Medical aid should be compulsory

JungleBoy

JungleBoy

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Medical schemes have pleaded with MPs to make medical aid membership compulsory to employees across the country to sustain the struggling industry.

The medical schemes complained to the National Assembly's committee on health yesterday that the industry was not growing, yet medical costs keep shooting up - threatening the sustainability of the sector.

Senior officials of Discovery Health, Bonitas Medical Fund and Fedhealth Medical Scheme were briefing the multi-party committee on their operations, services and charges.
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This is does not make sense to me. The industry is struggling and they want to cover more people.
Shouldn't they increase premiums for those who are already covered?
If one does not want medical cover I don't see why they should be forced to get one...we already pay taxes and should be covered by gvt.
 
JungleBoy said:
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20100603044138966C411377

This is does not make sense to me. The industry is struggling and they want to cover more people.
Shouldn't they increase premiums for those who are already covered?
If one does not want medical cover I don't see why they should be forced to get one...we already pay taxes and should be covered by gvt.
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It seems you do not understand how medical aid works. It operates on the same basis as a gym OVERSUBSCRIBE hoping that less than 50% actually uses the services.

On the other hand some sort of medical cover SHOULD be compulsory for all working stiffs. Low income workers and there families are at greater risks and should be subsidized by the government. There should be a threshold where state subsidized medical cover stops and the employer covers a greater portion of the monthly medical aid cover.
 
Instead of nationalising... the government should privatise all state medical hospitals and services.... and then pump that money into subsidies so that the poor can afford medical cover or basic hospitalisation cover. Then cap the prices for most basic services so that people can afford to continue getting basic service. Nobody should be turned away AT ANY hospital for basic or emergency treatment.
 
Whats next, car dealers asking that people be forced to buy cars?
 
If they are forced to cover things like aids, then Medaid companies are simply not financially viable in SA. Too many sick people, not enough money. Can't fix that without imposing much stricter limits of cover for treatments people need, and use the most. If that's against the law, well, they are between a rock and a hard place.
 
spiff said:
so now they want to force me to pay ±R1500-00 a month for something I NEVER use!! f@c them!!
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That's exactly how I see it. Medical aids are so full of sh#t anyway. They will always find an excuse not to pay up.
 
indeed.......they want money they can go beg by the national lottery! IMO its unconstitutional to force people to pay for something they DON'T want & DON'T use - just like the freaking TV licence!! the only time I needed a doctor was to slap my ass at birth!
 
Screw them - I'm stuck with Medical Aid from Discovery and have only used it once in the last 3 years for a visit to the GP.

So wish I could get out of it.

R1k plus a month for nothing.
 
Garyvdh said:
Instead of nationalising... the government should privatise all state medical hospitals and services.... and then pump that money into subsidies so that the poor can afford medical cover or basic hospitalisation cover. Then cap the prices for most basic services so that people can afford to continue getting basic service. Nobody should be turned away AT ANY hospital for basic or emergency treatment.
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Bingo. Problem is, the few guys running the med schemes lose profit ;_;. Profit is the most important thing remember. If the government really does listen to the greedy rat b4st4rds, it's pretty much proof that there's no hope.
 
I wouldn't want to be without my hospital plan - but I don't think it should be forced, rather force 3rd party car insurance... at least with health insurance you're only risking YOUR life.
 
HumanoidTyphoon said:
If they are forced to cover things like aids, then Medaid companies are simply not financially viable in SA. Too many sick people, not enough money. Can't fix that without imposing much stricter limits of cover for treatments people need, and use the most. If that's against the law, well, they are between a rock and a hard place.
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ARV's are available for free from state hospitals so NO that argument does not hold water.
 
copied from my post on medical aids for pets: Cancel your medical aid. Take your medical aid premiums that you were paying, add the medi pet premiums, throw the money into you bond or a money market account or a special savings account and let compound interest do it's magic. The money remains yours, not some corporation's that has a lot of red tape when you want to get it back. Plus it will pay for all you bills - no exclusions - It also ups your credit worthiness plus it gives you collateral for when you (or your deceased estate) have to apply for credit. I hate any industry that generates its turnover by playing on one's fears. eg. medical aid, funeral policies, security companies and now the latest one as advertised "at R 100.00/m can you afford NOT to have a lawyer?"
 
Medical schemes have pleaded with MPs to make medical aid membership compulsory to employees across the country to sustain the struggling industry.
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WTF, these guys are like the fscking mafia! How can you force a product on a person he/she has no interest in buying?
 
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