Gerhard Van Emmenis, Principal Officer

ACCESS to quality healthcare remains a concern for all South Africans and choosing a medical aid to suit one’s healthcare needs and financial status is key.

Gerhard Van Emmenis, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund says, “Our mandate is to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all South Africans. We understand that consumers are confronted by a number of challenges that make choosing a medical aid difficult. However, we aim to assist by simplifying our plans to make them easy to understand and use.”

With regard to industry increases and value for money, he concedes that confusion is heightened by primary health insurance as well as the complexity and rules that govern medical aids. This year industry increases for medical aid ranged between 2.7 percent and 14.3 percent and he cautions that these increases in isolation are not an indicator of value for money. This is compounded by healthcare inflation outpacing general inflation by around four percent each year.

He adds, “Over the past few years, we have implemented a number of cost-containment initiatives and innovative benefits to ensure members get value for money without compromising on quality. “As the second largest open medical scheme, with more than 750 000 beneficiaries, we have the financial stability to strengthen our position as one of the leading medical aids in South Africa.”

Tailored plans

There is no ‘one size fits all’ with medical aid options. Bonitas offers a wide range of plans to suit the needs of a diverse population and members from all walks of life. This includes traditional medical aid plans, savings plans, hospital plans and income-based options. Each designed with simplicity in mind, allowing members to make the most of their benefits and derive maximum value for money.

Managed Care

With the increase in prevalence of lifestyle diseases and cost of treatment, Bonitas focuses heavily on prevention and managed care protocols. Its 13 options all include Managed Care programmes. Also on offer are eight specialist areas including:

Back and neck rehabilitation

Dental wellness Disease management

Diabetes

Hip and knee replacement HIV/AIDS

Oncology

In addition there are wellness benefits to help members manage their health and prevent chronic conditions. These include blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and BMI tests and free annual flu injections, among others. Bonitas members now have access to free lifestyle vouchers as well as discounted offers on gap cover and financial services products through the Fund’s new multi-insurer platform. “Our members’ health has always been a priority and we’ve striven to make healthcare as affordable as possible,” says Van Emmenis. “And, while our various plans offer a host of benefits, we know that in difficult financial times, money matters can add to stress levels. Thus, we have adopted a multi-insurer platform which offers members discount lifestyle vouchers as well as exclusive offers on gap cover and various life insurance products at a discounted price. All negotiated and designed to add real value aligned to member needs.

“The economic landscape is tough to navigate and we didn’t want to add to the pressure already placed on our members by offering a loyalty programme for which they would have to pay an additional monthly fee. Our multi-insurer platform is premised on negotiating exclusive deals to the benefit of our membership. The offerings do not cost extra, there are no points, no fees, no levels and you don’t have to work hard for rewards. They are designed to add real value aligned to member needs,” Van Emmenis explains.

The multi-insurer platform is supported by a new, revamped zone to allow members to manage their medical aid 24/7, on any device. This includes submitting claims, applying for chronic medicine and viewing benefits.

This, he posits, clearly signals a new medical aid era, “We are one of few independent medical schemes, not linked to a larger financial services provider and seek to act in the best interest of our members at all times .And, to ensure sustainability, we continue to look for ways to contain healthcare costs. Our mandate, entrenched in the Fund, is about making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to all South Africans.”