Major setback for medical schemes in legal battle over low-cost options
The Board of Healthcare Funders says it will appeal after the High Court dismissed its application on procedural and substantive grounds.
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CMS extends exemption for primary healthcare policies
Insurers are allowed to offer primary healthcare policies for an additional two years pending the finalisation of a framework for low-cost benefit options.
Medical schemes push ahead with case over Covid test pricing
The Competition Tribunal has dismissed key objections from major pathology laboratories, moving the medical schemes closer to having their damages claim heard in the High Court.
Court orders RAF to pay medical scheme members’ claims
Another attempt by the Road Accident Fund to contest liability based on the ‘majority decision’ against Discovery Health has fallen through.
Bonitas celebrates brokers for driving the scheme’s growth
Industry leaders such as AlexForbes, Avoir Corporate Healthcare, and Hippo Advisory shone bright at the third annual Top Broker Awards.
Coalition: government’s ‘piecemeal’ healthcare reforms fall short
The Universal Healthcare Access Coalition says the proposed tariff-setting measures for private healthcare side-step essential reforms.
What the BHF and HASA are arguing in their legal challenges to the NHI Act
The Board of Healthcare Funders wants to see records that disclose whether President Cyril Ramaphosa disregarded constitutional concerns before signing the NHI Act into law.
Negotiating forum is a ‘critical step’ in addressing the cost of healthcare
But the government cannot afford to set up an independent supply-side regulator as recommended by the Health Market Inquiry.
Sanlam’s split with Bonitas paves the way for exclusive Fedhealth partnership
After months of speculation, Sanlam has officially partnered with Fedhealth as its exclusive open medical scheme provider.
ANC and its ministers reject reports of NHI ‘concessions’
Recent media reports over the future of NHI have been contradictory and hard to make sense of. Spotlight chased up those in a position to know where things stand – it seems the ANC has not made any major concessions on NHI. There is, however, agreement that medical schemes won’t be phased out in the next few years, something that likely wouldn’t have happened in any case given the poor state of the economy and the long timeline for NHI implementation.
Health Minister signals opposition to low-cost benefit options for medical schemes
In its long-awaited report, the Council for Medical Schemes says its preferred recommendation is not to introduce LCBOs.
BHF slams CMS report on LCBOs as flawed and politically motivated
The Board of Healthcare Funders questions the timing and content of the CMS’s report, claiming it ignores stakeholder input and the opposition to low-cost benefit options is politically motivated.
Minister proposes interim framework for collective healthcare tariff-setting
The Board of Health Funders has ‘serious reservations’ about giving the Department of Health the power to manage the block exemption negotiation process.
Healthcare coalition says NHI is ‘unfeasible’, proposes alternative route to universal health coverage
The Universal Healthcare Access Coalition – which includes healthcare professionals and funders – contends that a single tax-funded system cannot effectively provide universal medical coverage.
Healthcare costs are rising – but so is the need for cover
Medical inflation and increasing health demands are making healthcare more expensive. Instead of cancelling your medical scheme, here’s how to adjust your plan to stay covered without breaking the bank.
Majority judgment ‘does not alter’ RAF’s liability for medical scheme members’ claims
The High Court in Cape Town rejects the Road Accident Fund’s contention that the Mlambo judgment has altered the legal landscape.
Cap on healthcare broker fees increases by 4%
The new limit applies to contributions received from 1 January.
