Bonitas joins in massive medical aid price hikes for 2025

 ·2 Oct 2024

Medical aid scheme Bonitas has joined other big schemes in the country in announcing massive increases to contributions for 2025.

The group said that its plans will increase by a weighted average of 10.2% from 1 January 2025, putting it higher than Discovery and Momentum’s average of around 9.4% and below BestMed’s 10.8%.

Medical aids have announced massive price increases for next year:

  • MediHelp: 10.8%
  • Bonitas: 10.2%
  • Momentum: 9.4%
  • Discovery: 9.3%

These price hikes overshoot the guidelines set by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS).

At the beginning of August, the CMS published its recommendations and pricing guidelines for 2025, urging medical aid schemes in the country to limit their tariff hikes.

As was the case for the 2024 hikes, the CMS asked medical aid schemes to try and keep pricing as close to CPI as possible, recommending a 4.4% increase, plus “reasonable utilisation estimates”.

In previous years, the council said its historical data pointed to reasonable utilisation estimates adding around 3.5 percentage points to the hikes, while private medical inflation generally exceeds CPI by 2% to 3%.

This would put the ‘reasonable’ range anywhere between 6.4% and 7.9%.

Medical schemes have noted that medical inflation has come in higher than projected.

While it carries a weighted average of 10.2%, the price increases for Bonitas will vary by plan, with the highest price jump seen for comprehensive cover, which will shoot up almost 15%.

The new pricing for Bonitas medical plans can be seen below:

According to Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, the medical scheme industry has faced turbulent conditions over the past 12 months with the debate over NHI, economic pressures and reserves coming under pressure.

“Despite this, our value creation model stood us in good stead with over R1.4 billion in reserves given back to members through benefit enhancements and low and deferred increases in 2022 and 2023,” Callakoppen said.

The percentage increases seek to balancing the financial sustainability of the scheme, while adhering to regulatory guidelines and requirements outlined by the Council for Medical (CMS).

“Over the past few years, we kept our contribution increases well below the industry average, while maintaining a healthy financial position while ensuring benefits are not eroded,” the group said.

The increases and new benefits have been submitted to the CMS and are subject to approval.

Other changes for 2025

On top of the price changes, Bonitas outlines a host of other changes for 2025, including:

  • Mental Health: There is a direct correlation between chronic diseases and mental health. For 2025, a mental health component has been added to the GP network, to facilitate early disease detection, diagnosis and multi-disciplinary care-coordination, through the high-quality network of doctors. In addition, personalised engagement and support to treat antenatal and postnatal depression.

  • Hearing Loss Management (Audiology): Free online hearing screening for all South Africans and, on selected plans, members receive hearing aids, audiology services and hearing aid acoustic services.

  • Weight Management Programme: Led by a biokineticist registered with Biokinetic Association of South Africa, it provides a holistic approach to weight loss that includes access to a dietician and psychologist for support on exercise, nutrition and mental health (on selected plans).

  • Female Health Programme: In collaboration with CareWorks, it’s accessible to all female members aged 18 and above, with an emphasis on preventative care and early detection of female-specific health issues, based on life stages.

  • Enhanced Maternity Programme: Support for expecting mothers, including early identification and weekly engagement for high-risk pregnancies, post-childbirth care and associated mother mental health follow-up calls, given the prevalence of pre and postnatal depression. Also, milestone reminders for children under 3 and cover for antenatal vitamins through savings, day-to-day benefits or the Benefit Booster.

  • Bonitas Geriatric Care (for over 70s): A range of personal screening, prevention and wellness benefits – including chronic care management and support and fall-risk assessments to allow seniors to live independently. All covered from Risk.

  • Diabetic retinopathy screenings in partnership with PPN.

  • Benefit Booster: Remains the only benefit which provides members with access to an additional amount to use for out-of-hospital expenses, at no extra cost. For 2025, the Benefit Booster has been increased on six plans.

  • Blood pressure monitors funded for high-risk beneficiaries registered with hypertension on BonComprehensive, BonClassic, BonComplete, Standard and Standard Select, over a two-year cycle per family.

  • PET Scans benefits have been realigned – members on BonComprehensive will now have access to two PET scans per family, per year, while members on BonClassic, Standard and Standard Select will have access to one PET scan per family per annum.

  • A PET scan network to be introduced in 2025 to ensure enhanced access to scanner facilities at a negotiated rate.

  • Broadened access for chronic medicine on BonComprehensive, BonClassic, BonComplete and Standard.

  • Dental tariff increased by 5.9%.

  • New Quick Find tool on the website to help members find answers to their difficult medical aid questions without having to contact the support centre.

  • As part of the Diabetes Management Programme, members get two consultations with a Diabetes Nurse Educator to provide specialised diabetes care.

Read: Medihelp announces big price hike and medical aid changes for 2025

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