Pandemic pricing pains catch up with medical schemes – higher contributions ahead
Three medical schemes fell below the 25% solvency threshold in 2023.
#PrescribedMinimumBenefits
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.
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.
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.
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.
Discovery vs RAF: CMS executive says High Court got it wrong
A regulatory expert believes the judgment misinterpreted key legal principles in its ruling on the RAF’s obligation to reimburse medical schemes.
Discovery to appeal ‘far-reaching’ judgment in favour of RAF
The High Court says Discovery Health misconstrued the scope of the judgment that set aside the RAF’s first directive on the payment of medical scheme members’ claims.
How the dispute between the RAF and Discovery unfolded
Discovery Health’s quest for reimbursement from the RAF for medical expenses incurred by road accident victims has faced multiple legal hurdles, with new RAF directives complicating the situation.
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.
ConCourt clarifies when medical schemes can cancel membership for non-disclosure
Medical schemes cannot cancel membership based solely on the non-disclosure of a diagnostic procedure that does not lead to the diagnosis of a serious medical condition.
Rise in complaints about medical schemes clawing back losses allegedly linked to fraud and waste
Schemes and healthcare professionals are at odds over whether these recoveries are justified, says the Council for Medical Schemes.
CMS webinars for brokers, trustees, and medical scheme employees
The Council will provide a CPD-accredited training session for newly appointed healthcare brokers in August.
CMS invites BHF to collaborate, criticises ‘forum-shopping’ tactics
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’.
Board of Healthcare Funders takes Council for Medical Schemes to task in lawyer’s letter
The BHF raises 10 issues, including the ‘misuse’ of curatorships, whether NHI is informing policy prematurely, and the absence of low-cost benefit options.
Regulator finds ‘comprehensive chronic cover’ advert misleading
The former chief executive of Massmart and Edcon filed a complaint with the Advertising Regulatory Board against Discovery Health Medical Scheme.
