YourHealth Portal

Bonitas is proud to be launching the YourHealth Portal – an exciting
new online educational web and mobile portal that gives members
access to an abundance of resources to help them make better health
choices and stay well-informed on health-related topics. The portal
includes e-tutorials, educational articles, self-assessment tools,
quizzes and so much more, all conveniently housed on the member
zone.

Bonitas Student Criteria

Please take note of the below application criteria for the Bonitas
Student option.

Applicants are required to be:
• A full time registered student.
• Able to produce proof of registration and/or an Acceptance
letter.
• Registered with any Institution of higher learning, as recognised by
the Department of Education within S.A boarders.
• Under the age of 30 years.

SANLAM REALITY

Please see the below links to view the Sanlam Reality Bonitas marketing 

material for distribution:

 

Sanlam Reality Bonitas Info Guide

Sanlam Reality Broker Sign Up Form

Compliment for our Care Line Staff Member 

FROM:   MARIUS BEZUIDENHOUT
TO:  CANDACE
22ND OCTOBER 2015
IN RE: MEDICAL INSURANCE/MOMENTUM
DEAR MADAM,
1. I wish to place the following on record.
2. I have been approached by Elmarie vd Sandt to underwrite a Medical
        Insurance for myself and Naomi Bezuidenhout.

5. I have been contacted by Juanita, the young lady in your office on 

        many occasions.

6. As a request from Momentum, I had to complete supplementary documents.

7. I have sent them via email, but as it would happen, they did not arrive at your 

        office. 

8. Out of sheer desperation to get this policy going I have travelled to Alberton on three 

        different occasions.

9. In this I would appreciate the fact that you would reward Juanita with her efforts 

 Again, Juanita (sorry for omitting her surname, but I never got that) is the real driving force in your office. Reward her accordingly.

Kindest regards

Marius D Bezuidenhout

Care Line Wishes our Staff member all the best on her wedding day tomorrow

We wish You and your Partner a life filled with Happiness, Health and Wealth

All the Best from Care Line Staff and Management 

Reference: Low cost benefit option guidelines

Contact person: Paresh Prema
Tel: 012 431 0582
Fax: 086 743 2933
E-mail: p.prema@medicalschemes.com

Date: 12 October 2015

Circular 62 of 2015: Low cost benefit option (LCBO) guidelines

Circular 54 of 2015, published on 4 September 2015, containing the minimum
guideline package of the low cost benefit
option, has reference.
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), as well as the National Department
of Health have received various
submissions relating to the proposed package. In light of such submissions
requiring further analysis and consideration of
the proposed benefits, the package is hereby withdrawn, until further notice.
A revised package will be published in due course following consideration and
consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Mr. D. Lehutjo
Acting Chief Executive Officer & Registrar
Council for Medical Schemes

CMScript 

Member of a medical scheme?

Know your guaranteed benefits!

Issue 9 of 2015

Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines (gut).
It is a common condition. Many children
(from birth to 12 years) have more than one episode in a year.
The severity can range from a mild, upset tummy
with mild diarrhoea for a day or two, to severe diarrhoea and
vomiting for several days or longer.
This Script is mainly for all types of diarrhoeal diseases.
CMScript Member of a medical scheme?
Know your guaranteed benefits!
Issue 9 of 2015

Causes of gastroenteritis
Infection - gastro-enteritis can be a symptom of infections
caused by many viruses, bacteria and other microbes
(germs) most of which are spread by stools (faeces) contaminated
water. Infection is more common when there is a
shortage of adequate sanitation hygiene and safe water for
drinking, cooking and cleaning. Rotavirus and Escherichia
coli are the two most common germs that cause diarrhoea
in developing countries.
Diarrhoeal disease can spread from person-to-person,
aggravated by poor personal hygiene. Food is another
major cause of diarrhoea when it is prepared or stored in
unhygienic conditions. Water can contaminate food during
irrigation. Fish and seafood from polluted water may also
contribute to the disease.
Malnutrition - Children who die from diarrhoea often suffer
from underlying malnutrition which makes them more
vulnerable to diarrhoea. Each episode of diarrhoea makes
their malnutrition even worse.
Other causes – Other non-infectious causes of gastroenteritis
include irritating foods or fluids (allergy-like reactions),
congenital (inborn) disease and stress.

