players as well as which benefits will be covered by the
NHI and which can be offered by the medical schemes.
We are currently evaluating the full NHI Bill and will
continue to provide insight and comment to ensure that
South Africans' access to healthcare is enhanced and
that our members’ interests are protected.
In July, we announced our 2018 financial results which
showed a surplus of R164.8 million, an increase in
reserves to R4.13 billion and an improved solvency ratio
of 25.2%. This surplus will be invested back into the Fund
and contribute towards offering our members access to
affordable healthcare of the highest quality. The 2017
financial results were the best in our history and, even
though we could not duplicate this, we are satisfied
with the 2018 financials, especially given our stagnant
economy and other negative market influences.
Lee Callakoppen
Principal Officer
Working tirelessly
to ensure affordable,
quality healthcare
The past few months have seen a number of proclamations
and comments around the status of healthcare in South
Africa, especially around the release of South Africa’s
National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.
We welcome the efforts of the NHI insofar as it aims to
improve access to healthcare for all South Africans. Bonitas
is in full support of the intent towards universal healthcare.
However, we still maintain that medical schemes have a
vital role to play in the rollout of a new healthcare model.
We have always supported the idea of the NHI and believe
that it is in the interests of the greater good of everyone
– and not just the 16 percent of the population who
belong to medical schemes. But we believe medical
schemes have a bigger role to play and should not
be side-lined.For NHI to be a success, collaboration
between medical schemes and government is essential.
There needs to be agreement on the roles of both
Page 3
We remain proactive in a number of strategic areas to
continue to curtail costs. Some factors are beyond our
control such as high healthcare inflation, the recession,
poor returns on investment and increased claims,
especially for lifestyle related diseases. But we are
constantly looking for innovative methods to reduce
costs while continuing to offer you, our valued member,
maximum value for money.
One of our key successes has been the efforts to fight
medical aid fraud, waste and abuse. In 2018 we recovered
R31.2 million and had three criminal convictions of
healthcare practitioners for fraud and contravention of
Section 66 of the Medical Schemes Act. Read more about
this on page 20. The growing prevalence of lifestyle
disease among South Africans is a concern. On page 17
we help you with tips to improve your heart and on page
9 we turn the spotlight on asthma.
Our main sponsorship, the Comrades Marathon, took
place in KwaZulu-Natal a few months ago. Read the
highlights on page 27 and our interview with the winners
Edward Mothibi and Gerda Steyn.
We also help you understand childhood vaccines and
immunisation on page 22 and 23. One of South Africa’s
renowned rehabilitation centres, House of Houghton,
helps us unpack substance abuse on page 24. We have
seen a surge recently in non-emergency ER24 claims,
amounting to R1.6 million of rejected claims. We help
you understand when you should call for an ambulance
on page 15.
We hope to continue receiving your support as we work
tirelessly to provide you and your loved ones with quality,
affordable healthcare.
Lee