Before 2026 Starts: 7 Insurance Decisions Every Kenyan Should Make

As the year winds down, something interesting happens.

We slow down just enough to think.

About the year that was.

About what worked.

About what nearly broke us.

And for many Kenyans, one uncomfortable truth quietly surfaces:

“If something serious had happened to me or my family this year… I wasn’t really prepared.”

Before you rush into 2026 with resolutions about saving more, working harder, or “being serious this year,” pause.

There are seven insurance decisions you should make before the calendar flips — because these choices protect every other goal you have.

Table of Contents

• 1. Decide Whether Your Health Cover Is Actually Enough
• 2. Decide If You’re Relying Too Much on SHA/NHIF Alone
• 3. Decide Who Depends on You (and Act Like It)
• 4. Decide If You’ll Stop Letting Policies Lapse
• 5. Decide Whether You Actually Understand What You’re Paying For
• 6. Decide If “Cheap” Is Still Your Strategy
• 7. Decide to Be Proactive, Not Reactive
• Final Word: 2026 Rewards the Prepared
  • 🟢 Next Step

1. Decide Whether Your Health Cover Is Actually Enough

Not whether you have cover — but whether it would truly help in a real emergency.

Ask yourself honestly:

• If I needed surgery tomorrow, where would I go?
• Would my cover get me admitted… or just give me a headache?
• Would I still be asked for a deposit?

If your answer involves long queues, public hospitals only, or borrowing money, your cover is not enough.

👉 Decision to make:

In 2026, will you keep gambling — or will you upgrade to cover that actually works when life goes left?

2. Decide If You’re Relying Too Much on SHA/NHIF Alone

SHA (formerly NHIF) is important. Mandatory, even.

But it was never designed to give:

• Fast service
• Private hospital access
• Choice of specialists
• Comfort during emergencies

SHA is the floor, not the ceiling.

👉 Decision to make:

Will SHA be your only plan in 2026 — or just the foundation you build on with private insurance?

3. Decide Who Depends on You (and Act Like It)

Many Kenyans insure themselves but forget the bigger picture.

Ask:

• If I was hospitalized, who would be affected?
• If I couldn’t work for 3 months, who would struggle?
• If I died suddenly, who would be left scrambling?

Spouse. Children. Parents. Siblings.

👉 Decision to make:

In 2026, will you keep hoping “nothing happens” — or will you deliberately protect the people who rely on you?

4. Decide If You’ll Stop Letting Policies Lapse

This one sounds small — but it’s deadly.

Every year, thousands of policies lapse because:

• “Things were tight that month”
• “I forgot to renew”
• “I thought I had more time”

Then disaster strikes — and the cover is inactive.

👉 Decision to make:

In 2026, will insurance remain a when-I-remember expense — or will you treat it like rent: non-negotiable?

5. Decide Whether You Actually Understand What You’re Paying For

Most people don’t know:

• Their sub-limits
• Their waiting periods
• Their exclusions
• Their hospital network

They just know the premium.

That’s how people end up shocked at the reception desk.

👉 Decision to make:

Will you go into 2026 blind — or will you take one hour to truly understand your policy like a responsible adult?

6. Decide If “Cheap” Is Still Your Strategy

Cheap cover feels good… until it fails.

Under-insurance is more dangerous than no insurance because it gives false confidence.

2026 will not be cheaper:

• Hospital costs are rising
• Inflation is real
• Medical technology is expensive

👉 Decision to make:

Will you keep buying what looks affordable — or what actually protects you?

7. Decide to Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Most people buy insurance:

• After getting sick
• After an accident
• After a close call
• After watching someone else suffer

By then, it’s often too late:

• Waiting periods apply
• Conditions are excluded
• Premiums jump

👉 Decision to make:

In 2026, will you wait for fear to push you — or will you plan calmly, while you still can?

Final Word: 2026 Rewards the Prepared

Insurance isn’t exciting.

It doesn’t trend.

It doesn’t give instant gratification.

But it quietly protects:

• Your income
• Your family
• Your peace of mind
• Your future plans

Before 2026 starts, don’t just set goals.

Set protection.

Because the best New Year resolution isn’t “I’ll work harder” —

it’s “I won’t let one bad day ruin everything I’m building.”

🟢 Next Step

If you’re not sure where you stand, do a simple insurance reset:

• Review what you have
• Identify the gaps
• Fix them before January

You don’t need perfection.

You just need intention.