Signs and symptoms
The main symptom is diarrhoea. Diarrhoea means loose or
watery stools, usually at least three times in a 24 hour period.
Blood or mucus can appear in the stools with some infections.
Vomiting is also another symptom. Crampy pains
in the tummy (abdomen) are common. Pains may ease for
a while each time some diarrhoea is passed. A high temperature
(fever), headache and aching limbs sometimes
occur. The greatest danger presented by gastroenteritis is
dehydration.
Symptoms of dehydration in children include passing little
urine; a dry mouth; a dry tongue and lips; fewer tears when
crying; sunken eyes; weakness; being irritable or lacking in
energy (lethargic). In infants a sunken fontanelle (taught in
antenatal clinics to all new mothers) is an important sign!
Symptoms of severe dehydration in children include drowsiness;
pale skin; cold hands or feet; very few wet nappies;
fast (but often shallow) breathing. Severe dehydration is
a medical emergency and immediate medical attention is
needed. Death can follow severe dehydration if body fluids
and electrolytes are not replenished, either through the
use of oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution, or through an
intravenous drip.

Diagnosis
The symptoms of gastroenteritis are usually enough to
identify the illness. Parents and caregivers should suspect
gastroenteritis if there is a sudden change in stool consistency
to loose or watery stools, and/or a sudden onset of
vomiting. It is important to find the cause as different types
of the condition respond to a variety of treatments. Health
professionals make a diagnosis based on the history provided
by parents/caregivers and physical examination. In
certain cases, stools and blood tests may be needed to establish
the cause of the gastro-enteritis.

Treatment
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) - should be given as first
step treatment for the management of children with acute
gastroenteritis with mild to moderate dehydration. ORT is a
means of fluid replacement to treat and prevent dehydration.
The treatment is cost-effective and can be continued
at home. There are various types available in the market.
The picture below shows how to prepare ORT at home,
with water that has been boiled and then cooled:
https://flutrackers.com/forum/filedata/fetch?id=664030&d=1171765909

Nutrition and feeding - Early nutritional intervention
is important to avoid malnutrition, persistent
diarrhoea and death. At first, it may be
necessary to give smaller amounts of feeds
more frequently to avoid vomiting. The child
may initially be unable to take full feeds and may
lose weight, but the aim is to achieve full-volume
feeding within 1 - 2 days. There is no need to
dilute or otherwise modify the usual feeds, provided
that they are tolerated. Breast-fed babies
should continue to be breast-fed if they are able
to take it. Bottle-fed babies should be fed with
their normal full-strength feeds if they will take them. Fruit
juices or fizzy drinks should be avoided as these can make
diarrhoea worse.

Micronutrients - These are nutrients needed by the body
in small amounts. Zinc supplements reduce the duration
of a diarrhoea episode. There are various products in the
market. Avoid iron supplements or supplements containing
iron.

When to seek medical advice
Most children who have gastroenteritis have mild symptoms
which will get better in a few days. The important thing is to
ensure that they have plenty of liquids to drink. However
medical advice should be sought in the following situations:
• The child is under the age of 6 months
• There is an underlying medical condition (for example,
heart or kidney problems, diabetes, and history of premature
birth)
• The child has a high temperature (fever)
• Lack of fluid in the body (dehydration) is suspected or
developing
• The child appears drowsy or confused
• The child is being sick (vomiting) and unable to keep
fluids down
• There is blood in the diarrhoea or vomit
• The child has severe tummy (abdominal) pain
• Infections caught abroad or whilst visiting other countries
• The child has severe symptoms, or if you feel that their
condition is getting worse
• The symptoms are not settling (for example, vomiting
for more than 1-2 days, or diarrhoea that does not settle
after 3-4 days)
Prevention
• Full and exclusive breast-feeding on demand. It protects
against intestinal infections and prevents exposure
to environmental contamination.
• Access to safe water for drinking and food preparation,
and use of proper sanitation facilities.
• Proper hand-washing hygiene with soap and water after
toilet use, playing with pets, before food preparation
and feeding.
• Full immunisation including rotavirus vaccines. The
new rotavirus vaccines are safe and reduce the severity
of infection and prevent deaths.
Prescribed Minimum Benefits
Gastroenteritis is a Prescribed Minimum Benefit condition
under Diagnostic Treatment Pair (DTP) code 901F. The
DTP refers to gastroenteritis and colitis with life-threatening
haemorrhage (bleeding) or dehydration, regardless of
cause. The treatment component of this DTP is specified
as Medical management.

