In December, the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) announced that no Low-Cost Benefit Options (LCBOs) will be allowed for low-income consumers and no health insurance products will be allowed beyond March 2021. The pronouncements do not reflect a well-considered, balanced view on how to increase access to quality healthcare for low income consumers.
They also demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of how private health insurance products have the potential to reach many lower income individuals, in the process, providing increased access to quality healthcare for all South Africans.
Michael Settas and Adrian Parsons unpack the pronouncements.