Low-cost medical plans can offer workers in the private sector access to much-needed basic health care, but despite employers being willing to sponsor this cover, uncertainty about the legality of the products may hinder growth of membership. Discovery Health's primary health-care plan is in legal limbo following failure to obtain the necessary approval. Discovery's plan covers 30,000 employees who previously did not have health-care cover. As public sector health-care facilities remain troubled and the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) is still years away, employers have focused on primary health-care plans to provide workers with access to private doctors, medicines, basic tests, optometry, dentistry, emergency services and limited private hospital cover for trauma and accidents at much-reduced contribution rates. Benefits differ greatly but such products start from about R160 a month, with many around R400 to R500 a month. They were initially popular in industries...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.