Regarding medical management, it means that the medical
scheme should pay for the diagnosis, treatment and care of
gastroenteritis according to the PMB regulation. Treatment
and care includes medication, pathology (blood tests), radiology
(abdominal x-ray and sonar) and other investigative
and monitoring services.
In case of children not admitted to the hospital, medical
management should still be funded as PMB. Payment of
PMBs from the Medical Savings Account (MSA) contravenes
Regulation 10 (6) of the Medical Schemes Act. It is
important for the treating provider to register the member
with the medical scheme for services rendered to allow
payment of health services from the correct benefit. The
members must still take the responsibility to ensure that the
form to be completed by the treating health provider is obtained
from the medical scheme. Once it is completed, the
member must ensure that the form is submitted to the medical
scheme. The medical scheme should however assist
the members with the registration process regarding PMBs.

References
Dorland, 2011. Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 32e
(Dorland’s Medical Dictionary). 32nd Edition. Saunders.
Steele, AD and Glass, R. 2011. Rotavirus in South Africa:
From discovery to vaccine introduction. South African Journal
Epidemiology Infect, 26(4)(Part I):184-190.
Wittenberg, DF. 2012. Management guidelines for acute
infective diarrhoea/ gastroenteritis in infants. South African
Medical Journal, 102 (2): 104 – 107.
World Health Organization. 2013. Diarrhoeal disease.
2015. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/
factsheets/fs330/en/. [Accessed 7 October 2015]
Gastroenteritis in Children. Treatment and causes; information
| Patient. 2015. [ONLINE] Available at: http://patient.
info/health/gastroenteritis-in-children-leaflet. [Accessed
7 October 2015]

                   Celebrating 10 Years of Exceptional Service and incomparable Advice

Momentum Health offers all members the opportunity to change
their benefit option annually to coincide with the commencement
of the new benefit year which starts 1 January each year. This
ensures that members are able to select a benefit option appropriate
to their family’s unique or changing health care requirements.

Momentum Consult will be conducting information sessions during
October on the 2016 Momentum Health product range, as well as
Multiply and Admed gap cover.
Momentum Health has performed well over the 2015 benefit year
and the changes to the Momentum Health product for 2016 are
therefore minimal. Nevertheless, these information sessions present
an ideal opportunity for members who may be considering changing
their benefit option or who wish to obtain greater insight and guidance
on the selection of an appropriate benefit option.

Multiply has also announced some exciting product changes for 2016,
which will also be shared at these sessions.
Admed Gap Cover - MMI employees will be granted a once-off window
of opportunity to join Admed on 1 January 2016 on a guaranteed
acceptance basis, which means no underwriting or waiting periods,
and at significantly reduced staff rate.This window period will not
be extended, so employees are encouraged to attend one of the
information sessions to find out more about this limited offer.

The 2016 product changes will also be shared at the presentation
sessions and application forms and brochures will be available.
Presentations have been scheduled around the country at major
centres. Please click here to view the full schedule.
Once you have attended one of these sessions and you still require
assistance regarding your option selection or wish to take up the
staff special offer to join Admed gap cover, please contact Momentum
Consult via email at ConsultHealth@MomentumConsult.co.za.

An accredited Momentum Consult adviser will be available to provide you
with the necessary information, guidance and advice.
Yours sincerely
Warren van Rensburg
Momentum Consult Business Solutions
Health Care

CONTACT CARE LINE TODAY FOR ASSISTANCE TODAY 

0861 45 00 45

Dear Broker,

With the large amount of fraud, waste and abuse within the medical scheme
industry, Bonitas is proud to have obtained new, world-class analytical software,
 which uses advanced techniques to detect suspicious and abnormal claiming
patterns. This allows us to ensure that members receive the best care at all times,
 while reducing the financial impact of fraudulent activity and abuse, which
contributes to rising healthcare inflation.

