Medical Evacuation Cover Kenya: AMREF Flying Doctors Maisha Plans and 2026 Prices

Updated 7 November 2026

Medical evacuation cover pays for an air or road ambulance to move you to a hospital that can treat you, which ordinary medical insurance often does not fully cover. In Kenya the best-known product is AMREF Flying Doctors’ Maisha plan. Annual Maisha Bronze costs KSh 3,100 for Kenya, while Silver, Gold and Platinum cost US$56, US$66 and US$120 for wider East African cover. Maisha Diamond, from US$280 a year, adds up to US$200,000 of inpatient treatment after an evacuation.

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Prices and benefits checked on 7 November 2026 against AMREF Flying Doctors’ Maisha plan page, the Maisha plan overview and Absa Kenya’s AMREF partner offer. An older AMREF Diamond page still shows US$225; the current plan page shows US$280, so confirm the price when you buy.

What medical evacuation cover does

All Maisha plans include the same core benefits, according to AMREF Flying Doctors:

• unlimited emergency evacuation by air and ground during the cover period;
• a 24-hour medical helpline;
• ground ambulance services within Kenya;
• direct contact with AMREF’s own medical teams, with no third party in between.

The key word is emergency. Evacuation is for situations where you need care that is not available where you are, such as a road accident upcountry, a safari injury or a sudden illness at the coast. It is not a taxi to a routine appointment. Read the terms for exclusions before you rely on it.

Maisha annual plans and prices

The Absa column is Absa Kenya’s partner offer for its cardholders, which the bank says runs until 1 March 2027. It describes the discount as up to 20%.

Maisha Diamond for older travellers

Maisha Diamond covers all eight territories and adds an inpatient benefit of up to US$200,000 after evacuation, hospitalisation in Nairobi, transfer to South Africa if specialised treatment is not available in Nairobi, a return commercial flight after treatment and repatriation of mortal remains. Prices depend on age:

For retirees and executives who travel across the region, Diamond is the plan that covers treatment costs as well as transport.

Short-term Tourist plans

Visitors and occasional travellers can buy Maisha Tourist instead of an annual plan. Bronze covers Kenya for 15 days for US$16 (US$10 for KATO, TATO and AUTO members). Silver and Gold cover 30 days for US$24 and US$32, and Platinum covers 30 days across all eight territories for US$80. Maisha Tourist Plus adds the US$200,000 inpatient benefit, costing US$35 for Kenya and up to US$100 for all territories.

How it fits with your medical insurance

Medical evacuation cover is not health insurance. Your SHA membership and any private medical cover pay for treatment, while an evacuation plan pays to get you to the right hospital. Some private insurance and employer schemes already include evacuation, so check your policy schedule before buying twice. Our explainer on SHA vs NHIF vs SHIF covers what the public scheme pays, and keep our list of ambulance emergency contacts on your phone.

Who should buy it

• people who drive long distances or travel often to remote areas, parks or the coast;
• business owners and executives who travel across East Africa;
• older parents, especially if they live far from a major hospital;
• employers buying group cover for field staff.

At KSh 3,100 a year for Kenya-only Bronze, it is one of the cheapest forms of protection against a very expensive emergency.

Questions to ask before you buy

• Which countries and which hospitals can I be taken to under this plan?
• Who decides that an evacuation is medically necessary, and what happens if I call another ambulance first?
• Are pre-existing conditions, pregnancy or adventure sports excluded?
• When does cover start after payment, and does it renew automatically?

Get the answers in writing from AMREF Flying Doctors or the bank selling the plan, and keep the membership number and helpline with your ID.

Frequently asked questions

How much is AMREF medical evacuation cover in Kenya?

Maisha Bronze for Kenya costs KSh 3,100 a year. Regional plans cost US$56 to US$120, and Diamond starts at US$280.

Does medical evacuation cover pay hospital bills?

The standard Maisha plans pay for evacuation, not treatment. Diamond and Tourist Plus add up to US$200,000 of inpatient cover after evacuation.

Can companies buy Maisha cover for staff?

Yes. AMREF says Maisha is available to individuals, groups and corporates.

Is there short-term medical evacuation cover for visitors?

Yes. Maisha Tourist covers 15 or 30 days from US$16, and Tourist Plus adds post-evacuation hospital cover.