{"id":836431,"date":"2025-08-30T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=836431"},"modified":"2025-08-29T17:53:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T15:53:03","slug":"the-best-medical-aid-in-south-africa-that-you-cant-join","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/836431\/the-best-medical-aid-in-south-africa-that-you-cant-join\/","title":{"rendered":"The best medical aid in South Africa that you can’t join"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Members of Parliament no longer want to be forced to use arguably the best and most comprehensive medical aid plan in the country, Parmed, and will table a new bill to break their chains to the scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parliament has gazetted its intention to introduce the draft Parliamentary and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme Amendment Bill, 2025, which aims to do away with compulsory participation in Parmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the current Parliamentary and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme Act, all MPs, judges and members of the executive, including the President and Deputy President, have to be members of Parmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scheme is a closed or restricted scheme which is only open to these members, and differs from the Government Employees Medical Scheme, which is open to other state employees and government workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the forced participation in the scheme has drawn criticism from some MPs who have complained of rising premiums and “substantial deductions” made against their salaries, with no way to opt out or use a different medical scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new draft amendment bill, which will be tabled as a private members’ bill by ActionSA’s Dr Tebogo Letlape, looks to change the “compulsory” participation to a “voluntary” one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The escalating costs of Parmed are a significant concern, as the substantial deductions from the salaries of Parmed members, to cover medical aid contributions, place a financial burden on such members,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Parmed\u2019s one-size-fits-all approach fails to accommodate the diverse needs of its members, who have varying family sizes and healthcare requirements.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letlape said this lack of flexibility results in inconsistencies and reinforces the argument that a single, compulsory scheme cannot effectively cater to all members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this, MPs and other members have no alternative but compulsory contributions to Parmed,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“These factors collectively highlight the necessity of legislative amendments to address these shortcomings, ensuring greater fairness, affordability, and choice in the provision of medical services for affected Parmed members.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broadly, the bill aims to amend the principal Act by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n