Relief for medical aid members as govt gazettes new co-payment guidelines
The Council for Medical Schemes has declared excessive co-payments as irregular and undesirable.
Those on medical aid are expected to use the services of doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare providers that are on a scheme's network.
If members don't, then they risk steep co-payments.
A new notice by Council for Medical Schemes on this matter has been published in the Government Gazette.
READ: SA records over 2 000 new Covid-19 cases
The council's Acting General Manager, Mmatsie Mpshane says this doesn't only unfairly hit members in the pocket but prevents many healthcare service providers from joining medical aid schemes' networks.
"We are not saying there will no longer be a co-payment, but even if it's a co-payment, then it will be lesser because right now people are paying like 30 percent if you decide not to utilise services of the dedicated service provider (DSP) which is a lot of money. But everything will be detailed and spelt out in the guideline."
Guidelines on co-payments will be published within 180 days.
