Message from our Principal Officer : Lee Callakoppen
So far 2022 has been a year with several major events having taken place , internationally and locally . The KZN floods have left many homeless and in despair , the war in the Ukraine has pushed the petrol price to a record high and interest rate increases have put many South Africans under financial pressure . Not to mention the fifth wave of Covid-19 .
As the Medical Aid for South Africa , we ’ re completely committed to supporting you and your loved ones by helping add real value to your lives . To help you make the most of your medical aid , I ’ d like to offer three simple tips that will help you stretch your benefits :
1 . Pre-authorise all hospital stays to avoid co-payments . Simply call or email us to get an authorisation number . You can read more about the importance of pre-authorisation on page 22 .
2 . Activate your Benefit Booster . This benefit can pay for outof-hospital claims including acute medicine , GP consultations and non-surgical procedures .
3 . Use network GPs to avoid co-payments and stretch your benefits even more . We negotiate special rates with these doctors to ensure you get quality care at lower rates .
With winter on our doorstep , it is important that we do what we can to stay healthy and avoid the flu – especially for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems . From pages 8 to 11 we share some tips on how to achieve this , from keeping warm and active to eating superfoods to boost your
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Bonitas Member Magazine Issue 2 | 2022 immune system . I also encourage you to get the flu vaccine – read the 10 facts about the flu vaccine on page 14 .
June is National Men ' s Health Month and we ’ re encouraging all men to take care of their bodies by eating correctly , exercising and working towards a healthier lifestyle . With Prostate cancer being one of the more common types of cancer in males , we share an article with you on pages 18 and 19 on this silent killer .
I ’ m extremely excited to announce the introduction of our new medical emergency service , Bonitas SOS . This 24 / 7 emergency service is available to all members and will help you and your beneficiaries get the emergency support you need , when you need it . Bonitas SOS is just a phone call away . Read more about this new service on pages 26 and 27 .
Ensuring our members are informed and educated on all things medical aid is extremely important to us , which means you can then make the most of your medical aid and benefits . As a result , we urge you to update your contact details with us , to ensure you are kept up-to-date regarding any changes or enhancements .
As always , we are committed to keeping you and your family in good health and supporting you with healthcare of the highest quality . I wish you all a healthy winter . Take care of yourself and stay safe .
Lee