We would like to remind all our clients who are on Keycare of important changes that came into effect on 1 January 2024. Below we highlight the changes:
Exclusion list: Cover will be provided for these procedures in the case of emergencies or Prescribed Minimum Benefit treatment. The following procedures have been added to the KeyCare series exclusion list: • Tonsillectomies • Myringotomies • Adenoidectomies KeyCare Hospital Network: For the purpose of maintaining the highest quality of care, ensuring efficient healthcare delivery and delivering value for members, the following changes have been made to the KeyCare Hospital Network: Changing from partial cover to full cover network status
What options are available for a KeyCare member if they are unable to access their Primary GP? KeyCare members will be able to change their nominated GP up to three times per year, depending on the member’s chosen KeyCare plan. This change will only be effective from the start of the next month. If a member is unable to change their nominated GP to take effect before needing to see a GP, they can use their out-of-network consultation at a network pharmacy clinic, with referral to a GP if needed. In cases where the chosen GP is away for a prolonged period (due to illness or being on leave) and there is no reasonable alternative available, a member can apply for the claim to be paid as an exception (without using the out-of-network consultation). Which pharmacies can be used for the KeyCare out-of-network consultation? KeyCare members can visit an Unjani Clinic or Netclinic, with over 200 clinics located across South Africa. If you would like apply for medical aid or appoint us your broker contact Lebogang in our Health Department email: service@daberistic.com tell: (011) 658-1333 Source: Discovery Health
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While the passing of the Bill by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) was not unexpected, it was nevertheless a disappointing development, particularly given more than 100 detailed submissions provided by various parties and industry experts and the significant constitutional and economic concerns raised by a wide range of stakeholders, including Discovery. Having said this, it is important to state that Discovery’s position regarding NHI remains clear and consistent: Universal Health Coverage is crucial and a workable NHI is central to achieving this. Discovery therefore supports NHI, but to make it workable requires collaboration with the private sector and additional funding. Discovery will continue to engage on this basis and remain optimistic that a constructive outcome can be achieved. The next step in the legislative process; and the negligible impact on medical schemes for the foreseeable future The next step in the legislative process is for the President to consider the constitutionality of the Bill, including what will likely be broad petitions from several stakeholders. He could then either: (1) sign the Bill, resulting in the Bill becoming law (with effective dates to be defined), and then likely face a range of lengthy constitutional challenges.; or (2) refer the Bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration. If the latter occurs, and following reconsideration of the Bill, the President can still refer the Bill to the Constitutional Court to verify its constitutional muster. Aside from the constitutional and legal hurdles that lie ahead, there are also significant operational challenges and financial realities that will need to be navigated. This is a massive structural change to South Africa’s health system and cannot be achieved overnight. Full implementation of the NHI therefore remains a long way off – more than a decade at least. During this period, very little to nothing will change in relation to medical schemes and Discovery will remain steadfastly focused on delivering against its client commitments and strategic priorities. In parallel, Discovery will of course continue with the extensive work it has been doing to achieve a constructive NHI outcome. A constructive NHI outcome requires collaboration with the private sector and additional funding, enabled by amendments to Section 33 in the Bill The key constraint to increased funding options and greater involvement of the private sector relates to Section 33 of the NHI Bill. Section 33 effectively limits the role of medical schemes to providing only complementary cover to the NHI once the Bill is fully implemented, effectively crowding out medical scheme funding and greater private sector participation. Additionally, the R200bn of additional tax funding required per annum to fund the NHI Bill, as estimated by the National Department of Health, is both insufficient and unrealistic. Collecting such a huge quantum of money would require either an increase of 31% to personal income tax, or a 6.5% increase in VAT (from 15% to 21.5%) or a 10x increase in payroll tax (current UIF contributions). In the context of the country’s macroeconomic environment, and a small tax base, the ability to raise an additional R200bn via taxation is simply not feasible. Without amendments to Section 33, the funding requirements for the NHI are unachievable and the proposed funding model is constitutionally flawed. Conversely, small but important changes to Section 33 can create an enabling funding environment and support the NHI Bill in successfully achieving its objectives. Alongside Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Discovery has therefore proposed changes to Section 33 that would make it less restrictive and more enabling, allowing for greater collaboration and the role of medical schemes to form over time. While Discovery is pressing hard for amendments to the Bill to make NHI workable through collaboration, if it is passed without amendment, the effect of section 33 will only manifest in a decade or more, and in our view the funding realities will ultimately prevail. In the interim, Discovery remains fully committed to playing a constructive role in expanding access and quality of healthcare to more South Africans. Source: Discovery The year is flying by, and as we approach the last quarter, you might be wondering if it’s still possible to reach that coveted Diamond status on Vitality by Christmas. Well, good news – it definitely is! Whether you’re just starting your Vitality journey or have been working towards it all year, here’s a guide on what you can do in the remaining quarter to make sure you hit that Diamond milestone. So, let’s dive in and craft the healthiest version of yourself before the holidays! 