BE BETTER AND HEALTHIER IN 2024
Living a healthy lifestyle is becoming more of a priority globally. To achieve this, you need to have the right support: financially, mentally and physically. This is where making the right choice around healthcare cover is so important
Rising interest rates, spiralling utility costs, loadshedding and fuel price increases have put many South Africans under financial pressure. Lee Callakoppen, principal officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, says the scheme is aware of the struggles facing South Africans. “When income is stretched, decisions on where to spend and save become even more critical, including whether to spend your hard-earned income on private healthcare,” he says. “This is why we constantly seek opportunities to amplify value for our members, be it through our diversified plan design, the introduction of new benefits or negotiating for more favourable rates within the healthcare environment. The year ahead will be no different. We have taken great care to balance our benefit enhancements to provide value, while ensuring contributions remain affordable.”
He adds that as “the medical aid for SA”, Bonitas has a responsibility to educate members and non-members about making good choices and be proactive in guiding them towards living a healthier lifestyle.
Bonitas offers comprehensive Care programmes, as well as preventive screening, wellness checks and additional benefits.
In South Africa, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension has increased year on year. Mental health has also become an increased burden. To provide support for members with non-communicable diseases, Bonitas has enhanced its range of Care programmes to cover audiology, HIV/Aids, cancer, diabetes, mental health, back and neck problems, hip and knee replacements, and hospital-at-home.
Callakoppen says a disease-specific approach has been created for these conditions, with a network of doctors who are experts in treating them, to improve clinical outcomes.
Mental health prevalence is now at an all-time high. Callakoppen reports a 25% increase in the number of mental health hospital admissions in the past year, indicating a need for additional support. Bonitas has implemented a Mental Health Programme (MHP) across all its plans for 2024. This includes depression as a chronic condition. It also offers members access to Panda, a mental wellness mobile app solution for easy access to expert help, mental health information and community support.
Bonitas is the only scheme that provides members with access to an additional rand amount to use for out-of-hospital expenses, such as GP consultations, blood tests and acute medicine. To activate this Benefit Booster, members complete an online wellness questionnaire on the Bonitas website or a wellness screening at a Bonitas wellness day or participating network pharmacy. Wellness screenings can also be conducted by a GP as part of an annual check-up.
The scheme has also intensified its drive to increase health screening uptake. Bonitas’s “Be Better Benefit” is funded from risk and provides a range of tests and benefits to ensure members have access to necessary screenings to allow for early detection of disease and conditions. This innovative benefit provides access to a wide range of tests, depending on the plan selected, including an annual wellness screening per beneficiary to check blood pressure, blood glucose, BMI and cholesterol. It includes flu vaccines, HIV tests, lipograms, mammograms, pap smears, prostate screening, pneumococcal vaccines, whooping cough boosters, HPV vaccines, stool tests for colon cancer, dental fissure sealants to prevent tooth decay, free online hearing screenings and access to contraceptives up to R1,950.
Callakoppen says the scheme has tried to keep things easy to understand, with plans structured to meet a range of quality healthcare options that are easier on the pocket. Efficiency Discounted Options (EDOs) using network healthcare providers have been introduced for this reason. Members on these plans pay about 15% less for the same benefits.
Bonitas has renewed its forward-thinking focus on outcome-based healthcare and continues to strive to introduce new distribution models and channels to keep it current and sustainable, adds Callakoppen. “We want to help our members live healthier lifestyles, while offering them access to quality, affordable medical aid. Health and wellness should never be taken for granted. Living a more balanced and healthier lifestyle will go a long way towards enabling a stronger, brighter future where you can have a positive impact on your family, society and others.”