Navigating Healthcare Funding – Essential Considerations for Women
Navigating Healthcare Funding – Essential Considerations for Women Health insurance planning is a critical aspect of overall financial wellbeing, particularly for women who face unique health needs and risks throughout their lives. For a start, women typically live longer but often earn less than their male counterparts. The longer life expectancy means that women could […]
Delayed Preventative Healthcare and its Cancer Aftermath
Delayed Preventative Healthcare and its Cancer Aftermath Gap claims related to cancer diagnoses dramatically increase in 2023; late diagnoses on the rise as preventative health checks remain deferred due to affordability challenges An analysis of its gap claims related to cancer diagnosis and treatment by Sirago Underwriting Managers from 2020 to 2024 shows that the […]
Analysis of gap claims indicative of the erosion of medical scheme benefits and out-of-control specialist fees
Analysis of gap claims indicative of the erosion of medical scheme benefits and out-of-control specialist fees Three massive gap claims alone amount to R440k in shortfalls for in-hospital treatment not paid by medicals schemes, and demonstrate rocketing specialist fees out of touch with reality or reason An analysis of three massive gap insurance claims amounting […]
Planning your private healthcare funding for 2024
Planning your private healthcare funding for 2024 Medical scheme members are facing weighted average increases to their premiums in 2024 of anywhere from 7% to 16%, depending on what benefit option they are on¹. Some schemes have tried to downplay the increases at a time of massive economic pressures for all households, while others have […]
Gap cover a critical financial essential as medical scheme buydown accelerates
Gap cover a critical financial essential as medical scheme buydown accelerates An analysis of gap cover claims paid by Sirago Underwriting Managers shows that the quantum of medical scheme payment shortfalls for in-hospital treatment is increasing as financial pressure in relation to premiums is forcing consumers to buy down on their medical scheme benefits. The […]
The A-Z of gap cover and building a resilient healthcare financial plan with Hykie Berg and Sirago CEO Martin Rimmer
The A-Z of gap cover and building a resilient healthcare financial plan with Hykie Berg and Sirago CEO Martin Rimmer Will my medical scheme benefit pay for everything if I get sick and need to go hospital? What is gap cover? Why do I need it? Why is there a difference between what doctors charge […]
Sharp increase in cancer-related gap cover claims
Sharp increase in cancer-related gap cover claims An analysis of ‘Initial Cancer Diagnosis’ and ‘Cancer Co-payment’ gap claims paid by Sirago Underwriting Managers over 24 months from 2021 and 2022 shows that the volume of claims increased by 281% combined, compared with the same period in 2019-2020. Specifically drilling down into each gap claim category: […]
What is gap insurance and what does it cover?
What is gap insurance and what does it cover? Medical Scheme membership is fast becoming unaffordable for many South Africans, even for those who might be receiving a part subsidy of their membership costs from their employer as part of an employee benefit scheme. For many households, retaining their medical scheme membership will often involve […]
The claims experience… where the customer promise is delivered
The claims experience… where the customer promise is delivered Opinion by Martin Rimmer, CEO of Sirago Underwriting Managers The true measure of how satisfied and loyal an insurance client is, manifests primarily in their claim’s experience. The insurance value proposition The efficient and timely settlement of a claim, in a manner that meets your customer’s […]
Medical aid renewal season – planning your healthcare finances for 2023
Medical aid renewal season – planning your healthcare finances for 2023 Medical scheme members find themselves under massive pressure to cut costs, while ensuring access to quality private healthcare in a crisis If you’re a member of a medical scheme, you will by now have received notification of the increases to your contributions and […]