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Daily Maverick
16-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Beat the mid-year medical blues
There are ways to help manage your costs after your medical savings account is depleted. We're into the second half of the year and you may be one of thousands of medical scheme members now finding your medical savings accounts are depleted, leaving you to pay directly for day-to-day costs. According to the Council for Medical Schemes 2022/23 annual report, South Africans paid close to R40-billion out of pocket for healthcare, with nearly half of this going towards outpatient services, not hospital stays. These costs include essential visits to specialists, radiologists and dentists, which are often not fully covered once medical savings accounts are exhausted. Although there is no magic fix, there are ways to change the way you access healthcare to make it more affordable. For example, Tania Joffe, founder of Unu Health, says that instead of spending R500 or more on a face-to-face GP visit, you could opt to speak to a doctor for a fraction of that cost through a telemedicine app. 'The old model of always visiting your GP or specialist in person for everything just isn't sustainable any more,' says Joffe. 'It's time to embrace the hybrid model that includes telemedicine.' See more: How medical schemes are using AI's predictive power to revolutionise health risk management One of the easiest ways to reduce medical costs is by taking advantage of low-cost or free screening tools offered by your medical scheme. For example, Discovery Health launched a Personal Health Pathways programme earlier this year. Accessible via the Discovery Health app, the platform helps members and their healthcare practitioners to navigate the healthcare system with precise and personalised healthcare recommendations, improving both immediate and long-term health outcomes for each member. Each pathway is tailored to the member's specific health status, risk profile and engagement patterns, dynamically adjusting as new health data becomes available. Dr Ron Whelan, chief executive of Discovery Health, says the AI-powered platform behind Personal Health Pathways processes more than 33 terabytes of data, and an additional 500 gigabytes are ingested daily. To illustrate the platform's scale, there are more than 7 million possible pathways for completing 12 health actions. Examples of personalised pathway prompts include: A healthy 42-year-old woman may be encouraged to schedule a health check, complete a mental wellbeing assessment, go for a dental check-up, get a mammogram or Pap smear, nominate a primary care GP, complete a Vitality Age Assessment or receive a flu vaccine; A 45-year-old man with elevated cholesterol and blood pressure may be guided to visit his GP for a check-up, collect prescribed medicine, monitor blood pressure or cholesterol levels, or go for prostate or colon cancer screening; and A 65-year-old man who has diabetes may be prompted through the app to schedule an HbA1c test, collect medicine, undergo foot and retinal screenings, complete a prostate cancer test or have a mental wellbeing assessment. When you go to your local pharmacy for medication, ask the pharmacist for the cheapest generic option. When you buy milk, you consider different brands and weigh up the costs before you buy – your medication deserves the same consideration. Tax benefits Continue submitting claims to your medical scheme even though your medical savings account is depleted. The scheme will not pay these claims, but it records the amounts as your out-of-pocket expenditure and this information is shared with the South African Revenue Service. In the long run, this means less admin for you when you submit your tax return and a potential tax benefit – the additional medical expenses tax credit. According to TaxTim, out-of-pocket expenditure that could fall under additional medical tax credits includes: A consultation and medicines supplied by a registered medical practitioner, dentist, optometrist, homeopath, naturopath, osteopath, herbalist, physiotherapist, chiropractor or orthopaedist to you or any of your dependants; The costs of a nursing home or hospital, or any duly registered or enrolled nurse, midwife or nursing assistant (or to any nursing agency in respect of the services of such a nurse, midwife or nursing assistant); Medicines prescribed by a registered medical practitioner and acquired from a pharmacist. Note – this will not include over-the-counter medication such as cough syrup and pain relievers; and Medical expenses incurred and paid outside South Africa. DM
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
July Jolt: South Africans turn to medical apps to save on medical aid funds
Navigating between the different medical aid schemes can be difficult but need to consider all of the factors before making a final decision. Picture: Freepik Image: Picture: Freepik As the calendar flips to July, many South Africans are facing an unsettling reality: their medical savings have been depleted, forcing them to shoulder the costs of healthcare out of their own pockets for the remainder of the year. This situation has become particularly dire amidst soaring inflation, rising fuel prices, and escalating food costs, placing healthcare access in jeopardy for a significant portion of the population. The scenario plays out in homes across the country: doctor's visits, blood tests, and even necessary prescriptions are increasingly being sidelined as families attempt to navigate their financial constraints. However, healthcare experts are urging South Africans not to compromise on their health. Instead, they should explore innovative solutions that reduce costs while maintaining quality care. 'South Africans need to start looking at smarter ways to access quality healthcare without breaking the bank,' says Tania Joffe, founder of Unu Health. Joffe highlights the availability of credible alternatives that are not only fully covered by medical aids but can save users up to 40% compared to conventional healthcare routes. One standout solution is telemedicine, which allows patients to consult with qualified doctors through apps, phones, or online platforms. This modern approach to healthcare is gaining traction throughout South Africa. