South Africa’s healthcare funding model may be nearing a defining break point. The proposed withdrawal of medical aid tax credits, starting with high-income earners in 2026 and extending to all taxpayers by 2027, is framed as a revenue-raising measure to support the National Health Insurance (NHI). But it is also a structural shift in how healthcare is financed. The change…
Tag: Affordability
-
Medical Aid Contribution Increases Squeeze Household Budgets
South African households are bracing for another year of financial pressure as major medical schemes begin announcing their contribution increases and benefit changes for 2026. In a familiar and unwelcome trend, the announced premium hikes are set to outpace the country’s general inflation rate significantly. This will deepen the long-standing healthcare affordability crisis. While the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS)…
-
Medical schemes facing ‘slow death spiral’ amid regulatory failures
South Africa’s medical scheme industry is at a critical juncture, with escalating regulatory failures forcing schemes to design options that include gaps in cover. This trend increasingly requires members to purchase supplementary insurance, such as primary healthcare plans or gap cover. Consequently, this pushes consumers to pay for cover based more closely on their health risks. This was a key…
-
NHI Act Court Challenges and Their Implications
The Board of Healthcare Funders is preparing to escalate its legal fight against the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. They are launching two new court challenges targeting public participation and constitutionality. The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) is preparing to launch two significant new legal challenges against South Africa’s contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. This signals a deepening…