The SA Post Office’s financial difficulties are likely to have a dire effect on pensioners belonging to medical aid schemes it subsidises, with the appointment of a firm to negotiate a buy-out offer for these subsidies – which were suspended for three months last year.
Many Sapo pensioners were unaware that medical aid service providers contracted to the Post Office had suspended members’ benefits in October, November and December 2022 due to non-payment for this period, reports News24.
Although Johan Kruger, Sapo national spokesperson, said all medical aid contributions for all “recognised medical aid schemes” had been paid by 13 January, it came too late for the late Elizabeth Engelbrecht, a 98-year-old Cape Town pensioner, whose family tried to admit her to Rondebosch Medical Centre Private Hospital just before New Year, only to be turned away.
Her son James Engelbrecht (71) said that his mother had needed to be admitted to hospital, but when they got there, they were told her medical aid had been suspended. They eventually admitted her to Groote Schuur, said Engelbrecht, who added that he had immediately contacted Sapo and his mother’s medical aid, Bonitas Medical Fund.
In an email response on 11 January, the Sapo payroll department informed him that October 2022 contributions had now been paid. However, it stated that contributions for November and December were still unpaid “due to the dire financial situation Sapo is currently experiencing”.
“Sapo is … in discussion with the various schemes in so far as the arrears and the upliftment of suspensions… doing their utmost to find urgent solutions to the current situation,” the email read.
Engelbrecht said it was unacceptable Sapo did not inform his mother or family about the medical aid suspension beforehand.
“How can you not inform these elderly, vulnerable people in society? My father worked for the Post Office for 40 years. How can you not inform people about decisions like that?”
Two days later, his mother died: on Monday 16 January, Lee Callakoppen, principal officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, confirmed that payment from Sapo had been received.
“Group suspension has been lifted, however, there may be individual specific pre-existing conditions (and not as a result of the suspension) that may be applicable to individual membership.”
The fact that the arrears have now been paid may, however, turn out to be a reprieve only, rather than a long-term solution.
In the email, Sapo advised Engelbrecht to contact the appointed firm which “will gladly explain terms and conditions of the medical buy-out offer”.
Should pensioners accept the buy-out offer, they will be able to remain on their medical aid but without subsidies in the future.
For some pensioners, like Engelbrecht’s mother whose Sapo subsidy was R4 838.93, this loss could mean a huge additional monthly expense. The number of Sapo pensioners belonging to Bonitas alone is 2 378.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Court orders SAPO to pay R4.5m in medical aid contribution arrears
Medipos threatens to cut SAPO medical aid over R700m debt
Post Office medical aid settlement agreement reached, says Solidarity
Post Office workers and pensioners face loss of medical aid cover