1. Register and download the Discovery app To kick-start your journey, head over to the Discovery website and register for an account. Don’t forget to download the Discovery app as well to gain access to all the tools and benefits that Vitality has to offer. Additionally, activate your Discovery account on the Discovery Bank app to unlock even more rewards and benefits at no monthly cost. Your health really is your wealth with Vitality and Discovery. 2. Assess your Vitality Complete the Vitality age online assessment to get a baseline understanding of your health. This assessment will help you identify areas that need improvement and guide you towards a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, make use of the Vitality Points Tracker to monitor your progress throughout the quarter. 3. Get active Physical activity is a key component of reaching Diamond status. Activate the Vitality Active Gear benefit and start working towards your Vitality Active Rewards exercise goals every week. To stay motivated, find a fitness partner who will join you on this journey and earn up to 30 000 points for regular gym visits. You’ll not only increase your discount but also boost your Vitality points. Remember, every step counts! 4. Health check Visit an accredited Vitality Wellness Centre, Vitality Wellness Network pharmacy, Discovery Store, or Discovery Wellness Day to do a Vitality Health Check. This will provide valuable insights into your overall health and help you stay on track. 5. Activate healthy living benefits Take advantage of the HealthyFood and HealthyCare benefits offered by Vitality. These benefits will help you make healthier food choices. Additionally, take advantage of discounted access to leading smoking cessation programmes when you make the decision to quit smoking. It’s a crucial step towards a healthier lifestyle. 6. Mental well-being matters Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical health, and Vitality recognises that. Complete the Vitality Mental Wellbeing online assessment, not just once but twice this year, to earn additional points. 7. Dine healthy Activate the HealthyFood and HealthyDining benefits to make informed choices when it comes to the food you consume. Learn how to make your own healthy and delicious meals by visiting the Vitality HealthyFood Studio. Eating nutritious food is a key component of maintaining a balanced lifestyle. 8. Fitness assessment and goals Schedule a Vitality Fitness Assessment with a biokineticist or at a wellness centre. Set yourself a fitness goal that you will achieve by November 1. It’s time to get that summer body ready – and get rewarded for it as well. 9. Explore Vitality Travel Haven’t taken your annual vacation yet? Take advantage of Vitality Travel and book a weekend getaway using the rewards and discounts you’ve earned. You deserve some relaxation and rejuvenation. 10. Finish strong Before the final quarter comes to an end, do another Vitality Health Check to see how far you’ve come. Set a reminder to do it in December so you don’t forget. Use the Vitality Points Tracker to keep an eye on your progress and stay motivated. And don’t forget to complete the Mental Wellbeing online assessment for the second time as well. Remember, reaching Diamond status is an accomplishment in itself, but the journey towards it is equally rewarding. Whether you achieve Diamond or come close, keep pushing yourself and striving for better health. Your success story can inspire others, so share it on social media and let the world know how Vitality has made a positive impact on your life. It’s never too late to level up your health and make the most of the remaining quarter. So, lace up those sneakers, activate those benefits, and let’s make this a Christmas to remember – with the gift of a healthier, diamond-level you! Source: Moneyweb Written by: Avi Kay On the 26th of September, Discovery announced its Discovery Health update for 2024. Below are the highlights: 1. Transforming members’ healthcare experience with the new Discovery Health app Your gateway to a personalised, end-to- end healthcare journey. Conveniently access care and manage your health and health plan benefits in a single app. The new app also enables new benefits for all members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme including Virtual Urgent Care, Virtual Physical Therapy, the Mental Health Assessment Benefit and digital therapeutics for mental health. You can already download the app from the App Store and Google Play. 2. Balancing affordability, sustainability and value for members in 2024 and beyond Increases to contributions for 2024 will be plan specific and will range from 0% to 12.9%, to maintain contributions in line with expected claims experience, while supporting affordability for members. Targeted plan and benefit updates for the Comprehensive series and KeyCare series ensures long-term sustainability of the benefits offered by these plans. The Comprehensive series currently has five plans. It will be consolidated into two options in 2024: Classic Comprehensive and Classic Smart Comprehensive. 3. Creating personal health pathways for all members In 2024, all Discovery Health Medical Scheme members will have access to a personal health pathway that predicts the most important actions they can take to improve their health. Members are encouraged to complete actions through an intelligent, gamified experience, which has been personalised for every adult member on the Scheme. 4. Expanding access to healthcare cover with Flexicare Flexicare is a health insurance product designed to provide a wide range of day-to-day healthcare benefits with optional add-ons, such as such as unlimited GP consultations, medicine, dentistry, optometry and so much more. Flexicare will be enhancing its primary healthcare offering in 2024 to include a nurse-led clinic pathway that provides increased access to quality primary healthcare at an affordable price point. The 2024 Discovey Health contribution table is as follows: The most affordable medical aid plan independent of income is Essential Dynamic Smart, R1,565 per month.
