Bonitas Medical Fund Archives

30 May 2024

It’s business as usual at medical schemes

By Staff Writer

By: Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund Since President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill on May 15, there has been a huge outcry, threats of litigation and, unfortunately, a great deal of misinformation. Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, the second biggest private medical aid scheme...

25 Feb 2022

NHI – more questions than answers

By Staff Writer

The National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) remains an enigma. Despite numerous consultations and public participation workshops, key stakeholders are still unclear on a number of important issues around NHI.

28 Oct 2021

The trend towards amalgamations in the medical scheme industry

By Staff Writer

The South African private healthcare industry has undergone considerable change over the past few years. “Escalating healthcare inflation and costs, a declining and ageing membership, the impact of a global pandemic and a growing disease burden is impacting the not-for-profit Medical Scheme industry which is highly regulated,” says Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund.

19 Oct 2021

Renewed focus on home-based care as an alternative to hospital care

By Staff Writer

The shift towards home-based care was accelerated by the Covid pandemic. Although not necessarily always possible for Covid patients, the benefits of home-based care vs hospitalisation have been highlighted for both patients and their families for several procedures and illnesses.

16 Sep 2021

Bonitas Medical Fund announces 2022 product offering

By Staff Writer

As South Africa moves to Covid-19 adjusted Level 2 and vaccination numbers increase, access to quality healthcare remains a priority. Today, Bonitas Medical Fund announced its 2022 product line up offering. This includes the use of reserves to keep contribution increases lower, a Benefit Booster to stretch day-to-day benefits, a revised international travel benefit with payment for Covid tests and a contribution towards quarantine costs.

02 Sep 2021

How urban living negatively impacts people’s health

By Staff Writer

South Africa is urbanising rapidly: 63% of South Africans are already living in urban areas. Stats indicate this will rise to 71% by 2030 and by 2050, eight in 10 people will be living in urban areas. While it is unavoidable that people migrate to cities for work, it does have a negative effect on people’s health.

22 Jul 2021

Covid hub drives education and vaccination

By Staff Writer

The 3rd wave of Covid-19, which is predominantly the Delta variant, is having a major impact on our healthcare system with reports of hospital admissions being significantly higher than during waves 1 and 2. ‘We can attest to this by the ongoing monitoring and analysis provided by our actuarial teams’, says Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund.

08 Apr 2021

Bonitas: Vaccines and the way forward

By Staff Writer

As a possible Covid-19 third wave looms, Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, gives an update on Covid vaccines and how the Fund is positioned for the rollout to its members.

31 Mar 2021

15 facts about the Covid vaccine

By Staff Writer

Although the vaccine rollout for healthcare workers has begun, myths and misinformation continue to circulate around its development, efficacy and just how the vaccine will help manage or mitigate the spread of the virus.

18 Mar 2021

Making medical aid benefits last

By Staff Writer

Around 9 million South Africans are members of medical aid schemes to ensure they have access to private healthcare. As each new year begins, members start with a clean slate, with new benefits and replenished savings. However, across the industry, members often complain that their benefits seem to ‘run out’ early on in the year.

26 Feb 2021

New Head of Operations for Bonitas

By Staff Writer

Bonitas Medical Fund has announced the appointment of Dr Morgan Busuku Mkhatshwa asHead of Operations. Dr Mkhatshwa is a medical doctor with extensive experience in the healthcare sector.

13 May 2020

Making sure lifestyle diseases are under control during COVID-19

By Staff Writer

As the number of Covid-19 infections moves over 10 000, the health minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has expressed concern about the huge risk group of South Africans suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. In other words Comorbidities. The words ‘comorbidity’ and ‘comorbid conditions,’ are common medical terms. Comorbidity refers to one or more diseases or conditions...