2017
Chairman's year-end message
2017 seems to have flown by. Once again, it's been a challenging year on many fronts, but I am pleased to say that the Scheme, its management team, our administrators and providers have continued to deliver a highly professional service to our members.
read article >>Gap cover insurance
As health care costs increase, members experience higher out-of-pocket expenses. Over the last two years, 68% of surveyed AMS members reported that they had significant out-of-pocket expenses for in-hospital events and 64% experienced shortfalls for out-of-hospital services.
read article >>Do you know your Trustees?
As we had a few changes on our Board during the last year, we would like to use this opportunity to re-introduce your Trustees. This month we would like to introduce you to Campbell Mckie Thomson and Gavin Preston.
read article >>Your 2018 Benefit Guide
We have posted your copy of the 2018 Benefit Guide which will inform you about the benefit and contribution changes for the coming year.
read article >>Is travel insurance really necessary?
If you are planning to travel overseas, you probably have a long to-do list and might be rushing to finish work, home and travel arrangements. ?Travel insurance? doesn’t always feature and get the necessary attention. Read on, even if you think you are adequately covered...
read article >>Chronic medication: when and how to refill a prescription from the pharmacy
If you are registered for a chronic condition that requires you to take chronic medication, you need to visit your doctor at least every six months, so he or she can see how you are doing on your chronic medication.
read article >>Have you received your Benefit Guide?
If you have not received your Benefit Guide by now, please call the Call Centre to ensure we have the right address.
read article >>Do you know your Trustees?
As we had a few changes on our Board during the last year, we would like to use this opportunity to re-introduce your Trustees. This month we would like to introduce you to Grant Howell and Philip Laubscher.
read article >>2018 benefit improvements and contribution increases
The AMS Board of Trustees remains committed to improving the value of your medical scheme benefits. For your contribution spend, AMS members still get more generous benefits than most other medical schemes can offer. The challenge is how to stretch your rand further.
read article >>Managed Care Plan members: how to reduce out-of-pocket expenses when visiting your GP
If you would like to reduce out-of-pocket expenses when consulting your GP, consider selecting a GP on our administrator's GP network.
read article >>Do you know your Trustees?
As we had a few changes on our Board during the last year, we would like to use this opportunity to re-introduce your Trustees. This month we would like to introduce you to Mary Farrell and Sharon Hosking.
read article >>Year-end presentations: Change for 2018
Your Client Liaison Officer will present the 2018 changes relevant to your plan in November this year. Employed members: please find the dates for employee year-end presentations in your internal employer communication.
read article >>Silent killer: Hyperlipidaemia
Silent killer diseases are diseases that produce minimum or no symptoms and are capable of causing death or severe complications if not treated. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that makes up one of your blood fats (lipids). While your body needs cholesterol to continue building healthy cells, having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.
read article >>No more cheques for refunds
As announced in the past, the Scheme will only pay claim refunds via EFT to your bank account. From 1 October 2017, the Scheme will no longer generate cheques.
read article >>Do you know your Trustees
As we had a few changes on our Board during the last year, we would like to use this opportunity to re-introduce your Trustees. This month we would like to introduce you to David Abramowitz and Medwyn du Bois.
read article >>The CDE Club App
The Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE), AMS’s partner in diabetes management, recently released its CDE Club app to assist members with diabetes by providing valuable information and a tool to track progress and even earn rewards.
read article >>Silent killers
Silent killer diseases are diseases that produce minimum or no symptoms and are capable of causing death or severe complications if not treated.
read article >>Do you know your Trustees?
As we had a few changes on our Board during the last year, we would like to use this opportunity to re-introduce your Trustees.
read article >>Where does new healthcare technology take us?
Imagine robots operating on humans, controlled from a distance, for example in space, in a war zone or in a remote area where there aren’t any specialists available. One of the biggest challenges might still be the lack of secure and fast data transmission – but robotic surgery is not a ‘science-fiction scenario’ any longer.
read article >>Robotic surgery - is it still science fiction?
