Medshield 2027: Building on momentum, delivering greater value

Medshield Medical Scheme has announced its 2027 benefit options and contributions, delivering a low 7.9% weighted average contribution increase – with 125 603 lives experiencing increases of just 6% to 7%.

The scheme grew by 4.5% in membership with an improved age profile in 2025, and the experience continued into 2026.

As one of the most financially stable open medical schemes in South Africa, Medshield mapped its existing benefits against members’ needs to identify strengths and gaps; reviewed the competitive landscape; and considered the role of modern technology in delivering greater value and access.

For 2027, the scheme has protected its existing benefits, enhanced selected benefit limits, and introduced new benefits:

Child dependant age increased: The child dependant age has increased from 21 to 24 years old on all benefit options.
Co-payments: Removal and reduction of selected co-payments to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and support affordability.
Mental health support: An improved mental health benefit, increasing access to care.
Diabetic retinal AI screening: Extended early detection and preventative care providing proactive chronic care on all plans.
Mediclinic from home: Extended hospital support and healthcare professional care from the comfort of the member’s home through the Mediclinic Hospital-at-Home benefit.
Innovative Oncology Treatment Co-funding Programme: Combatting cancer through access to innovative treatment.
Integrated Chronic Care Programme: Improving chronic disease management outcomes at primary care level.
Strengthened MediCurve and MediPhila with additional benefits, extending meaningful healthcare support to more members.

“Our focus for 2027 ensures that members can afford to retain private healthcare in a challenging economic environment,” says Medshield principal officer Kevin Aron.

“Over the years, the scheme has maintained a considered and consistent approach to benefit design and contribution increases, carefully balancing affordability, medical inflation and long-term sustainability while delivering quality benefits and healthcare solutions, financial protection and meaningful support.

“We will continue to look for opportunities to enhance the value we provide to our members.”

Connecting health and financial wellbeing

One such opportunity is Medshield’s collaboration with Sanlam, South Africa’s largest and leading financial services group.

Medshield and Sanlam have signed a distribution agreement recognising that Medshield is a preferred healthcare partner to Sanlam. This partnership will bring members closer to a more connected health and financial wellbeing experience.

Through the collaboration, members will progressively gain access to wellness, gap cover, financial planning, insurance, investment, retirement, banking and rewards solutions across the Sanlam ecosystem.

The collaboration also gives members and corporate clients access to Sanlam Gap, Sanlam Reality and Sanlam Wealth, thereby strengthening the value Medshield provides to members and corporate clients through brokers.

“Healthcare decisions do not occur in isolation from the other financial pressures people face,” says Aron.

“Health and financial wellbeing are closely connected, and through our collaboration with Sanlam we can broaden the conversation.

“We want members to understand not only what they are covered for, but also how to use that cover effectively to achieve better health outcomes and access additional value that can help ease financial pressures.”

More ways for members to access support

Medshield continues to strengthen the way members access support, with a focus on making services easier to access across digital, self-service and face-to-face channels.

The scheme has expanded its self-administered servicing capabilities while increasing capacity, strengthening digital capabilities, enhancing processes and investing in training and quality assurance.

Key service enhancements include:

WhatsApp service: Access to a WhatsApp service agent seven days a week, supported by a range of self-service functionality.
Enhanced Medshield app: An improved, simpler and more intuitive digital experience, including access to emergency assistance.
Expanded face-to-face access: Medshield’s existing seven regional offices and walk-in centres are complemented by 19 additional walk-in centres, giving members more opportunities to access personalised assistance in person.
Enhanced broker support: Bespoke broker support through dedicated channels, personalised assistance and stronger relationship management and accountability.

Together, these channels give members greater choice in how they engage with Medshield, whether through digital self-service, WhatsApp or face-to-face support.

Looking ahead to greater integrated value

“Our 2027 offering is about more than benefits and contributions,” says Aron.

“It brings together sustainable benefit design, enhanced benefits, improved service and strategic collaborations to deliver greater value and support across every stage of the healthcare journey.

“That is the bigger picture. And it is what being a Partner for Life means to us: understanding what our members need, evolving with them and being there when it matters most.”

Brought to you by Medshield Medical Scheme.

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