Photo: Wheaton95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0How to check your SHA status in Kenya
Active or inactive, and how to fix it
On this page · 8 sections
Check your SHA status online in four steps
SHA runs a public coverage check at eligibility.sha.go.ke. You do not need to log in. The page is titled Check Your Coverage Status and asks you to "use either your National Id Number or CR Number".
- Type the address yourself: eligibility.sha.go.ke. Do not follow a link sent by SMS or WhatsApp.
- Choose the identification type in the drop-down list.
- Enter the number exactly as it is on the document.
- Press Check and read the coverage status shown for that person.
The identification types on the page (seen 28 October 2026):
| Who you are checking | Identification type to choose |
|---|---|
| Kenyan adult | National ID (or CR Number) |
| Child | Birth Certificate Number or Birth Notification |
| Foreign resident | Alien ID or Passport Number |
| Refugee | Refugee ID |
| Person with a temporary document | Temporary ID or Temporary Dependant ID |
| Other cases | Mandate Number or Household Number |
The CR number is your Client Registry number in Kenya's national health registry; our article on the CR number in SHA explains where to find it. Checking a child or a spouse works the same way, with their own document number.
See your contributions and penalties on afyayangu.go.ke
The coverage check tells you whether you are covered; it does not show your payment history. For that, SHA sends members to its portal. According to SHA's registration FAQ, you log in on afyayangu.go.ke with your ID and the PIN you set when you registered; a one-time PIN (OTP) is sent to your registered phone number and email, and your account portal opens, with a "My Profile" section.
- Statement of account: SHA says you "can generate a statement of account through the SHA portal", which includes "your contribution history and any penalties" (SHA FAQ).
- Registration number: SHA's FAQ says a number is generated once registration on afyayangu.go.ke is complete.
- Dependants: the same profile lists the spouse and children registered under you, and is where you add them.
- Primary Care Network: the profile shows the facilities of your Primary Care Network (PCN). If your preferred clinic is not listed, SHA asks you to "update your location information" (SHA FAQ).
If you have never registered, the status check will not find you: start with our SHA registration guide (*147#, online or assisted at a Huduma Centre).
What "inactive" means — and what you can still use
SHA manages three funds, and an inactive status does not close all three. SHA's FAQ on registering and receiving services the same day and its FAQ on removal for non-payment set the rule:
| SHA fund | What it pays for | Open to an inactive member? |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF) | Outpatient care at Level 2, Level 3 and selected Level 4 facilities | Yes — SHA says PHF services "remain accessible, even if contributions lapse" |
| Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) | Emergencies and serious conditions | Yes — SHA's tariffs even open ambulance and accident & emergency care to residents "irrespective of registration or premium payment status" |
| Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) | Care at Level 4 and above: admissions, surgery, imaging, dialysis, cancer care | No — SHIF services are given "provided payments are up-to-date" |
No member is removed for not paying: SHA's answer to "Can a member be removed due to non-payment?" is "No". But a hospital admission, an operation or a scan at a county or private hospital usually falls under SHIF, so an inactive status at that moment can leave the bill with you. Our guide on what SHA covers lists what each fund pays.
Why SHA marks a member inactive
SHA's own pages name these causes:
- Contributions not up to date. Contributions are due "by the 9th day of each month" under the SHI Regulations, 2024 (SHA FAQ). A late payment also attracts a penalty of 2% a month on the unpaid amount (SHA FAQ).
- Unpaid penalties. "You or your employees (in the case of an employer) may be classified as inactive, meaning you will not access healthcare services under SHA until all outstanding penalties are cleared" (SHA FAQ).
- Your employer has not paid. "Employers with unpaid penalties are flagged as non-compliant, and their employees are marked inactive" (SHA FAQ). This can happen even when SHA was deducted from your payslip.
- A missed Lipa SHA Pole Pole instalment. If you miss a repayment, SHA says the interest rises from 8% to 9.5% a year and "your SHA account will also change to inactive" (SHA FAQ).