This software will go live in October, 2015.

View more information here.

Kind regards,

Bonitas Medical Fund
 

LIVE LIFE IN CAPITAL LETTERS!

Sometimes it really feels as though we simply can't keep up with the 

pace of life. Luckily, there's a new trendy way to de-stress, so breathe 

in, breathe out, colour in ! And, since spring is the official smile season, 

you will enjoy reading one of our favourite new blog posts on 20 

powerful reasons to smile

Spring is also the season of change. We're cleaning out our cupboards 

and drawers, but what about our bodies? Eating clean is a new trend 

which is less about getting lean and more about promoting long-term 

health. A positive body image also lends itself to having a healthier 

body, so we offer some tips on how to stop body shaming Happy reading!

http://www.fedhealth.co.za/healthy-living-tips/20-powerful-reasons-to-smile/ http://www.fedhealth.co.za/healthy-living-tips/eating-clean/ http://www.fedhealth.co.za/medical-aid-plans/maxima-entryzone/

Ever wondered how you would change things if you could predict the future? How you would prepare 
your children or other loved ones for events to come… What happens in the event of you no longer 
being there?

Have you made preparations?

No? So what would they do if you were no longer there to take care of them?  Start preparing today, 
with Care Line Financial Services. 


Prepare today and know, your loved ones will have a future even if you are not there.

0861 45 00 45

‘Resolution Health is operating profitably’

Medical scheme responds to solvency issues raised in CMS annual report.

MNA for Resolution Health Medical Scheme | 3 September 2015 15:59

Resolution Health Medical Scheme released the following statement in
response to the 2014 Annual Report of the Council for Medical Schemes’
(CMS’s) report. Read more about it here.

Nine months later the scenario has further improved and Resolution Health
wishes to take this opportunity to present a more up-to-date picture of its
financial health.

Mark Arnold, Principal Officer of Resolution Health, asserts that: “Due to the
 richness of the data encapsulated in the CMS Annual Report dealing with the
period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014, and the extensive analysis the
data required, it’s important that the report is viewed in its correct context.”

“In reality Resolution Health is operating profitably with a positive cash flow.
The Scheme declared a year-on-year surplus of R27.4 million in 2013 and
R2.3 million in 2014, reflecting an accumulated surplus of R80.6 million in
2014. The Scheme is well poised to continue this positive trend in 2015. As
 many as a third of the country’s top 15 open medical schemes have been
unable to record successive surpluses.”

“Furthermore, our reserves improved significantly between 2013 and 2014,
 following the positive financial results achieved over the past two years.
Looking at our solvency ratio of 10.4% as at end July 2015, we are reflecting
a marked improvement of just over 70% between 2012 (6.1%) and our current
financials. Less than half of South Africa’s top 15 medical schemes can lay
claim to increasing their solvency ratios three years running.”

According to Arnold, during the CMS’s 2014 reporting period, Resolution
 Health lost a number of members due to the protracted platinum mining strike,
which ran from 23 January 2014 for a period of approximately five months.
 “As labour relations continue to normalise in the sector, we continue to see
these members return to the Resolution Health fold, which is gratifying.”

“From a risk management perspective, Resolution Health has the second lowest
claims ratio per beneficiary, indicating that our managed healthcare systems are
doing an excellent job of containing costs.”

“This brings us to the CMS’s annual report findings regarding Resolution Health
specific complaints. Here it is important to note that the CMS complaints data
includes healthcare practitioner complaints rather than just those emanating from
our members. In order to safeguard our solvency ratios to protect our members,
Resolution Health is particularly vigilant against what is known as ‘code-farming’
in the industry,” Arnold observes.

“We wish to note that our complaints per thousand beneficiaries actually reduced
from 3.5 in 2013 to 2.8 in 2014. We are also one of few medical schemes to follow
the proposed CMS recommendations with the establishment of our formal dispute
resolution committee.”

