Medical scheme placed under statutory management as reserves plummet
The deterioration in Sizwe Hosmed’s reserves is attributed to ‘benefit under-pricing and historically unreliable budgetary and forecasting processes’.
The deterioration in Sizwe Hosmed’s reserves is attributed to ‘benefit under-pricing and historically unreliable budgetary and forecasting processes’.
But statements by the Minister of Health indicate the ANC does not believe material changes to the NHI Act should be made.
The medical scheme says it will use its reserves to limit contribution increases, while possibly improving members’ benefits and reducing co-payments.
It is expected that scrapping the medical scheme tax credit will be the first measure designed to raise revenue for NHI.
Absenteeism costs South Africa R12bn to R16bn annually, with mental health-related ‘presenteeism’ adding an estimated R235bn a year.
The Council will provide a CPD-accredited training session for newly appointed healthcare brokers in August.
Medihelp submitted a CMS-approved three-year plan, requiring gradual contribution increases to restore its reserves to the statutory 25% level.
In 2022, the High Court ruled that the fund could not withhold payments for past medical expenses covered by medical schemes.
BHF-commissioned study identifies 11 assertions made about private healthcare and medical schemes that lack foundation.
DHMS provides an update on the impact of the WELLTH Fund and membership movements following the consolidation of the Comprehensive series.
The change is aimed at making the financial information of insurers more easily comparable across countries and industries.
Members of medical schemes are paying up to 30% more because the regulatory system broke down after the government’s focus shifted to NHI.
There are concerns about the sustainability of private providers and whether the public will face higher costs to maintain their current level of healthcare.
In an interview this week, President Ramaphosa was asked whether South Africans will pay higher taxes to fund NHI.
The expected legal challenges to the legislation and the pressure on the state’s finances could delay full implementation of the system for many years.
The BHF’s canvassing of key policy issues in the public domain via a ‘deliberately leaked’ lawyer’s letter indicates the organisation ‘has run out of creative ideas’.
The CMS asserts that medical schemes have frequently disregarded the existing appeals procedures, exploiting them to the detriment of members’ interests.