JOBURG SOUTH – As each New Year begins your medical scheme benefits are recharged and it’s a great time to strategically think about how you can get the most out of your scheme in the 12 months that lie ahead.
Peter Jordan, Principal Officer of Fedhealth, says it’s important to remember that your day-to-day benefits need to last you for the full 12 months of the year so making the most of these benefits is therefore in your best interests. “The key is to minimise your daily healthcare spend, so that you don’t come up short at the end of the year,” he says. Educating yourself on what is covered, what isn’t and what percentage of certain rates is covered on your particular option is a great starting point. Look at your savings for the year and try and plan ahead on how these should be used taking into account essentials like dentists visits, optometrist visits and annual check-up appointments ie gynaecologist. It’s also important to decide what you want to make a priority in the year bearing in mind your savings and benefits have a limit. Choosing designer frames for your prescription lenses, for example, may be a priority however you need to understand that these will eat into your savings and leave you with less available day-to-day benefits for the rest of the year.
“Before heading off to your GP, ask yourself whether a visit to the doctor is essential or whether a pharmacist visit or alternative route could be taken. Get the right advice. Some schemes offer personal health advice helplines so why not make use of these? Questions about unfamiliar symptoms, medical and drug information, common home remedies, or nutrition and diet questions, are all answered confidentially by a professional.”
“Should you still be required to see a doctor, find out whether you are on a network option and can make use of a network GP. In this way your consultation will be paid directly by the scheme and not deducted from your savings. With Fedhealth, this unique benefit is also unlimited, meaning that you and your dependants can visit a network GP as many times as you like, without the worry of the effect on your Savings,” says Jordan. “If your GP needs to refer you to a specialist, ask them to refer you to a specialist that’s contracted to your scheme’s network. Your scheme will have negotiated fixed tariffs with these specialists and your consultation will be covered in full, provided you have available day-to-day benefits.”
He also recommends asking your healthcare professional about their fee structure before your consultation begins to avoid any surprises. “In some cases, healthcare professionals may charge less if you pay them upfront directly after the consultation, and you claim the costs back from the scheme yourself. It’s also important to keep track of payments made by the scheme each month and what is coming out of your savings and what isn’t.”
Jordan says it’s wise to check whether you are eligible for discounts through preferred wellness partners ie gyms, and to take advantage of these reduced rates.
“It’s also important to read communications that you receive from your scheme and to check its website regularly for any updates. There may be valuable information in these communications that could improve your health, assist you in using your benefits effectively, and keeping you on top of any changes that may take place in the scheme during the year. Now is the perfect time to get smart about your medical scheme and ensure you get the most out of your benefits this year,” he concludes.