The most expensive plan, which provides the most comprehensive benefits, is the Executive Plan, which costs R10,303 per month. If you want to get or review the medical aid for your employees, please call our Health Department on 011-658-1333 or email service@daberistic.com. All the large open medical schemes in South Africa have announced their contribution increases for 2024. Below is the list. Discovery Health says the average weighted increase across DHMS plans is 7.5% for 2024. Excluding the Medical Savings Accounts, the increase on Risk Contributions is 10.5%.
If you want to review your medical aid plan, please call our Health Department on 011-658-1333, Option 2 or email service@daberistic.com. The FIA Intermediary Experience Awards is the most prestigious and well-known annual recognition event in the South Africa financial services industry for more than 20 years. The Awards recognises product providers (insurers) for the products, solutions and services they offer to the end-consumer through our member intermediaries or financial advisers.
This year's winners are: Sanlam won long-term insurer of the year (risk). The non-life insurance awards were split by sector. Santam won for personal lines; Western National for commercial; and Hollard for corporate. Allan Gray won two awards for investment products: lump sum and savings. Discovery Health won for healthcare Momentum Corporate for employee benefits. We congratulate these product providers for winning this prestigious award. We as Daberistic have had long-term relationship with these product providers, and we will continue to offer the best insurance and investment solutions to our clients. The tax filing season for individual non-provisional taxpayers will start on 7th July 20223. We would like to remind you to submit your tax return in good time. According to SARS official media release: Here are the dates and criteria for the 2023 Filing Season: Individual taxpayers (non-provisional): 7 July 2023 @ 20:00 to 23 October 2023 Provisional taxpayers: 7 July 2023 @ 20:00 to 24 January 2024 What’s new? Pre-population of ITR12 Third Party Data in preparation for the opening of Filing Season 2023: Please be advised that in preparation for the opening of the Personal Income Tax Filing Season in July 2023, between the period of 2 June 2023 until the opening of Filing Season, there is a possibility that the prepopulated data reflecting within your Personal Income Tax or Provisional Tax returns requested via eFiling, the SARS Mobi application or via a SARS Branch Office during this period, will pre-populate but may not be comprehensive until Filing Season is officially opened to the public. Have you received an Auto Assessment? Between 1 July and 7 July 2023, taxpayers will be notified by SMS or email if they were selected to receive an auto-assessment. Should you receive the SMS, the next step for you would be to review the auto-assessment on the SARS MobiApp or eFiling.
How is Auto Assessment different this year (2023) from last year (2022)? Last year you had 40 days to file a return if you were not happy with your auto-assessment, but this year we are giving you until the due date of 23 October 2023. If an auto-assessment has been issued after 23 October 2023 the 40 business days will start on the date of the notice of the assessment. What to prepare before filing starts?
Source: SARS By now you should have received tax certificates from financial institutions in the months of May and June to assist with your tax filing. These include tax certificates from the medical aid, banks, life insurance companies and investment companies. Check your email inbox and junk folder, search for the keyword "tax certificate" to find relevant emails. Download the attached tax certificates in a folder on your local drive or cloud storage for tax filing. Discovery Health: The email from Discovery Health looks like the following: Tax CertificatesBy now you should have received tax certificates from financial institutions in the months of May and June to assist with your tax filing. These include tax certificates from the medical aid, banks, life insurance companies and investment companies. Check your email inbox and junk folder, search for the keyword "tax certificate" to find relevant emails. Download the tax certificates in a folder on your local drive or cloud storage for tax filing. Allan Gray To view and download your latest and historical tax certificates, log in to your secure online account at www.allangray.co.za and navigate to ‘Statements & documents’ >> ‘Tax certificates’.
If you have difficulties downloading your tax certificates, or require the service of a tax practitioner, email to service@daberistic.com and our team will gladly assist you. |
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January 2025
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