Five values that could change medical aid as we know it
Following Sanlam's endorsement of Fedhealth as its preferred open medical scheme partner, Fedhealth and Sanlam have come together to ask: is there a better way? In response to this, the companies are on a mission to revitalise medical aid as we know it, with a reimagined scheme aimed at embodying five core values: affordability, customisation, inclusivity, simplicity and trust.
So what do these values look like in real life? Meet five people whose stories show how the reimagined scheme aims to deliver what everyday South Africans really want from a medical aid.
Thato, a 32-year-old IT consultant, didn't think he could afford medical aid — until he found out about a medical aid that will allow him to choose the features he wants and leave the ones he doesn't.
Fedhealth and Sanlam's reimagined scheme uniquely offers:
Backup day-to-day savings on its hospital plans that Thato can access if and when he needs to;
flexiFED Savvy, SA's most affordable hospital plan for under-35s; and
A 25% discount on certain plans through its flexiFED Elect excess options.
Wherever you are in life, affordability matters to everyone. That's why affordability for all members is a cornerstone of Fedhealth and Sanlam's new approach to medical aid. That's affordability rebooted.
Jody, a 24-year-old freelancer, can only pay for what she needs, when she needs it. Nothing more. Nothing wasted. The scheme will allow her to upgrade any time of the year within 30 days of a life-changing event like pregnancy or a serious illness. That's customisation rebooted.
Imran, a 28-year-old small business owner, has never really considered joining a medical scheme before. But now, as a self-employed father of two, he finally feels like medical aid is for him too. The reimagined scheme offers a variety of differently structured medical aid plans at varying price points, so Imran can pick a plan that suits his specific needs to a T. That's inclusivity rebooted.

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SowetanLIVE
10 hours ago
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Five values that could change medical aid as we know it
You don't always see it in the fine print. But the values your medical aid holds at its core matter most when life happens. When the unexpected shows up, you need your medical aid to show up too. Following Sanlam's endorsement of Fedhealth as its preferred open medical scheme partner, Fedhealth and Sanlam have come together to ask: is there a better way? In response to this, the companies are on a mission to revitalise medical aid as we know it, with a reimagined scheme aimed at embodying five core values: affordability, customisation, inclusivity, simplicity and trust. So what do these values look like in real life? Meet five people whose stories show how the reimagined scheme aims to deliver what everyday South Africans really want from a medical aid. Thato, a 32-year-old IT consultant, didn't think he could afford medical aid — until he found out about a medical aid that will allow him to choose the features he wants and leave the ones he doesn't. Fedhealth and Sanlam's reimagined scheme uniquely offers: Backup day-to-day savings on its hospital plans that Thato can access if and when he needs to; flexi FED Savvy, SA's most affordable hospital plan for under-35s; and FED Savvy, A 25% discount on certain plans through its flexi FED Elect excess options. Wherever you are in life, affordability matters to everyone. That's why affordability for all members is a cornerstone of Fedhealth and Sanlam's new approach to medical aid. That's affordability rebooted. Jody, a 24-year-old freelancer, can only pay for what she needs, when she needs it. Nothing more. Nothing wasted. The scheme will allow her to upgrade any time of the year within 30 days of a life-changing event like pregnancy or a serious illness. That's customisation rebooted. Imran, a 28-year-old small business owner, has never really considered joining a medical scheme before. But now, as a self-employed father of two, he finally feels like medical aid is for him too. The reimagined scheme offers a variety of differently structured medical aid plans at varying price points, so Imran can pick a plan that suits his specific needs to a T. That's inclusivity rebooted.

