Fiscus the source

The Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa (BHF) says the fate of current medical aid members will be dependent on the benefit restructuring and the funding model deployed by the National Health Insurance (NHI).

This comes after general agreement that the Sars tax refund, a nonrefundable rebate meant for taxpayers registered to medical aid schemes, will be the primary source for the NHI.

BHF managing director Dr Katlego Mothudi said: “There is a general agreement the fiscus will be the primary source of the fund.

“There are other considerations which include additional tax levies, medical aid subsidies and tax credits. This is part of the technical work that is envisaged to be undertaken by the funding work stream.”

He said, the impact it would have on current medical aid members would depend on the “benefit restructuring and the funding model that is deployed. The intention is that the country will have a unified health system where every citizen will have access to the same basic services.

“By implication, there are those who are currently covered whose needs may be totally fulfilled by the fund.”

Mothudi said the purpose of universal cover is to provide health services to the population without financial hardship.

There are other considerations which include additional tax levies, medical aid subsidies and tax credits.

Dr Katlego Mothudi BHF managing director