Imagine robots operating on humans, controlled from a distance, for example in space, in a war zone or in a remote area where there aren’t any specialists available. One of the biggest challenges might still be the lack of secure and fast data transmission – but robotic surgery is not a 'science-fiction scenario' any longer.
read article >>Did you receive your tax certificate?
If you have not received your AMS tax certificate, sent to you in the middle of June, please update your contact details with the call centre or in the member log-in.
read article >>Annual General Meeting report
Colleen Elliott, the Chairman, reported that the Scheme, once again, performed reasonably well under difficult economic and political circumstances.
read article >>Organ Donation - the gift of life
There are approximately 4 300 South African adults and children awaiting a life-saving organ or cornea transplant. Statistics show that less than 0.2% of South Africans are organ donors.
read article >>Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline. As a deteriorating type of dementia, the disease starts mildly and gets progressively worse.
read article >>How to manage debt on your membership
I owe the Scheme money? How did that happen and what are the consequences?
Did you know that there are instances in which you can end up owing the Scheme money?
Co-payment reminder
In 2017 the Scheme introduced a co-payment structure for endoscopies and cataract procedures if performed in a hospital instead of in a day clinic.
read article >>Annual General Meeting 2017
Our 48th Annual General Meeting will take place at 10am on 24 May 2017 at the Auditorium, 18th floor, 55 Marshall Street, Johannesburg.
read article >>Your personal and health data online
We are doing everything possible to ensure the protection of your, or your dependant’s personal and health information. Before we share your information with a third party we will ask for your consent. We will also ask you for permission if your dependant requests access on your member login on the Scheme website and limit the amount of information that can be seen by the different parties.
read article >>Changes to the walk-in centres
Our administrator offers walk-in centres located in Johannesburg, Pretoria, the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. While the Sandton Service Centre will still operate in its current format, other service points have been rebranded as Discovery 'Stores'.
read article >>Call for nominations for the Disputes Committee
The Disputes Committee is an independent committee which ensures that disputes between the Scheme and a complainant are settled.
read article >>Missing email statements for December and January
Due to a technical error, month-end statements by email were not dispatched in December and January to those who did not have any claims during this period. We apologise for this error and confirm that you will continue to receive month-end statements from us, even if you haven’t submitted any claims.
read article >>January Medical Savings Account (MSA) balances
If you are on the Managed Care Plan, you might have noticed that the MSA balance was displayed incorrectly on your January statement.
read article >>Claiming for medical expenses after a road accident
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, the Anglo Medical Scheme will pay for your accident-related healthcare expenses in accordance with the Rules of the Scheme and your benefit plan.
read article >>Managing HIV/AIDS for AMS members
The Scheme offers a confidential management programme for HIV/AIDS. It includes medicine and other related expenses and requires the member to adhere to the disease management protocols for best results and funding.
read article >>Benefit Guide 2017 – correction
We are sorry: we made a mistake in the Benefit Guide. Please correct the following in your Benefit Guide on page 44, Standard Care Plan, out-of-hospital services, sublimit 2.
read article >>Pocket Guide: Value Care plan FAQ
We will be sending a handy pocket guide with Frequently Asked Questions to all our Value Care Plan members
read article >>Authorisations for chronic medicine
As you know from previous years, your registered chronic condition authorisation for 2016 will have automatically rolled over to 2017. You only have to re-apply if the authorisation for your medication was issued with an expiry date.
read article >>How long can my child dependant stay on the Scheme?
If your registered dependant was 23 years old or younger on 1 January, he/she is eligible to remain on the Scheme as a child dependant on your membership at the child dependant contribution rate for the current year.
read article >>How does my Scheme work?
Visit the ‘My Scheme’ page and find out who owns Anglo Medical Scheme, who can be a member, access the Scheme Rules,
read article >>Be skin and sun smart!
You had a great time during the holidays with lots of time outdoors. You really did your best to protect yourself from the sun, applied sunscreen and avoided the harsh midday sun, but the summer is not over yet – so don’t forget to keep on looking after your skin.
read article >>