B2B Central

medical schemes

18 Nov 2021

Hospital negotiations crucial to containing medical scheme costs

By Staff Writer

Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, takes us through their annual negotiation process with hospitals to agree to fair and equitable tariff charges, ensuring the lowest possible increases for medical aid members.
26 Oct 2021

What the wise healthcare consumer is looking for

By Staff Writer

The final quarter of 2021 is underway and families are turning their thoughts to what matters most as they begin to make plans for the year ahead, with conversations around health remaining prominent at both the dinner and boardroom table.
05 Jul 2021

Covid Delta variant - urgent action needed

By Staff Writer

Confirmation that the Delta variant – the most highly transmissible form of Covid-19 identified to date – is now spreading in South Africa demands urgent action from every person to help prevent the third wave of Covid-19 becoming a tidal wave, a South African clinical risk expert warns.

24 Jun 2020

Coping with anxiety in a COVID-19 world

By Staff Writer

We’re so focused on the tug of war between our economic and physical health that our mental health has fallen by the wayside. CEO of medical scheme Profmed, Craig Comrie says there has been a noticeable drop in psychiatric claims despite telemedicine facilities being made available and covered by most medical aids. “We are concerned...
03 Apr 2020

Unleash billions from medical emergency reserves, urges KHUSA Consulting

By Janice Roberts

Financial services expert, KHUSA Consulting, has called for the release of billions of rands from medical schemes’ emergency reserves to help treat COVID-19 patients in South Africa.
18 Mar 2020

How to avoid late joiner penalties on your medical scheme

By Janice Roberts

With the cost of purchasing medical scheme cover being unaffordable for many South Africans, many people only feel the need to buy medical scheme cover when they experience ill health, or reach an older age and need the cover, but delaying this grudge purchase can lead to additional expense.

12 Mar 2020

Coronavirus and medical scheme benefits in South Africa

By Janice Roberts

While it has been reported that a virus like COVID-19 would not usually be covered as a prescribed minimum benefit condition, where the virus amounts to an emergency condition then it will fall within the PMB legislation.
16 Jan 2020

NHI will add to SA’s fiscal and healthcare woes

By Janice Roberts

By Chris Hattingh, Project Manager, the Free Market Foundation. Speaking in KwaZulu-Natal on New Year’s Day, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that the National Health Insurance (NHI) will put private and public hospitals on par with each other. Indeed, rather than improving the quality of care on offer in the public sector, it’s more likely...
14 Jan 2020

Tips to make your medical aid work for you in 2020

By Janice Roberts

By Annelé Oosthuizen, Senior Consulting Manager at Alexander Forbes Health. Choosing an appropriate medical aid scheme can be overwhelming and while the country is experiencing a grim economic period, tightening your belt is essential. However, cancelling your medical aid should be avoided as this cover will protect you financially if you have unexpected medical emergencies. ...
13 Dec 2019

Medical schemes healthy despite tough year

By Janice Roberts

Alexander Forbes Health has published its latest edition of Diagnosis, an annual publication that analyses key trends in the medical schemes industry from 2000 to 2018. “The industry as a whole experienced a high claims ratio in 2018, with some of the largest schemes failing to break-even at an operational level,” says Roshan Bhana, Head...
04 Nov 2019

Rising medical aid rates: Making the most of your cover and shoring up any gaps

By Janice Roberts

By: Tony Singleton, CEO of Turnberry Management Risk Solutions Medical aids have released their rates for 2020, and there are increases ahead of inflation. While it may not seem that way to the end customer, medical aids are locked in a delicate balancing act to maintain a tolerable level of increase and keep private healthcare...
15 Oct 2019

How NHI will affect your pay and the payroll department in your organisation

By Janice Roberts

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that all South Africans will be covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) by 2025, but there is still little clarity as to how the NHI will be funded.