Covid-19 will be covered by all medical aid plans

The Council for Medical Schemes has confirmed that the Covid-19 coronavirus falls under the prescribed minimum benefits, as defined in the Medical Schemes Act.

Neil Kirby, director and head of the Healthcare & Life Sciences practice at Werksmans Attorneys, says the effect of the amendment is that all medical schemes are obliged to cover all the costs of members – regardless of their plan – who contract Covid-19 and subsequently suffer respiratory illness complications associated with the treatment.

“Where it might previously have been unclear whether or not medical schemes would cover the costs for the treatment of Covid-19 for members on lower plans, the amendment, arguably, relieves financial pressure on the health department because the state is obliged to cover the costs of citizens who are not covered by medical schemes,” says Kirby.