The Group Head of Technology at AAR Insurance, Eugene Sanya, delivers remarks during a media interaction in Nairobi on July 28, 2026. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]
AAR Insurance has urged the insurance industry to redesign health insurance products to provide better protection for people living with chronic illnesses, warning that many Kenyans continue to face devastating medical bills despite having insurance cover.
Speaking during a media session in Nairobi, AAR Insurance Chief Executive Officer Justine Kosgei said the country's growing burden of chronic diseases requires insurers to rethink traditional medical cover and develop products that respond to the realities facing patients.
His remarks come as Kenyans are estimated to spend Sh150 billion annually out of pocket on healthcare, a trend that continues to expose families to financial hardship, particularly those managing long-term illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease.
Kosgei said many policyholders only realize the limitations of their medical cover after they are diagnosed with chronic illnesses, when treatment becomes prolonged and costly.
