The yellow brick road to healthcare inclusion

Medical care in South Africa costs a pretty penny. If a person is not a member of a medical scheme, they have to rely on the public healthcare system to cater for their medical needs.

This however precludes a large sector of the South African population who are lower income earners and cannot afford medical scheme premiums. Umvuzo Health hopes to change this and is making significant strides in the industry. We spoke to Rx Health Group of Companies CEO, Heinrich Rix, to find out more about the scheme and its offering.

Who is Umvuzo Health?
Umvuzo Health started in 2004 as a medical scheme that wanted to focus primarily on serving the needs of lower income earners. We had a vision in mind of trying to encourage financial inclusion and offer quality healthcare to a sector of the population that cannot afford it.

We started with a single product and grew from there. Every time we wanted to add a new product, our actuarials would need to apply their minds on how to structure the products, but we structured them accordingly.

A new dawn has come for Umvuzo Health. The company launched its new brand on 14 June and with it, renewed its commitment to the members it serves. The company is in a position where it can become a force to be reckoned with in society. At a time of radical economic empowerment, Umvuzo is ready to help achieve this ideal.

How has the company grown over the years?
Somewhere along our journey, we felt a shift was required, one where we could remain true to our core values.

At the core of our business, Umvuzo Health is a people’s brand and it will continue to remain so. We are steadfastly committed to going the extra mile to make sure that Umvuzo Health’s members are taken care of in the best possible way.

Umvuzo Health has embraced the value of rewarding life and believes that all its members should, through their loyalty, prosper and be given the quality care that they deserve.

This is being carried out through our network of brokers who we see as key business partners. They will be vital in Umvuzo’s future growth.

How are lower income earners being catered for in the medical scheme market?
Despite initiatives aimed at creating affordable low-cost healthcare, medical schemes have remained inaccessible to a large majority of South Africans.

Umvuzo Health’s Activator Option is the first real low-income medical scheme option that includes not only the statutory Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), but also provides private healthcare cover. Previously uncovered lives can now access mainstream private healthcare. The Activator Option premiums start at R490 per month which is set to disrupt the industry and give comprehensive access to employees earning R3,850 or less per month.

Further, Umvuzo Health also reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to the members they serve. The company has expressed its intention to play a significant role in ensuring economic empowerment of members by expanding its product offering.

Financial inclusion is an issue that government has been working towards and promoting for a while now. If we are going to achieve this, we need significant buy in from all sectors of society; this victory cannot be won alone.