There has been talk for some time now about the National Health Insurance (NHI) and how it will be funded. In his Budget Speech in February 2017, former finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, alluded to an adjustment to medical tax credits to partly fund the system. “The rationale behind replacing the tax deduction system with the..
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Medical tax credits to go?
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Medical aid waiting periods and late-joiner penalties: What. How. Why?
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The world of medical schemes in South Africa is a very different one to 25 years ago. There are strict rules and regulations governing the industry, there to protect both the members and the financial sustainability of the scheme. Now is the time of year when medical schemes announce their annual increases and benefit changes…
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What’s driving up our healthcare costs?
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Discovery Health CEO explains why South Africans are paying higher medical aid premiums than ever before. Access to quality healthcare at an affordable price is a critical priority for every family, and in society at large. South Africans lucky enough to afford private healthcare have rapid and convenient access to some of the best quality..
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The biggest medical aid schemes in South Africa – and how much they’re charging in 2018
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The majority of South Africa’s biggest medical aid schemes have released their prices for 2018, showing below 10% increases across all plans. According to the latest statistics released by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), there are currently 82 medical aid schemes operating in South Africa with a total subscription of just under 8.9 million..
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Health Professions Council of SA pursues bogus health practitioners
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A rise in bogus health practitioners has forced the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) and medical schemes to strengthen their forensics units to curb fraud. A team at the HPCSA is conducting about 400 investigations into bogus practitioners. To date, just more than 40 arrests have been made, but prosecutions are slow. Data from..
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Medical negligence claims in public health sector rise by 25%
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The sorry state of the public health sector is reflected in the sharp rise in medical negligence claims against provincial health departments, increasing by around 25% per year between 2011 and 2016. Medical negligence claims rise by 25%. This is according to Kirstie Haslam, partner at DSC Attorneys who says that the Gauteng Department of..
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How to save on your medical aid
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JOHANNESBURG – Medical aid schemes. The essential but expensive line item in a monthly budget for the less than 20 percent of South Africans who can afford medical aid cover. John October, Chief Executive of online insurance and financial comparison website, Hippo.co.za, says in many cases people are forced into medical aid schemes. “Many have..
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Motsoaledi has ‘zero authority’ to help ailing hospitals
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Cape Town – Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he has “zero authority” to improve the functioning of troubled state hospitals, which are all managed by provincial governments. Motsoaledi told the portfolio committee on health on Thursday that a two-year ministerial task team report highlighted 19 key problems at hospitals in six provinces around the country…
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Transnet mediese fonds bankrot?
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Volgens vertroulike inligting wat ontvang is, blyk dit dat Transnet se mediese fonds in finansiële moeilikheid is. Lede van die fonds gaan klaarblyklik oorgeplaas word na ‘n ander mediese fonds, maar lede sal baie meer moet betaal vir mediese dekking. Oud Spoorweg werkers word veral geraak aangesien dit vir hul bykans onbekostigbaar gaan wees om..
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Noord-Kaapse LUR van gesondheid moet opdok vir bejaarde se onderbeen
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Die Noord-Kaapse LUR van gesondheid is Woensdag in die hooggeregshof in Kimberley beveel om die mediese en regskoste te betaal van ’n bejaarde man wat sy onderbeen weens mediese nalatigheid verloor het. Regter Mpho Mamosebo het in haar uitspraak gesê dit ontstem haar dat ’n kundige soos dr. Qebelo Maseme, wat vir die LUR getuig..
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