“However, as with many other schemes, these complaints are specifically related
to Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs). Our robust information systems have
been designed to highlight the unacceptable practice of code-farming, code unbundling
and duplication. The administration platform has a significantly more sophisticated
claims adjudication process, which drills deeper into queries of this nature and these
are rightfully ruffling feathers among the small minority of unscrupulous healthcare
specialists, who attempt to capitalise on loopholes existent in the current PMB paradigm.”

“In layman’s terms, this means that where some specialists may try to duplicate
claims for financial gain, our system is geared towards weeding these out to ensure
that members’ interests are at all times safeguarded. It is good to see that our systems
are working for the Scheme and its members. Due to our commitment to transparency,
this kind of reporting may appear ‘overzealous’ when compared with that of some of our competitors.”

It is worth noting that the Scheme has made considerable gains in reducing its non-
healthcare expenditure since the end of 2009, following the appointment of a new
board of trustees and healthcare administrator. “When using the more accurate
measure of non-healthcare expenditure per beneficiary per month, which is in line
with the CMS measurement, Resolution Health had the eighth highest non-healthcare
expenditure of the 15 largest open schemes, which for the size of the scheme is highly
 competitive,” says Arnold.

“When considering the aforementioned factors, it is evident that the implementation
of measures aimed at bolstering our reserves has delivered good results. These measures
included adjustments to our benefit design, a review of our membership growth strategy,
 risk mitigation factors surrounding membership and increased managed care protocols,
as well as a further reduction in non-healthcare expenditure.”

It is also worth noting that in May 2015 Global Credit Ratings affirmed the national
scale rating assigned to Resolution Health of BBB-(ZA); with the outlook accorded
as stable.

“Within the greater industry context, Resolution Health compares most favourably
with the rest of the industry. We believe that the Scheme will continue to make a
most valuable contribution to the South African healthcare industry.”

Arnold stressed that Resolution Health was committed to achieving the same objectives
as the Department of Health and the CMS. “It is our key objective to make affordable,
lifetime healthcare available to as broad a spectrum of the South African population as
possible.”

FUNERAL COVER ?? WHAT ???

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Well, let’s start with the stress factor. Losing a loved one is stressful 
enough, not having to mention the cost involved and the organisation 
that goes into arranging a funeral.

Funeral Cover is designed to protect you and your family from being hit 
with excessive funeral costs, to ease the burden and to allow you to deal 
with the pain and loss without the stress such an event will cause.

CARE LINE  will ease that pressure for you. Plan for tomorrow and live 
for today. Call us today or fill out our contact form 

Sent: 02 September 2015 10:22 AM
To: MDS Howard
Subject: Health: solvency article - pls read and pass on!

Seven medical schemes on solvency watch 

Non-healthcare expenses a concern.

Antoinette Slabbert | 2 September 2015 00:01 

The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), which regulates the medical scheme

industry, has placed seven schemes on close watch due to solvency levels below the

statutory requirement of 25% during 2014.

This was disclosed in the CMS annual report for 2014/15, published in Pretoria on

Tuesday.

The schemes represent 24.1% of all medical scheme beneficiaries, due to the inclusion

of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems) with 1.8 million beneficiaries.

They are: Resolution Health (9.4%), Gems (10%), Liberty Medical Scheme (17.2%),

Community Medical Aid Scheme (Commed) (21.4%), Suremed Health (21.4%),

Thebemed (22.8%) and Transmed (22%).

Of these, Resolution, Thebemed and Transmed in fact improved on their 2013 solvency

rate.

Discovery Health Medical Scheme, which accounts for 53.8% of the open scheme market,

maintained a solvency level above 25% for the year in 2014, up from 24.3% in the previous

year.

According to the CMS, the drop in Gems’ solvency ratio is largely due to a higher-than-

expected claims ratio. Membership also dropped by 0.8% due to resignation of public

servants, termination of membership due to the scheme’s debt management policy and

members who passed away.

The CMS is developing a risk-based solvency framework that will later be issued for

comment.

Medical schemes that saw a drop of 100% or more in operating performance before

investment income in 2014 include Bonitas, Medshield, Fedhealth, Liberty, Gems and

Polmed (South African Police Service Medical Scheme). CMS general manager for

financial supervision Tebogo Maziya pointed out that some schemes deliberately manage

reserves down and this may result in decreased operating profit.

