Global medical cost growth is cooling. Why isn’t South Africa’s?
Global medical cost growth is easing, but South Africa’s rate remains high – putting medical schemes under pressure to balance rising healthcare costs with affordability in 2027.
#healthcareinflation
Medical scheme hikes: CMS calls for restraint, but will schemes listen?
The Council for Medical Schemes recommends capping 2026 contribution increases at 3.3% plus “reasonable utilisation estimates”, yet past trends show schemes often push far higher.
Pandemic pricing pains catch up with medical schemes – higher contributions ahead
Three medical schemes fell below the 25% solvency threshold in 2023.
Why lower CPI won’t mean lower healthcare costs for South Africans
Medical inflation outpaces CPI because of unique pressures such as the rising costs of technology, chronic diseases, and private healthcare pricing.
Bestmed’s 2025 contribution hike is the biggest of top five open schemes
Bestmed says that rand for rand its benefit options will remain competitive despite the proposed average increase of 12.75%.
As medical schemes announce hikes, members brace for tough choices amid rising costs
With major medical schemes reporting average contribution hikes exceeding 9%, members face tough choices in an increasingly unaffordable healthcare landscape.
