Medical scheme increases for 2027 range from 7.35% to 8.9%, as rising healthcare utilisation, ageing membership and expensive new treatments continue to push costs above inflation. Industry representatives say schemes must raise contributions to cover growing claims expenditure. According to the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), healthcare costs can absorb up to R96 of every R100 contributed. Why Medical Scheme…
Tag: healthcare inflation
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GEMS Medical Aid Increases: Scheme Battles Record Claims
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) is facing a significant financial crossroads. It has recently paid out in a single year what some of South Africa’s largest private insurers distributed over a quarter of a century. This unprecedented surge in claims has triggered mandatory increases to GEMS Medical Aid for members, effective from 1 April. Rising Costs Amid Financial Pressure…
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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)…
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Rising medical costs: A warning shot for SA consumers
As South Africa’s healthcare costs continue to rise, open medical schemes have announced their contribution increases for 2025. Bestmed, Fedhealth, and Medihelp lead the pack with weighted average increases of 12.75%, 12.4%, and 10.8%, respectively. Other top schemes, such as Bonitas (10.2%), Momentum (9.4%), and Discovery (9.3%), follow closely behind. According to medical scheme administrators, several factors contribute to these…