What is a Restricted Medical Scheme?

What is a Restricted Medical Scheme such as Polmed Medical Scheme?

1. A restricted medical scheme has more to offer than open schemes. That is because employers work at injecting funds into the scheme specifically for the workers
2. Restricted medical schemes have achieved the highest scores in the Alexander Forbes Index for  Medical Schemes Sustainability
3. SAMWUMED and Polmed once again came out as top perfomers in the Index
4. Restricted medical schemes (also called closed schemes) are more personal as the trustees are more aware of the personal circumstances of members. They show empathy to members because they are employees of the same employer.
5. Members benefit from these employer schemes which don’t strive to make money from the workers

 

Restricted Medical Scheme – Risk Exposures Better Managed

By bringing together certain individuals, restricted medical schemes can collect premiums more easily from a specific employer. They can also  contain their costs better. They design their benefits around the unique needs of members who all belong to one and the same group.

South Africa has many medical schemes and you’re able to easily find lists of registered South African medical aids. For starters the Council of Medical Schemes website offers the names of these medical schemes. Some of the medical aids listed may no longer exist, and if the South African government has their way, we may see even more medical schemes disappearing in the near future.

These medical aid lists of which Polmed is a part, serve as a guide to help you find health care cover that suits your health needs and your budget. It’s always a good idea to refer to the medical aid’s website for up to date information on their contact details and the plans they offer.

POLMED – for the men and women in Blue

A restricted medical aid such as Polmed means that only employees of a certain company or the South African police in this case can join the medical scheme. In other words it isn’t open to the general public.

The name Polmed already hints as to who this medical scheme serves. POLMED stands for South African Police Service Medical Scheme. It’s a registered scheme under the Medical Schemes Act and it is a closed medical scheme.

By closed, it means that this particular medical scheme isn’t open to the general public, but only to employees of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Only employees of the South African Police Services, according to Act 68 of 1995, can join POLMED. Their dependants are also eligible to be members of this closed or restricted medical aid.

The Board of Trustees work to Benefit the Members

Polmed has a Board of Trustees to ensure that the operations of this Scheme work to the benefit of all the members. The Board is made up of people elected and appointed by the National Commissioner.

The Principal Officer and Scheme Management is responsible for carrying out, and adhering to the  directives of the Board and making sure that the medical scheme is able to offer all its members an excellent service.

The Medical Scheme is committed to giving their members the best health solutions and they offer members a DRM Programme which aims to improve long-term health by managing chronic conditions. Diseases managed on this particular programme are –

 

• Respiratory – COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma
• Cardiac –  high blood pressure, heart failure, coronary artery disease etc.
• Metabolic: Diabetes
• Spinal: Cervical and lumbar conditions
• Psychiatric – bipolar, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder as well as substance abuse

 

Catering for South Africa’s Diverse Economy

There are many medical aids in South Africa – open and restricted medical scheme types, and most of these cater for certain industries, professionals or unions. This is so as to cater for South Africa’s diverse economy.

There are differences between an open and a restricted medical scheme. A Restricted medical scheme such as Polmed don’t discriminate on the basis of race and religion and they collect premiums to cater for the unique needs of those who carry out the long arm of the law.

 

All info was correct at time of publishing