Check cancer cover on medical aid before cut-off date

Most medical aid cover is up for renewal before 31 December 2011 and cancer patient advocates, along with cancer advocacy group, Campaigning for Cancer, say now is the time for medical aid members and cancer patients to choose their benefits for 2012. 15 Dec 2011 13:05

Managed care programmes essential to assist financial stability of medical aid schemes

Managed care programmes, which seek to reign in medical cost inflation by reducing unnecessary hospitalisations, can play a vital role in managing the financial risks of medical schemes. However, these are most effective when integrated into the scheme's administration and, if successfully integrated, could lead to a minimum 10% reduction in non-healthcare costs. This is the view of Professor Jacques Snyman, Product development director for Agility Global Health Solutions. 15 Dec 2011 12:42

Pack up your troubles in a first-aid kit

[Graham Anderson] Make sure you have a well-stocked first-aid kit to deal with any minor injuries that could befall your family this holiday season. 6 Dec 2011 09:59

Ethiopia as a model for health care leadership

[Michael Greenwood] Despite extensive poverty and limited resources, Ethiopia has made impressive strides in improving its health care system and can serve as a model for other countries seeking to make similar gains, a new paper by Yale researchers suggests. 23 Nov 2011 16:25

National health to change healthcare landscape

South Africa's National Health Insurance Scheme, due to be phased in over a 14-year period, is set to change the healthcare landscape. 21 Nov 2011 13:50

South African's overcharged for medicines

South African consumers are paying more for their medicine than they could be, says Paul Anley, CEO of Pharma Dynamics. He was speaking at the annual International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA) conference that took place in Cape Town this month. 17 Nov 2011 16:24

PMBs here to stay, court rules

Legalbrief reports that the North Gauteng High Court has thrown out, on technical grounds, a bid to clarify what medical aid funds are required to pay for the treatment of a basic set of conditions, ranging from tuberculosis to malaria. 11 Nov 2011 10:06

SA can learn lessons from NHI in Africa

The government's proposed National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) scheme must be embraced, not just because all citizens have the right to quality healthcare, but because without implementing such a measure, SA will be left behind other major emerging African economies that have already begun introducing similar schemes. 10 Nov 2011 21:09

Improved health pricing model needed, say experts

[Evan Pickworth] Decision-making on annual health benefit and price changes in SA would be better served by a proper price index for medical scheme contributions, a new study has revealed. 10 Nov 2011 16:36

NHI benefits could outweigh its costs

The long-term economic benefits of the planned National Health Insurance (NHI) could outweigh the negative effect of possible tax increases, provided that the NHI is implemented efficiently. 7 Nov 2011 12:49

Guide to medical scheme options for 2012

[John Cranke] Traditional options, new generation options, network options, day-to-day benefits, in-hospital coverage, chronic illness benefits - there's so much to consider when choosing medical aid. Here's a general overview and breakdown of the changes and benefits for medical schemes for 2012, as well as some healthy advice about choosing a medical aid option. 2 Nov 2011 15:30

NHI pilots for 10 districts

National health insurance pilot projects will take place in 10 districts to test feasibility and "scalability", Treasury said in its 2011 medium-term budget policy statement, tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday, 25 October 2011. 26 Oct 2011 15:42

R500m to fund NHI pilot sites

About R500 million is expected to be set aside in the 2012 Budget to fund pilot sites for the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan revealed yesterday, 25 October 2011. 26 Oct 2011 15:15

Flexible, affordable, benefit-rich options

Medshield Medical Scheme, the fourth largest open scheme in South Africa, has announced an average family rate increase for 2012 of R294.34. In operation for over 40 years, the scheme's management says Medshield's resilience in an increasingly challenging environment is evident through its active expansion into the private sector. Last year the company successfully took on Oxygen and Gen-Health members, resulting in a principal membership of over 100 000, covering 254 000 lives. 21 Oct 2011 07:25