Kenya's AI Health Calculator Charged the Poorest the Most, Which Is Not a Good Look for a Health System
Ourtake
Biased predictions in a health payment system can decide who gets treatment, and who doesn't.
What happened
Kenya's Social Health Authority used a machine learning model to predict household income from survey-style questions and set annual health insurance premiums. An investigation by Lighthouse Reports found the system was designed to overcharge the poorest Kenyans while undercharging the wealthiest, and some patients said they could no longer afford treatment.