Medical Aid Review 2019

During September and October, the country’s medical schemes launched their premium increases and product updates for 2019. Across the board, the private health industry is aware of the increasing financial pressure on members, the proposed NHI bill and the possible impact of this, and the challenge of making quality healthcare affordable for all South Africans.

The table below illustrates the 2019 increases across the various medical schemes: Please click on your scheme below for the contribution table

Medical Scheme	2019 Increase (weighted average)	Scheme size (number of lives)
BestMed	8.9%	196,0000
Bonitas	8.9%	1.1 million
Discovery Health	9.2%	2.8 million
Fedhealth	8.5%	144,000
Momentum Health	10.7%	260,000

Did you know…

Many benefits included in medical aid plans are actually paid through the hospital or ‘risk’ benefit? These include:[/vc_column_text][dt_vc_list]

• International cover for emergencies while travelling
• Maternity benefits
• Oncology and managed care programmes
• Treatment for chronic conditions
• Preventative screening

Gap cover is fast becoming a necessary complement to your medical scheme, with a number of plans and options being made available through several providers. Gap cover can make up the difference of up to 500% for in-hospital claims and co-payments. If you are interested in taking out gap cover click here.

If you are a member of the Vitality Wellness Programme, there are just a few months left to attain Gold status. Using cutting-edge technology, personalised health goals and financial rewards, Vitality has succeeded in getting more members active with improved health outcomes.

Through the programme, R7 million has been donated to charity via the Vitality Active Rewards initiative, and 8 million coffees and smoothies have been redeemed.

You can use the Vitality Calculator to earn points throughout the year and check on the rewards you can enjoy along the way.

Why should you get active?

 

Because increased physical activity is directly connected to improved health:

• 69% lower mortality rates for people who exercise
• 16% lower probability of disease progression when exercising with diabetes
• 14% lower health costs for people who start exercising

Contact the Centre for Advanced Medicine to book your Vitality wellness assessment, at your convenience:

The centre is located at 13 Scott Street, Waverly, Johannesburg.

Don’t forget:

If you wish to make any changes to your medical aid for 2019, please contact us before Friday, 7 December 2018. Kindly note no medical aid changes will be processed after that.

Wishing you good health always!