FOR millions of South Africans, private health cover is not a question of desire but of affordability. Health insurance costs are climbing inexorably, while the medical schemes market stagnates. Under pressure, consumers are downgrading their scheme options, delaying joining, or switching to cheaper health insurance. The demand for affordable cover is clear. Yet South Africa’s regulatory framework still bars medical…
Tag: low-cost benefit options
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Medshield’s Corporate Health Growth Accelerates
Medshield is intensifying its expansion into South Africa’s corporate healthcare market after achieving its strongest membership growth in several years. The medical scheme aims to increase its share of employer-sponsored members from about 40% of its principal membership to around 60% over time. Medshield chief principal officer Kevin Aron said changing employer policies are creating new opportunities. More companies are…
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PMB Reform Could Make Medical Cover More Affordable
South Africa’s progress towards universal health coverage will depend on practical reforms that make quality healthcare more affordable and accessible. One of the biggest barriers is the outdated framework governing prescribed minimum benefits, or PMBs. PMBs are the conditions and services that every medical scheme must cover. They protect members from losing access to essential care during serious illness or…
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Low-Cost Benefit Options Fight Reaches Supreme Court of Appeal
The legal battle to introduce more affordable private healthcare for millions of South Africans has received a significant boost. This comes after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) agreed to hear arguments from the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF). The decision opens the door for the BHF to appeal a previous High Court ruling. This ruling blocked the introduction of…
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BHF Takes Fight for Low-Cost Medical Schemes to SCA
The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) has announced its intention to petition the Supreme Court of Appeal directly. They decided this following the High Court in Pretoria’s dismissal of its application to appeal a ruling against Low-Cost Benefit Options (LCBOs). The decision marks a significant escalation in the protracted legal battle between the BHF and the Council for Medical Schemes…
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Motsoaledi vows to advance controversial NHI
In a decisive move, newly appointed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has affirmed his commitment to pushing forward with the African National Congress (ANC)’s controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative. This is despite facing legal challenges and political opposition within the new government of national unity. In an interview , Motsoaledi did not extend any conciliatory gestures to the private healthcare…