Non-healthcare expenditure – which includes among other things administration cost,

remuneration of principle officers and trustee fees, as well as advertising and broker fees –

has increased from R1 743 to R1 753.50 per average beneficiary per month. This has long

been a focus area for the CMS.

The CMS said while the overall costs have decreased in real terms, some schemes still see

it moving upwards. “In the interest of member protection, it is important that such

expenditure can demonstrate clear value,” the regulator said.

Some of the schemes that fail to meet the solvency level, also feature as high spenders on

these non-healthcare items.

Gems and Liberty with 116 000 beneficiaries, are the top and fifth respectively on the list

of schemes with the highest trustee fees and feature with Transmed on the list of top ten

highest remuneration for principal officers. Transmed has 81 000 beneficiaries.

The CMS has introduced compulsory disclosure of payments to trustees and the next step

would be to prescribe the levels of payment, the council said.

Liberty and Commed are also among the biggest spenders on advertising, marketing and

broker costs.

Medical schemes paid a total of R124.1 billion in benefits in 2014, up 11.1% from 2013.

The amount paid per average beneficiary per annum increased by 10% to R14 185.

Hospitals were the main beneficiaries of these payments, getting R46.6 billion or 37.6% of

the total. Only 6.6% or R8.2 billion was paid to general practitioners (GPs).

The CMS says from the data it is clear that medical schemes that have a high proportion of

benefits paid to GPs have lower payments to hospitals. The opposite is also true. If payments

to GPs are low, hospital costs increase. This negative correlation may be caused by the way

benefit options are structured, the CMS says.

GPs were paid an average of R328.70 per visit, dentists R879.62 and anaesthetists – the top

earners – R2 506.42.

Members paid on average R6 000 per annum out of their own pockets, although this may be

understated as all direct payments to service providers are not recorded by medical schemes.

Prescribed minimum benefits

The actual cost for prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) amounted to R567 per beneficiary

per month and constituted 52.5% of all risk benefits paid out. PMBs are conditions that medical

schemes are legally obliged to cover to a prescribed minimum level of treatment.

The accuracy of this amount is however questioned, since data from 19 schemes had to be

disregarded as it was clearly not correct, according to Dr Anton de Villiers, CMS general

manager for research and monitoring. De Villiers said some schemes suggested the average

PMB cost was R20, which cannot be correct. He said the problem may be with the actual

implementation of PMBs or with the reporting.

The CMS also interrogated the quality of care beneficiaries received for nine conditions on

the PMB chronic disease list. The results indicate that beneficiaries do not get the benefits they

are entitled to, which results in higher and more costly outcomes, including hospitalisation

and developing complications that need costly treatment.

From a sample of 404 161 hypertensive beneficiaries, for example, only 33.8% have undergone

at least one electrocardiogram test during 2014, and of 44 608 beneficiaries suffering from

Diabetes Mellitus 1, only 6.6% had the Fundus Exam eye test that should be done at least once

a year.

De Villiers said medical schemes should pro-actively contact members suffering from these

diseases to encourage them to make use of these benefits, as it will save costs in the long run.

He said these tests are indicated for managing these conditions and are covered as PMBs.

“They pay for managed healthcare, but they don’t get the value.”

Universal Healthcare is winner of the 5 industry awards

Winner of the five industry awards for excellence at the “Oscars of the healthcare industry”

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Best Administrator
• Best Managed Care organisation
• Best Open Medical Scheme under administration
• Best Restricted Medical Scheme under administration
• Lifetime Achievement Award

Health Update brought to you by:

Migraines – More Than Just a Headache
Date: August 3, 2015

Are headaches regularly hijacking your to-do list, seriously affecting your day-to-day
functioning and quality of life?
Most of us have a headache from time to time, but do you know how to recognize when
it’s more than “just a headache”? Isn’t a migraine just a bad headache? Nope. So what
makes migraines different?