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ 'Instead of spending R500 or more on a face-to-face GP visit, patients can speak to a doctor for a fraction of that cost through telemedicine apps with the consultation often covered entirely by their medical aid,' Joffe explains. 'And it's not just consultations — pathology and diagnostic testing services are also up to 40% cheaper when compared to traditional channels.' Experts stress that the healthcare landscape is evolving, necessitating a shift in how consumers approach health services. 'The old model of always visiting your GP or specialist in person for everything just isn't sustainable anymore,' Joffe points out. 'It's time to embrace the hybrid model that includes telemedicine — especially when you can access trusted, convenient, and safe care that's also far more affordable.' Ways to maximise your healthcare budget Amid this financial strain, here are practical steps South Africans can take to stretch their medical rands further: Switch to virtual consultations: Utilise telehealth services that are covered by your medical aid to minimise costs. Utilise telehealth services that are covered by your medical aid to minimise costs. Shop around for blood tests: Seek out approved partners through your medical aid or platforms like Unu Health for discounted rates. Seek out approved partners through your medical aid or platforms like Unu Health for discounted rates. Prioritise prevention: Make use of free or low-cost screening tools and lifestyle advice to avoid expensive treatments down the line. Make use of free or low-cost screening tools and lifestyle advice to avoid expensive treatments down the line. Track your spending: Keep a close eye on how much of your savings you've already used and plan your healthcare needs for the rest of the year accordingly. Keep a close eye on how much of your savings you've already used and plan your healthcare needs for the rest of the year accordingly. Use digital health apps: Access healthcare services while on the go, avoiding time-off work or additional transport costs. 'Healthcare is not something you can afford to neglect,' Joffe asserts. 'But you also shouldn't have to go into debt to stay healthy. It's about using what's available wisely — knowing there are alternatives that can make a real difference.' As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, South Africans are encouraged to rethink their approaches to healthcare access. By adopting digital health solutions and engaging in more strategic planning, maintaining good health can be achieved without sacrificing financial stability. IOL
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
How the ‘sandwich generation' is stretching to care for loved ones, tech might be their lifeline
Many elderly parents rely on their children for essentials, not just food and rent, but now, more urgently than ever, for healthcare. Image: File photo. The so-called sandwich generation, people aged between 30-50 years old, are juggling school runs and zoom meetings, managing grocery lists for two households, and now, trying to make sure mum gets her blood pressure checked while helping their adult children find stable footing in an unforgiving economy. It's a full-time job. And no one's really talking about it. 'It's this silent pressure that people in their late 30s to 50s are shouldering. You're not just raising kids anymore, you're also parenting upwards. You're emotionally and often financially responsible for your parents, especially if they couldn't save enough for retirement. It's a lot,' Tania Joffe, founder of Unu Health said. South Africa's sandwich generation is feeling the squeeze. Many elderly parents rely on their children for essentials, not just food and rent, but now, more urgently than ever, for healthcare. At the same time, adult children may be boomeranging back home, still trying to find their feet in a high-unemployment economy. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ 'It's not uncommon for someone to pay for their child's university fees and their mother's blood pressure medication in the same month. And then their geyser bursts. It's relentless,' Joffe added. According to Stats SA, the average South African retiree's savings fall drastically short of what's needed for a comfortable retirement. Meanwhile, nearly half of South Africans aged 18–34 are unemployed. The 'in between' generation is holding it all together. In this environment, technology has become more than a convenience, it's a coping mechanism. 'Services like Checkers 60/60, Uber Eats, and online grocery deliveries have become essential tools for this generation. You can send mum groceries while you're in a meeting. You can get meds delivered to your dad without leaving your desk. And now, with the rise of telehealth, you can make sure they see a doctor too, even if they don't have medical aid,' Joffe said. This is where Joffe and her team at Unu Health saw an opportunity to ease the burden, not by selling medical services, but by creating a tool that gives people a simple, practical way to help. The new Unu Health CareCard voucher allows users to gift medical care to anyone with access to a smart phone, a parent, a domestic worker, a struggling sibling, to use for doctor consultations, prescriptions, or blood tests. 'It's dignity without dependence. You're not handing someone money and saying 'go figure it out'. You're giving them access to quality healthcare, quickly and privately. It's a subtle but powerful shift,' Joffe further said. For Joffe, this shift isn't just about convenience. It's about changing the way we see caregiving altogether. 'There's still a stigma around struggling to cope. But the reality is, the sandwich generation needs help. Not handouts, just tools to lighten the load,' she said. Joffe pointed out this isn't about selling healthcare apps or replacing real human interaction. 'It's about creating meaningful ways for people to care for each other. Technology is just the enabler. What matters is the intention,' she said.
