When it comes down to putting food on the table, many of us now have to prioritise which bills to pay and where to cut expenses in order to survive. It goes without saying Fedhealth understands that these are tough decisions to make, but we also urge members who are in a position to do so, to continue paying their medical aid contributions during these times.

This is not only for the sake of your health, but also to ensure the health (long-term sustainability) of your Scheme. None of us want to be in the position where we have to end up forking out thousands of Rands in the case of hospitalisation for COVID-19, when we can have the certainty that we will be covered by Fedhealth should the worst come to the worst.

With that in mind, we’d like to share the impact that COVID-19 has had on the Scheme and its members to date.

Fedhealth and COVID-19

* Remember: The elderly (65 years and above) and people with chronic conditions should take extra care and rather isolate as far as possible to protect themselves against COVID-19.

Experience from across the world has shown us:

• Of all positive tests, around 50% of patients will recover with home treatment, while 20% will actually be totally asymptomatic.
• Around 30% of all positive tests will end up in hospital, and this is where one’s medical aid will really make a difference.
• Of this 30%, 15% will be treated in a general ward for up to six days, 5% will require high care for up to eight days and 10% will end up in ICU for around 15 days.

Here’s the bottom line: The COVID-19 treatment of a patient could cost up to R173 000, especially if ICU treatment is required. These kinds of costs will leave most of us at a serious financial disadvantage, if we had to pay them from our own pockets.

Fedhealth actuaries have predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic could have a possible R50 million impact on the Scheme. But rest assured that your Scheme is in good health (it’s precisely for events like the COVID-19 outbreak that medical schemes are required by law to have reserves of no less than 25% of total contributions in place). Fedhealth’s reserves are currently at 32% or R…bn.

However, in order to keep giving you the level of healthcare you deserve and are accustomed to, and to avoid unnecessarily high contribution increases down the line, the Scheme is dependent on receiving our members’ contributions every month. Please do everything in your power to keep prioritising your medical aid contributions.

We are with you during this pandemic and beyond, and will continue to act with your best interests at heart. Together, we will get through this.