The registrar of the Council for Medical Schemes, Dr Sipho Kabane, is hopeful that guidelines for low-cost medical scheme options will be finalised and presented to the health minister by the end of June.
A report in Die Burger notes this deadline is one of the major steps in a process that has been dragging on for two decades. Low-cost options – that would not be subjected to the entire range of Prescribed Minimum Benefits currently imposed on all medical scheme options – are aimed at providing a more affordable product for lower income households.
This was first mooted through an actuarial study in 2001 and the industry has been waiting for the council guidelines since 2017, reports LegalBrief.
Kabane said the development of guidelines is at an advanced stage. An analysis of public comments will be finalised by the end of April, followed by a process to present the guidelines to the minister for approval.
Netwerk24 article – Goedkoop medies: Ná 20 jaar is einde moontlik in sig (Restricted access)
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