- A dependant turned 18. "Once a dependent reaches the age of 18 years, they must register as a contributor and begin making regular contributions to continue accessing SHA services" (SHA FAQ).
How to become active again
- Find the cause: generate your statement on afyayangu.go.ke and look for missing months or a penalty.
- Self-employed or non-salaried: pay the arrears to paybill 200222, account = your ID number, or through *147#. Our guide on how to pay SHA has every channel, including Lipa SHA Pole Pole.
- Employed: if your payslip shows SHA deductions but you are inactive, ask your employer's payroll or HR for proof of remittance. Employer penalties and how they are paid are in our guide on SHA penalties for employers.
- A child who turned 18: register them as a contributor in their own name.
- Check again on eligibility.sha.go.ke after paying. SHA says penalty payments by M-PESA or bank "are automatically updated in real-time" (SHA FAQ).
- Still inactive? Call the SHA contact centre on 147 (SHA FAQ) or the toll-free 0800 720 601 (SHA contact page).
At the hospital: how your status is checked
Facilities confirm your identity before treating you under SHA. For adults, SHA says biometric data "is pulled from existing databases", and if biometrics fail, "an OTP will be sent to the contributor's registered mobile number or email for verification" (SHA FAQ). So keep the phone number on your SHA profile current — an old number can block the verification.
Check your status before a planned admission, an operation or a delivery at a Level 4 hospital, not at the desk. If you also hold a private medical cover, ask the hospital which one it will bill first; our comparison of SHA and private medical insurance explains how the two fit together.
Already insured?
Next step
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my SHA status online?
Open eligibility.sha.go.ke, choose your identification type (National ID, CR Number, birth certificate, passport and others), enter the number and press Check. No login is needed.
Can I check my SHA status with my ID number?
Yes. On eligibility.sha.go.ke choose "National ID" and type your ID number. For a child, use the birth certificate number or birth notification.
What does inactive mean on SHA?
That SHA will not pay for services under the Social Health Insurance Fund — hospital care at Level 4 and above — until the cause (arrears, unpaid penalties, a missed Pole Pole instalment) is cleared. Primary care and emergency care remain open to registered members.
Why is my SHA inactive when my employer deducts it?
SHA marks employees inactive when their employer has unpaid penalties or has not remitted contributions. Ask your employer for proof of payment; SHA's contact centre is on 147.
How do I see my SHA contributions?
Log in to afyayangu.go.ke with your ID and PIN, confirm the OTP, and generate a statement of account: SHA says it shows your contribution history and any penalties.
How long after paying does SHA become active?
SHA says penalty payments by M-PESA or bank are updated in real time. Check again on eligibility.sha.go.ke after paying; if the status has not changed, call 147.
Sources
- Social Health Authority — Check your coverage (eligibility.sha.go.ke, seen October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: How do I register for SHA? (afyayangu.go.ke login, PIN and OTP; seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: Where can I view my penalties and contributions? (seen 25 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: How do I access my SHA registration number? (seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: What if my preferred facility is not listed in the Primary Care Network (PCN)? (seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: Can I register and receive services on the same day? (seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: Can a member be removed due to non-payment? (seen 21 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: When are monthly contributions due? (seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: How are penalties calculated? (seen 21 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: What happens if I don't pay the penalty? (seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: How is compliance status tracked? (seen 25 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: What is the penalty for late loan repayment? (Lipa SHA Pole Pole; seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: What happens if a dependent reaches the age of 18 years? (seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: What if biometric data doesn't work during a visit? (seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — Premium rates (seen 21 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: How do I pay my monthly contributions as a non-salaried member? (seen 21 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQs on SHA Penalty Administration: Can I pay penalties via mobile money or bank transfer? (seen 25 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — FAQ: Where can I get help with penalty issues? (contact centre, dial 147; seen 28 October 2026)
- Social Health Authority — Contact us