Waiting periods – how they affect medical scheme benefits
This edition of Cover to Cover explains waiting periods, helping advisers guide clients on when benefits start and strategies to avoid gaps in cover.
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The future of healthcare financing: why brokers must stay agile
In a landscape defined by rising costs and digital disruption, brokers who embrace technology and tailor gap cover to individual life stages will lead the way.
Decoding medical plans for your clients
The first edition of our new series unpacks the types of medical plan, who they suit, and why the cheapest option isn’t always the smartest choice.
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.
Health insurance benefit increases for 2025 published
The annual benefit escalations for policies that fall under the Demarcation Regulations.
Medihelp’s solvency dips again, but scheme says recovery plan is working
Medihelp says its recovery plan is on track, with strong cost controls, younger members, and CMS-approved funding measures set to restore financial stability by 2026.
Bestmed marks sixth year of membership growth
Despite economic headwinds and high claims ratios, Bestmed grew net membership by 4.4% in 2024, bolstered by strong solvency and a R164.4m surplus.
NFO’s Life Division recovers over R202m for consumers in 2024
Complaints about life-benefit payouts climbed to 36% of the Division’s cases, from 34% in 2023.
HFA warns: NHI will slash healthcare, raise taxes, and drain the economy
The Health Funders Association, which represents nearly half of SA’s private healthcare market, is the latest organisation to launch a legal challenge against the NHI Act.
Suicide-related life claims surge by 62% over five years
Discovery Life’s claims data reveals rising risks, with increasing concerns about mental health and skin cancer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why financial planners shouldn’t overlook gap cover in clients’ strategies
Gap cover can protect your clients’ retirement savings and long-term goals from unexpected medical expenses.
Rising demand for weight-loss drugs: balancing health, cost, and supply
The demand for GLP-1 medications as a weight-loss solution raises critical questions about accessibility, affordability, and the long-term sustainability of their use for managing obesity and diabetes.
Rising costs prompt members to weigh medical scheme options
Downgrading to a lower plan may appear to be a cost-saving strategy, but it frequently results in increased out-of-pocket expenses.
