SA’s 1.3-million public servants have until Thursday to consider whether to amend their healthcare plans, after it was agreed on Tuesday that contributions to the Government Employee Medical Scheme (GEMS) will rise 15% from January 2017. The state subsidy to employees will increase 8.8%, meaning state employees will pay the additional 6.2% required to keep GEMS solvent. Public servants and the government agreed during collective bargaining in 2015, to retain 75% medical assistance for in-service employees, with state contributions capped at R925 per principal member and R565 per dependant. Parties further agreed to adjust the subsidy according to the medical price index on January 1 each year. Public Servants Association (PSA) assistant GM Leon Gilbert confirmed the agreement on Tuesday, saying labour had previously raised questions about extending the period for choosing plan options. While not part of collective bargaining, GEMS had informed the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargai...
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