feels a little closer to reality — one installment at a time.

Could this be the bridge your family needs to finally get covered?
Learn more or apply today: https://jubileeinsurance.com/ke/health/