Medical schemes alleged to be breaking the law

South African medical schemes are contravening at least provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, which came into effect in April this year. According to Times Live, an investigation by the National Consumer Commission has alleged that the top five medical schemes are among those violating the existing consumer protection laws.

Times Live reports that the Consumer Commissioner, Mamodupi Mohlala found after a preliminary analysis that most of the complaints centred on elderly patients not understanding the terms of the medical aid schemes and that the rules are provided to consumers only after the agreement has been signed.

She says that, in terms of the Act, it is unfair that any consumer should be discriminated against but the medical aids schemes contain a number of discriminatory clauses in their contracts.

Read more: