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)…
Tag: Discovery Health
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Poor Sleep Mortality Risk Linked to Irregular Patterns
Individuals who maintain irregular sleep patterns and get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night face a staggering 22% higher poor sleep mortality risk than the general population. This is the landmark finding from new research conducted by South Africa’s largest health and life insurer, Discovery. They analysed data from over 100,000 people. The organisation, a pioneer…
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Discovery Defers Contribution Increase Until April
Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) has announced a significant decision. It will defer its 2026 contribution increase for three months. This move will return about R1.5 billion to its members. This deferral provides welcome financial relief for many families. It is possible because of the scheme’s strong financial position./h Understanding the 2026 Contribution Increase Deferral Members will not see a…
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Discovery Health Reports Profit Amid Shifting Membership Base
Discovery Health has reported a profit for the recent financial year. This positive result comes despite a slight dip in medical scheme members. The company shows strong financial performance overall. Its strategies are successfully adapting to market changes. This ensures continued profitability and stability. The financial outcome highlights a robust business model. Analysing Membership Trends The Discovery Health Medical Scheme…
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Medical Aid Premiums to Continue Outpacing Inflation
Multiple sources are warning South African consumers to brace for continued high increases in their medical aid premiums. Experts expect costs to keep rising significantly faster than general inflation. The caution comes from Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery, the country’s largest medical scheme administrator. He suggests that the underlying drivers of medical inflation continue to be a persistent challenge for…
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Discovery Profit Surge Indicates Strong Growth Ahead
Financial services giant Discovery Group has signalled a significant increase in profits for the year to end-June. Its banking division reached a significant profitability milestone after years of investment. This achievement contributes to the Discovery Profit Surge. In a trading statement released ahead of its full-year results, the group announced it expects a robust performance across all its business units.…
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Racial Bias Report: Are the Claims Valid?
A fuse has been lit in South Africa’s private healthcare industry following the release of a controversial racial bias report. It claims black healthcare providers are disproportionately targeted in fraud investigations. The Section 59 report, submitted to Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, alleges systemic racial discrimination by medical schemes. However, leading industry bodies have hit back, labelling the racial bias…
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Gems Denies Racial Profiling in Investigations
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) has told Parliament that it does not target black doctors based on their ethnicity during fraud investigations. In response to the allegations, Gems denies engaging in racial profiling against any of its practitioners. The assurance comes in the wake of a damning industry report. This report concluded that its systems were “procedurally unfair” and…
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Discovery Health’s Top Claims of 2024 Revealed
Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) has revealed the immense scale of its 2024 claims. It paid out a total of R83 billion last year. The scheme highlighted its ten highest individual claims, which alone amounted to R70.5 million. This underscores the critical role of medical cover in managing catastrophic health events. Presenting at the scheme’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), DHMS…
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Racial Discrimination Findings Applauded by Dentists’ Association
The South African Medical and Dental Practitioners (SAMDP) Association has lauded the final report of the Section 59 investigation, which addresses concerns of racial discrimination, as a “watershed moment” for the nation’s healthcare sector. Racial biases impact various sectors. The inquiry, chaired by advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, concluded that the country’s largest medical schemes racially discriminated against black healthcare providers. This…
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Discovery Health Challenges ‘Flawed’ Racial Bias Report
Discovery Health has issued a sharp rebuke to the findings of the Section 59 inquiry. It alleged the company’s systems demonstrated racial bias against black healthcare practitioners. The final report, handed to Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, asserted that Discovery, along with Medscheme and the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems), employed procedurally unfair systems. These systems disproportionately penalised black professionals.…
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BHF rejects fraud inquiry’s findings as ‘fundamentally flawed’
South Africa’s healthcare sector is facing a crisis of trust. This follows an independent inquiry finding that the nation’s largest medical schemes have been targeting black healthcare practitioners. They have been targeted in investigations into fraud and abuse. The report sets the stage for a major confrontation over racial equity and regulatory oversight. Moreover, it challenges methods used to combat…