IOL News
11 hours ago
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Prof Karim slams police ‘lawlessness' as vigilantes block foreigners from Durban hospital
Prof Salim Abdool Karim has condemned vigilante groups demanding to see IDs from people seeking medical care at Durban's Addington Hospital. Image: Picture:Zanele Zulu/Independent Newspapers World-renowned scientist Prof Salim Abdool Karim has vocally condemned police inaction at Durban's Addington Hospital, describing the scene of vigilantes illegally turning away foreign nationals seeking medical care as an instance of 'lawlessness.' According to the Independent on Saturday, the incident unfolded as the police stood by, witnessing the blockade without taking any action. Three and a half decades ago, Prof Karim protested against racial segregation at the same hospital, where medical services were indiscriminately divided along racial lines. Arriving back at Addington this week, he was confronted with a new form of segregation, this time along lines of nationality, as self-appointed immigration enforcers were halting people at the gates and denying entry to documented and undocumented foreigners alike, as well as South Africans lacking identification. Dr Raymond Perrier the director of the Dennis Hurley Centre and public health expert, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, outside Addington Hospital where they confronted vigilantes preventing foreigners from accessing medical care. Image: Supplied. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'These are individuals who have taken the law into their own hands,' Abdool Karim stated, "and who have been given that ability to do that by the police who deliberately did not arrest them.' He underscored the failure of law enforcement, likening their inaction to what was witnessed during the violent unrest of 2021, which resulted in over 300 fatalities. For the last two months, groups operating under the banner of March and March have assumed the role of gatekeepers, arbitrarily deciding who can enter Addington Hospital. Their presence has since extended to other hospitals in Gauteng. The vigilantes reportedly work in shifts to ensure continuous monitoring, denying entry to anyone without a South African ID. Prof Karim expressed concern over the legitimacy and motivations of these gatekeepers. 'I would not be surprised if these people are being paid to come and do this,' he said. His questions about the authorities' tolerance of such activities revealed a disheartening truth: 'The police are saying, you can do whatever you want to here.' Abdool Karim lamented the implications of this situation, which he sees as a symptom of a creeping lawlessness reminiscent of recent civil unrest. On his visit, he and Dr Raymond Perrier, director of the Denis Hurley Centre, confronted the gatekeepers, who asserted their authority to conduct citizen's arrests. 'What struck me was that they were highly organised,' Abdool Karim noted, describing the vigilantes as 'zealots' who remained unflinching in their role. Even when he attempted to assist a woman in accessing medical care, she had already complied with their demand for identification prior to his intervention. He emphasised that emergency medical care is a legal right, particularly for pregnant women and children under six, while treatment for undocumented individuals depends on available resources. Clarifying misconceptions about healthcare for foreigners, he stated, 'There is no country I know where a foreigner can come in and get free health care. They get health care, but it's not free,' advocating instead that decisions about who is treated should reside with the government and not vigilantes. 'What they're doing is illegal,' he asserted. 'It should never be allowed at all.' He believes that it is the responsibility of the government to address issues concerning foreigners in a humane manner while adhering to the Constitution and the law. Despite his upcoming trip to Japan, Abdool Karim and members of civil society have vowed to keep monitoring and challenging these unlawful actions. He stated, 'If anyone got turned away, I would make it my job to work with that person and get them into that hospital.' He reflected on the unspoken tension during his visit, suggesting that the presence of cameras appeared to deter potential violence from the gatekeepers. In an ironic twist, both he and Perrier were asked to show their IDs upon entry, a demand they resisted while instead questioning the vigilantes for their credentials, IOS stated. 'The protesters were saying that Karim and I didn't have a right to demand to see their IDs,' Perrier explained, noting their incredulity over the inaction from law enforcement, which has persisted for weeks. Foster Mohale, spokesman for the National Department of Health, condemned the protest actions undermining healthcare, urging law enforcement agencies to take steps against anyone violating the laws of the country. Meanwhile, the IOS reported that the Denis Hurley Centre, alongside other civic groups, are preparing a legal submission to the courts to compel police action, citing negligence in upholding their duties. IOL

TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Five values that could change medical aid as we know it
You don't always see it in the fine print. But the values your medical aid holds at its core matter most when life happens. When the unexpected shows up, you need your medical aid to show up too. Following Sanlam's endorsement of Fedhealth as its preferred open medical scheme partner, Fedhealth and Sanlam have come together to ask: is there a better way? In response to this, the companies are on a mission to revitalise medical aid as we know it, with a reimagined scheme aimed at embodying five core values: affordability, customisation, inclusivity, simplicity and trust. So what do these values look like in real life? Meet five people whose stories show how the reimagined scheme aims to deliver what everyday South Africans really want from a medical aid. Thato, a 32-year-old IT consultant, didn't think he could afford medical aid — until he found out about a medical aid that will allow him to choose the features he wants and leave the ones he doesn't. Fedhealth and Sanlam's reimagined scheme uniquely offers: Backup day-to-day savings on its hospital plans that Thato can access if and when he needs to; flexiFED Savvy, SA's most affordable hospital plan for under-35s; and A 25% discount on certain plans through its flexiFED Elect excess options. Wherever you are in life, affordability matters to everyone. That's why affordability for all members is a cornerstone of Fedhealth and Sanlam's new approach to medical aid. That's affordability rebooted. Jody, a 24-year-old freelancer, can only pay for what she needs, when she needs it. Nothing more. Nothing wasted. The scheme will allow her to upgrade any time of the year within 30 days of a life-changing event like pregnancy or a serious illness. That's customisation rebooted. Imran, a 28-year-old small business owner, has never really considered joining a medical scheme before. But now, as a self-employed father of two, he finally feels like medical aid is for him too. The reimagined scheme offers a variety of differently structured medical aid plans at varying price points, so Imran can pick a plan that suits his specific needs to a T. That's inclusivity rebooted.