Message from our Principal Officer : Lee Callakoppen
Looking ahead to a stronger , healthier 2022 .
Although 2021 showed signs of hope , it was still a very tough year for our country . COVID-19 has certainly left its mark on many , not just physically and mentally but also financially . With the arrival of the fourth wave of COVID-19 , vaccination figures are not nearly close enough to the target the Government had hoped for . To minimise the impact of this next wave , we urge all our members ( and all South Africans ) to get vaccinated as soon as possible and continue practising COVID-19 safety measures . Let ’ s all do our part to limit the spread of the virus and the impact of the fourth wave .
We are extremely excited about our product offering for 2022 and recently received good news from the Council for Medical Schemes – that all our rules , plans and contributions have been approved . With the addition of BonStart Plus , we now have a total of 15 plans and I ’ m confident that everyone can find a plan to suit his / her specific healthcare needs .
We ’ re also thrilled that the premium decrease of BonStart was approved . This industry first is quite remarkable as we ’ ve decreased the premium by 7.9 % while increasing the benefits which means unmatched value for our members . To read more about our benefits and enhancements for 2022 , please refer to pages 26 to 33 .
Over the past two years , we ’ ve seen an increase in the importance of home-based care . In partnership with Quro Medical we ’ re offering our members , who need acute- level care , the opportunity to receive this care in their homes rather than in a hospital . The Hospital-at-Home care delivery model is known to improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience . See page 16 for additional information .
A new personalised wellness and lifestyle programme called AMP , is now available on the new Bonitas app . It allows members to access their health information digitally . In addition , through a partnership with Avo by Nedbank , members can do life differently with great deals across various categories . To find out more about what the new app can do for you , go to page 22 .
With the festive season around the corner and temperatures soaring , we also have some tips to help you this summer . In the event of an emergency , remember that as a Bonitas member we have you covered and that you can rely on ER24 to assist . On page 24 we have a quick reference checklist to guide you as to when you should call an ambulance .
I trust you will manage to have a good rest during the holiday break and look forward to providing you with another year of affordable , quality healthcare .
We wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy 2022 !
Lee
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Bonitas Member Magazine Issue 4 | 2021