SA’s three biggest medical schemes have announced their price hikes – here’s how they compare

[Jopie Fourie]

Following Discovery and Bonitas, the Momentum Health medical scheme also announced its contribution increase for 2020.
At a weighted average annual hike of 8.2%, it’s the lowest of the three.

SA's biggest medical scheme Discovery will hike its contributions by an average of 9.5% next year. Last year, Discovery increased its contributions by 9.2%.

Average contributions for Bonitas, the second-largest medical scheme in the country, will increase by 9.9% from next year, with increases ranging between 6.2% and 11.9%.

“Although the industry increases this year may appear steep during a tough economic climate that continues to put a strain on consumers’ pockets, various factors need to be considered, such as rising medical inflation rates, ageing scheme profiles and regulatory requirements,” says Damian McHugh, executive head of sales and marketing at Momentum Health Solutions.

SA’s three biggest medical schemes have announced their price hikes – here’s how they compare | Business

Following Discovery and Bonitas, the Momentum Health medical scheme announced its membership hikes for 2020.

www.fin24.com

 

[Jopie Fourie]

I think we can all expect extreme increases from now on from all private medical aids, until the launch of the NHA and they close down. They will now want to seize the opportunity to make billions more before disappearing from the radar.

 

[Archer]

I think we can all expect extreme increases from now on from all private medical aids, until the launch of the NHA and they close down. They will now want to seize the opportunity to make billions more before disappearing from the radar.

Excect for the fact that medical aid schemes are non profits.
And the other little fact that these increases (for Discovery anyway) are lower than last year, and the year before

 

[ToxicBunny]

Excect for the fact that medical aid schemes are non profits.
And the other little fact that these increases (for Discovery anyway) are lower than last year, and the year before

Don't bring logic to a fight with LouLou... he'll beat you down with made up numbers and feels.

 

[Kosmik]

Anyone but me hate the fact that increases are announced prior to changes? Hows about announcing the changes and then increases so people can actually view what they are paying for.

What I can find.

*Quoted but I removed quotes for visibility - source -> http://www.assegai.co.za/discovery-health-update-2020/

KEY BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS

• Enhanced Specialised Medicine Technology
• Introduction of co-payments on Executive plan for MRI/CT scans
• Change to Chronic Illness Benefit formulary (1 Jan)
• Classic Comprehensive Zero MSA renamed
• Enhancements on the Smart series
• Amendments to the day-to-day Extender Benefit
• Expansion of the Delta and Smart hospital networks
• Accumulation of medication to threshold plans
• Limit applied to KeyCare Plus casualty benefit
• Funding for scopes amended

KEY VITALITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Vitality Active Rewards – additional partners
• Vitality Active Rewards for kids introduced
• Mental wellbeing becomes a personalised goal
• Vitality point brackets amended to reach Gold and Diamond status with ease
• Enhancement to Vitality Active
• Vitality Health Tracker available for all Discovery members

BENEFIT CHANGES

• Specialised Medicine Technology benefit available on Executive and Comprehensive options enhanced to provide full cover for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease
• Executive members will now experience a co-payment for MRI and CT scans (in-and out-of-hospital) as well as endoscopic procedures (in-hospital) of R3,040 and R4,100 respectively
• Classic Comprehensive Zero MSA has been renamed to Classic Smart Comprehensive. The benefit design has been amended to include the following:
  • Oncology benefit for non-Prescribed Minimum Benefit (‘PMB’) conditions reduced to R300,000 with a 20% co-payment after the limit is reached
  • Hospital admission to a non-Smart hospital will be subject to an upfront deductible of R9,650
  • Chronic illness benefit only available for the PMB conditions
  • The Smart day-to-day benefits will accumulate to the annual threshold however this is excluding over-the-counter medication. Additional benefits will be available once the member reaches the annual threshold
• Accumulation of non-preferred medication (generic and original) will change from 75% to 50% on all threshold options
• The Delta network options will now have access to the Life Wilgers Hospital
• The Smart hospital network list will include eight (8) additional regions including Tzaneen, Klerksdorp, Welkom, Umtata, Newcastle, Ballito, Pretoria, Cape Town
• The Classic Smart plan will have an annual limit of R1,500 per member and R2,500 per family for schedule 3 and above medication. The R10 co-payment has been removed
• Deductible and co-payment amount have increased by 9.5% across all plans
• A limit of one (1) casualty visit has been introduced on the KeyCare Plus option for all elective casualty visits
• Day-to-day benefit limits have increased by 9.5% on the Threshold plans
• The Day-to-day Extender benefit will now include unlimited video consultations with a network GP and consultations at a pharmacy clinic in the wellness network. Face-to-face network GP consultations will be available once the member is referred by the pharmacy clinic.
• The medication formulary, including the Chronic Drug Amount, on the Chronic Illness Benefit will be amended. Discovery will be in contact with the affected members during October and November 2019

VITALITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Vitality Health Tracker introduced for all Discovery non-Vitality members, where members will have access to personalised health goals at no cost. Members will be able to earn Discovery miles which will accumulate and only be allocated once the member joins a Vitality product
• Members will now earn Discovery miles instead of points for reaching their weekly goal on Vitality Active Rewards
• Vitality Active Rewards will provide members with an instant 100 Discovery miles over and above the game board for reaching their weekly goal
• Vitality Active Rewards Discovery miles can now be spent on DSTV Box Office, Netflix, Uber, Makro, Typo, Exclusive Books, Takealot and Cotton on
• Vitality Active Rewards for kids introduced where children will be rewarded by following healthy habits. Children aged between 2 and 13 will have access to earn their own Discovery miles by completing certain weekly challenges e.g. trying three (3) new vegetables. A maximum of 1,000 Discovery miles will be earned per child for challenges and 200 Discovery miles for physical activities. This will be accessed via the parent’s Discovery App.
• Children aged between 14 and 18 will now have access to Vitality Active Rewards
• Mental wellbeing added to the personalised health goals available whereby members can earn up to 1,000 Discovery miles for completing the mental wellbeing assessment. Members can earn up to 1,000 Discovery miles for completing their weekly mental wellbeing goals
• Vitality Active has been enhanced to included discounts of up to 25% for Clicks and Dischem as well as 50% on 2D and 3D movies at Ster-Kinekor. Members can also save up to 50% when purchasing a Huawei Band 3-Pro from Sportsmans Warehouse. Rewards boosted for completing a health check.
• Vitality Active gym discount has increased from 25% to 50% at Virgin Active Red and Planet Fitness Just Gym
• Vitality point brackets reduced to assist members in reaching Gold and Diamond with ease. Diamond can now be reached within one (1) year.

 

[rodga]

Excect for the fact that medical aid schemes are non profits.
And the other little fact that these increases (for Discovery anyway) are lower than last year, and the year before

But the articles says it's not?

"SA's biggest medical scheme Discovery will hike its contributions by an average of 9.5% next year. Last year, Discovery increased its contributions by 9.2%"

 

[Archer]

But the articles says it's not?

"SA's biggest medical scheme Discovery will hike its contributions by an average of 9.5% next year. Last year, Discovery increased its contributions by 9.2%"

I'll admit I skimmed through the google results woops. Even so, hardly seems like they are trying to price gouge, and their books are open so if someone truly thinks they are planning on making a run anyone can have a look

 

[Grubscrew]

Discovery up by only 8%, but benefits also drop by xy%

 

[ForceFate]

I think we can all expect extreme increases from now on from all private medical aids, until the launch of the NHA and they close down. They will now want to seize the opportunity to make billions more before disappearing from the radar.

Lol

 

[blah99]

I dont like this :

The Classic Smart plan will have an annual limit of R1,500 per member and R2,500 per family for schedule 3 and above medication. The R10 co-payment has been removed

 

[Kosmik]

I dont like this :

The Classic Smart plan will have an annual limit of R1,500 per member and R2,500 per family for schedule 3 and above medication. The R10 co-payment has been removed

I'm also wary but schedule 3 is pretty high and should only be necessary in emergencies or else on chronic which is NOT part of that limitation. The way it reads, S2 will not be charged anymore.

 

[Grant]

I'm also wary but schedule 3 is pretty high and should only be necessary in emergencies or else on chronic which is NOT part of that limitation. The way it reads, S2 will not be charged anymore.

S3 is rather low - no script needed
S4 & up require a script. in short, prescribed medicine now has a limit of R2500 p/a.
parents + 2 kids = R750 ea p/a -- ie R62 pm

maybe adrian gore is shopping for an island now.

 

[ForceFate]

S3 is rather low - no script needed
S4 & up require a script. in short, prescribed medicine now has a limit of R2500 p/a.
parents + 2 kids = R750 ea p/a -- ie R62 pm

maybe adrian gore is shopping for an island now.

Thought it's 3 and above...

 

[Kosmik]

Thought it's 3 and above...

I thought the same, up to s2 without a prescription.

 

[Grant]

S1 & S2 - over counter - go mad
S3 mostly requires name contact details etc, although sometimes a script, depending on the item
S4 and up - prescription
S7 & S8 - good times

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

MA's are already ridiculously steep but nope, lets increase cost while lowering and doing away with benefits

 

[diapason]

The over the counter medicine benefit on Classic Smart increases from R630 to R690.

Co-pay for GP visits increases to R55.

 

[ProfA]

Anybody who believes that medical schemes are non profit is a fcking gullible naive imbecile and just go and register to join the ruling party because of new dawn.

 

[ld13]

Anybody who believes that medical schemes are non profit is a fcking gullible naive imbecile and just go and register to join the ruling party because of new dawn.

But they are. The administrator on the other hand...

 

[Hemi300c]

Excect for the fact that medical aid schemes are non profits.
And the other little fact that these increases (for Discovery anyway) are lower than last year, and the year before

No profit but look at the building they put up which is worth how much.
It's easy to spend money and hide it for later to show no "profit"