Photo: Fquasie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0NHIS renewal
Renew by phone with *929# or the MyNHIS app
- Renew by phone: dial *929#, choose option 2, then NHIS Card and your 8-digit membership number (NHIA mobile renewal).
- Check that your membership is valid: dial *929# and choose option 1 (NHIA mobile renewal).
- Renew in the app or in person: the MyNHIS app or any NHIS district office (NHIA membership).
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Renew with *929#, step by step
- Dial *929# from any phone network.
- Select option 2 (renew).
- Select NHIS Card.
- Enter your 8-digit membership number (it is printed on your NHIS card) and press Send.
- Follow the instructions for payment.
Steps as published on NHIA's mobile renewal page. To check your validity, dial *929#, choose option 1, select NHIS Card and enter your membership number (same page).
Help: NHIS Call Centre on 054 444 6447 or 030 274 6447, or the short code 6447 on MTN and Vodafone (NHIA).
Renew on the MyNHIS app or at a district office
NHIA lists three ways to renew: any NHIS district office, the USSD code *929#, or the MyNHIS app (NHIA membership). The digital channels are for fee-paying members; NHIA says pregnant women and indigents are exempted from using them and renew at a district office (NHIA FAQ).
Renewal is instant: you can use health care straight away, unless your membership expired more than 90 days earlier (NHIA FAQ).
Renewing late: the three-month rule
| Situation | What NHIA applies |
|---|---|
| Membership | Valid for 12 months, to be renewed every year |
| Not renewed after 12 months | Membership deactivated |
| Renewed within three months of expiry | Access straight away |
| Not renewed three months after expiry | Treated as a defaulter: one-month waiting period before access to health care |
| Defaulter who is pregnant, under five or over 70 | No waiting period |
| Not used the scheme all year | The premium and processing fee are still due at renewal |
Rules from NHIA's membership page and FAQ. In 2024, 69% of the 11.25 million NHIS renewals were made by mobile phone (NHIA 2024 Annual Report).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the NHIS renewal code?
*929#, on any network. Option 2 renews (NHIS Card, then your 8-digit membership number, then the payment instructions); option 1 checks whether your membership is valid.
How do I check if my NHIS is active?
Dial *929#, choose option 1, select NHIS Card and enter your membership number.
What happens if I renew NHIS late?
If you renew within three months of expiry, you can use the scheme at once. After three months you are a defaulter and wait one month, except pregnant women, children under five and persons above 70.
Do I pay to renew if I never went to hospital?
Yes. NHIA says the premium and the processing fee, where applicable, are due every year whether or not you used the scheme.
Can pregnant women renew with *929#?
No. NHIA says pregnant women and indigents are exempted from its digital platforms, which require a payment; they renew at a district office.
Sources
- NHIA — Mobile renewal: steps for *929# (Web Archive copy of 14 April 2025)
- NHIA — Membership: registration, exempt groups, renewal (Web Archive copy of 13 October 2026)
- NHIA — Frequently asked questions (Web Archive copy of 3 October 2026)
- NHIA — 2024 Annual Report (Web Archive copy of 28 October 2026)