NHI’s impact on medical aid members still unknown

The Board of Healthcare Funders of South Africa (BHF) said the fate of current medical aid members would be dependent on the benefit restructuring and the funding model deployed by the National Health Insurance (NHI).

This comes after the general agreement that the Sars tax refund, a non-refundable rebate meant for taxpayers registered to medical aid schemes would be the primary source for the NHI.

BHF managing director Dr Katlego Mothudi said: “There is a general agreement the fiscus will the primary source of the fund. There are other considerations, which include additional tax levies, medical aid subsidies and tax credits. This is part of the technical work that is envisaged to be undertaken by the funding work stream.”

He said the impact it would have on current medical aid members would depend on the “benefit restructuring and the funding model that is deployed”.

The intention was that the country would have a unified health system where every citizen would have access to the same basic services.

“By implication there are those who are currently covered whose needs may be totally fulfilled by the fund.”

He said the purpose of universal cover was to provide health services to the population without financial hardship.

– jenniffero@citizen.co.za

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