Discovery Health launches R1.5b preventative health screening fund for members
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In a bid to encourage people to undergo preventative health screenings, Discovery Health Medical Scheme has made what it refers to as “its biggest single investment in the health of its members”, giving them access to an additional screening and preventative benefit totalling R2 500 per member and R10 000 per family.
Officially launching the WELLTH Fund at Discovery’s Sandton offices, Discovery Health CEO, Dr Ryan Noach explained that the R1.5 billion investment is designed to catch health concerns early before they develop into more complex diseases and pose a greater risk to people’s health.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to many people deferring their routine, preventative care in the past few years.”Our data clearly demonstrate, in line with global experience, that the?COVID-19 pandemic?caused people to defer non-COVID related healthcare. People who were fearful of contracting COVID-19 at healthcare facilities missed essential screening and health checks, and consequently may have missed opportunities to detect early health risks,” explains Dr Noach.
“General health checks were down by 50% at the peak of the pandemic when compared to pre-COVID levels, mammograms down by 15%, and pap smears down by 12%,” Noach went on to say, describing how this reduction in screening was experienced across all screening categories.
The time has come for everyone to focus on reversing this trend. “We are noting some concerning long-term trends in the development of diabetes and cardiac conditions post-COVID-19 infections,” he explains. “Currently we’re seeing a 2.75 times higher risk of diabetes development among South Africans who’ve recovered from a COVID-19 infection. This jumps to five times higher if an individual was hospitalised for treatment, because of COVID-19. Similar trends are notable where cardiac conditions are concerned,” he adds further. “The risk of developing cardiac conditions post a COVID-19 infection is currently 1.5 times higher, and as much as 3.5 times higher if an individual had been hospitalised during their COVID-19 related illness.”
The once-off discretionary healthcare benefit is available across all medical aid plan types from this month until 31 December 2024. New members joining DHMS also automatically qualify to access the Fund.
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“We expect that the long-term improvement in the health of members leads to a long-term reduction in claims, with every R1 of medical scheme investment in screening leading to a R9 reduction in long-term claims,” Dr Noach noted.
The WELLTH Fund will be activated once all beneficiaries on the policy have completed their initial health checks. For adults, this is the annual Health Check (funded from the Screening and Prevention Benefit), and for children (two years and older), this is the annual digital Kids Health Review.
The initial Health Check involves the following tests – blood pressure; blood glucose; cholesterol; and Body Mass Index (BMI). The assessment also includes a non-smoker’s declaration and HIV screening. Health Checks can be completed in-person at a Discovery Store, an accredited pharmacy, a GP’s rooms or at an employer’s Wellness Day.
Once the WELLTH Fund is activated, each adult beneficiary will be allocated an amount of R2,500, and children between the ages of 2 and 18 will be allocated R1250 each, up to a limit of R10 000 per policy. Kids under the age of two will still have full access to the fund once a primary member has activated the benefit.
The WELLTH Fund has already been activated for more than 170 000 policies. It gives members access to six broad categories of health screening services.
Members can consult with any medical doctor or healthcare provider, provided that their professional services are within their scope of practice – which means the healthcare professional must be a specialist that is qualified to perform the specific tests.