I have been in this industry for 25
years … and I don’t regret a single day!
It’s true that you won’t hear many teenage boys lamenting about wanting to be a
Retirement Fund Advisor or a Health Insurance Expert – they’re all about flying
fighter jets, putting out ferocious fires or playing guitar for adoring fans.
The truth of it is, however, that I really feel like my career has made a
considerable difference in the lives of quite a long list of people.
People who have already – or will in the future – retire with more money than
they might have otherwise, people who have afforded private hospitalisation for
critical illness, people who have been able to care for their sick children and
people who have been able to plan a holiday in their golden years. That makes
me smile.
You’ll understand that the above-mentioned success hasn’t been achieved alone,
of course. In fact, as the advisor to large corporate concerns, the real
leverage comes from providing Employers in the South African Market with the
tools and understanding to implement the right level of benefits for their
staff complements. It’s these large Employer groups to whom the real kudos
belong.
Still, it’s nice to know that I’ve contributed, in my own small way, to a part
of our society.
There is, nonetheless, a problem with this story – and that’s it. Right there
in the preceding paragraph. The section of the South African population that
can afford retirement funding and private healthcare is much, much too small ….
and certainly no-where near representative of our amazing rainbow nation. It’s
this nagging negative that I fully intend focusing on over the next 10 years of
my career.
The healthcare landscape, for the massive majority of South Africans, is
unacceptably arduous and costly – and frighteningly incompetent. In this
country, Jo Public simply cannot afford private health insurance. As such, when
she falls ill, Jo must take somewhere between one-and-three days leave – just
to receive the barest of healthcare support.
Jo’s leave time is often unpaid and is usually spent waiting for a taxi, paying
the fare and queueing for many hours at a local clinic. Jo is typically “seen”
by an overworked nurse who may-or-may-not refer her to yet another queue, to
“see” an under-resourced doctor, who may-or-may-not get Jo’s diagnosis right.
Jo must then wait in a third ridiculously long line to receive her medication
which may-or-may-not be available on the barren shelves. If indeed the script
cannot be filled, then Jo must retrace her steps a few days later. Sometimes Jo
recovers. Too often, she doesn’t.
Although this situation is horrendous, South African public hospital services
and facilities are even worse! It really doesn’t have to be this way!
It starts with us right here
right now.
It’s high time for South Africa to rethink corporate healthcare structures. We
must shift towards affordable, accessible and sustainable employee solutions
for all. This means low-cost and hybrid medical support alternatives including,
but not limited to, on-site clinics, mobile clinicians, employee health support
programmes, low-cost health insurance alternatives and healthcare savings
vehicles. This range of products, coupled with robust advice, will result in
Employers saving money while at the same time dramatically improving the lives
of millions of South Africans. It’s time for me to move onto some heavy
lifting. Watch this space. I fully intend getting real about bespoke solutions
for lower earning employees.
Adrian
Executive Director, KHUSA Consulting
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Adrian Parsons: Executive Director,
KHUSA Consulting
Adrian has been in the employee benefits industry for over 25 years. Prior to
joining KHUSA Consulting, Adrian was responsible for all business development
within the JLT South Africa Group. He was an Executive Director and Owner of
Eluleka Consulting, which was purchased by JLT. He also served as the Managing
Director of Healthcare at NMG Consultants and Actuaries. Adrian’s key focus is
on the growth and distribution of the business.
More about KHUSA Consulting.
Led by one of South Africa’s most reputable heavyweight commercial risk
collective, Roshan Chiman, Adrian Parsons and Tyrone Farinha – KHUSA Consulting
was established in 2020 as SA’s personalised choice in commercial risk,
healthcare and retirement funding. KHUSA places integrity before self-interest
and conversation before transaction. In a short space of time, KHUSA’s ability
to support their clients in adapting and adjusting policies through a global
pandemic have made a meaningful impact to their clients, and to KHUSA, thereby
successfully expanding their client base, growing their team and taking the mic
as thought leaders in the employee benefits industry.
For more information on KHUSA Consulting visit www.khusa.co.za
