IN LINE with its warnings earlier this year, Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) is to raise its premiums by a weighted average of 10.2% in January, slightly higher than the 8.6% weighted average increase it implemented in 2016. Members belonging to different options will face contribution increases ranging between 7.8% and 14.9% but will not face significant changes to their benefits, the scheme said on Tuesday.DHMS is the biggest medical scheme on the open market, and had 2,715,864 members at the end of July. It is administered by Discovery Health, a subsidiary of JSE-listed Discovery, and as a result is closely watched by the industry. Open medical schemes permit anyone who can afford their premiums to join, while restricted schemes limit membership to employer groups or specific professions.Earlier this year, Discovery Health CEO Jonathan Broomberg warned that medical scheme members were likely to face higher than usual premium increases, as a result of increased claims."The ...
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