20TWENTYME and WELLTH Fund
If it’s been a while since your last checkup, chances are you’re not sure if you’re at a higher risk of developing a lifestyle health condition such as diabetes or hypertension.
If left untreated or poorly managed, these health conditions can worsen, often leading to more severe illnesses. This can have a significant impact on lifespan (life expectancy) and health lifespan (years in health).
“If conditions like cancer can be diagnosed, and diabetes or hypertension treated as early as possible, this could result in at least 131,000 days in hospital each year for members of the Discovery Health Medical Scheme; as well as an annual saving of R120 million for the medical scheme,” said the Chief Executive of Discovery Health, Dr. Ryan Noach. “That’s why screening and early detection are so important – for people’s quality of life, as well as for schemes that aim to protect them.”
South Africans are not screening as much as they should.
“Current screening rates are quite low in the health sector,” Dr Noach said. “In the Discovery Health Medical Scheme, we have recorded a significant decrease in screening rates among members since the end of 2019. For example, Health Checks through the scheme have decreased by 50%, mammograms by 15%, pap smears by 12% and prostate screening by 10% – to name a few name.
“This is largely due to the pandemic and people’s limited access during the various waves and subsequent lockdowns,” he said. “People are understandably more careful when they’re around other people.
One of the disadvantages is that early detection of underlying health conditions for many people will be missed during this period. And this can have severe long-term effects on individuals and medical schemes.
“For us, this is of great concern, and we want to encourage members to go for regular check-ups again – especially now that the threat of the COVID-19 disease has decreased. It is safer for people to go back to their health providers for general Health Checks.
So, to encourage this, we launched the WELLTH Fund,” he said.
What is WELLTH Fund?
The Discovery Health Medical Scheme WELLTH Fund is designed as a once-in-a-lifetime benefit that covers a full list of discretionary screening and preventive health services for all scheme members, beyond what is covered by the Screening and Prevention Benefit.
“The WELLTH Fund will allow our members to better understand their own health status with a maximum provision of R10,000 per family available to be used for various screening services,” explained Dr Noach. “With this understanding, members can then manage and improve their own health.”
The fund is available to all Discovery Health Scheme members and across all health plan types for a maximum of 2 years of benefit: 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2024. New members to the scheme will also automatically qualify for the fund on joining. The benefit period will end on December 31 of the following year.
What health screening services will the WELLTH Fund cover?
Health services to be provided include:
• General health
• Physical health
• Mental well-being
• Women’s health
• People’s health
• Children’s health
“Although for a limited time, the WELLTH Fund is an important addition to our benefits that aim to encourage members to take care of themselves and their loved ones.
The saying, ‘prevention is better than cure’ is very true for all of us; and that we hope to use the WELLTH Fund over the next few years to help serve our members well,” said Dr. Noach.
Learn more about the WELLTH Fund and how you can best use it for optimal family health here.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is an independent not-for-profit entity governed by medical scheme legislation, and governed by the Medical Schemes Board. it is published by a separate company, Discovery Health (Pty) ltd, an authorized financial service provider.