What is a migraine?
A Migraine is a throbbing, recurring headache that typically affects one side of the head
and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and disturbed vision.
Migraines can last from 4 -72 hours, with frequency that changes from person to person.
Migraine is the most prevalent neurological condition in the developed world and
according to the World Health Organization, one of the 20 most disabling lifetime
conditions.

What causes a migraine?
The majority of headaches are not migraines. Simply put, they are pain signals within your
head. These headaches are most often associated with and made worse by fatigue, sleep
deprivation, certain allergens or stress. They’re successfully treated by over-the-counter
medication or rest.

The exact cause of migraines is not known. It is believed that abnormal brain functioning
is involved. Sufferers are usually affected between their early twenties and their forties.
80% of all migraine sufferers are women. Migraines also tend to run in families, which
points to a genetic component.

What are the symptoms?
A deep throbbing, pounding and pulsating pain behind or near the eye on one side of the
head is generally reported by migraine sufferers. Tension headache pain can range from
dull pressure to a tight squeeze on the head or around the neck. A migraine may cause
sensitivity to bright light, loud noise or smells. Tension headaches rarely cause such
sensitivities. Nausea, vomiting and an upset stomach are also common symptoms with
migraine headaches, but rarely occur during a tension headache.
A visual aura (bright, flashing lights or dots appear in the field of vision) can occur before
a migraine begins, though it’s not common even among people with a history of migraines.
Other types of auras may occur, too. These could include loss of speech, pins and needles
in arms or legs or vision loss.

What are the triggers?
When it comes to tension headaches, stress, fatigue, and sleep deprivation are the most
common triggers.
When it comes to migraines, the most common triggers include foods, drinks, stress,
smells, physical activity and sleep patterns. Common foods known to trigger migraines
include chocolate, processed foods, dairy products and meats containing nitrates. Alcohol,
caffeine and smoking are often culprits as well. In women, migraines are often associated
with changes in oestrogen that occur during periods, pregnancy and menopause.

How to prevent migraines
There is no guaranteed way to prevent migraines. Certain lifestyle changes can help to
reduce their occurrence and symptoms. The best way to avoid migraines is to avoid its
triggers. Limiting caffeine, alcohol and smoking as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle,
may help. In women whose migraines are triggered by the oestrogen in birth control pills
and hormone replacement therapy, avoiding these medications and finding alternatives, may
prevent attacks.

Treatment
The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and identify triggers. Keeping a headache
diary can help sufferers to learn what triggers their migraine attacks. For those with frequent
attacks, preventative medication is available. Anti-depressants, beta-blockers or calcium
blockers, seizure medication and Botox can all be taken to reduce the occurrence of
migraines.

Remember, there can be unpleasant or harmful side-effects from many of the medications
used to relieve migraines. Several alternative therapies for migraines seem to be effective,
including acupuncture, bio-feedback, massage therapy and certain herbs and vitamins.
Consult with your medical practitioner to avoid reactions with other medications.

Source: www.healthline.com, doctormdx.com, www.womanshealthmag.com,
www.mylastsong.com, www.mirror.co.uk, www.migranetrust.org, www.healthline.com,
webmd.com

- See more at: http://www.fedhealth.co.za/healthy-living-tips/migraines-more-than-just-a-headache/#sthash.oq0MArsN.dpuf

What Is An Independent Financial Planner Anyway?

Posted In: Finding a Planner

After explaining in our last post how planners charge fees, we now
move to our next post which deals with how planners operate.

If you're pressed for time, the most important takeaway from this post is:

Independent planners will be able to sell products from any company,
whereas tied planners will only sell the products of one company.
Make sure that you know how much work your planner will do themselves
versus someone else in their team.
Anyway, let's jump in – it’s important that you understand what goes on
with your planner behind the scenes.

Independence
Tied Planners

These are planners that only sell one company’s products. For example,
Insurer X has tied planners whose sole job is simply to sell Insurer X’s
investment and insurance products.

Tied planners may be cheaper than independents, but will not be completely
objective and cannot offer you the range of products that Independent planners
can. If you are simply looking for a single insurance or investment product,
rather than a holistic financial plan, then a tied planner could be good for you.

Independent Planners

These are planners that are not tied to any specific company and are able to
place business (sell products) with any product provider.

If you are looking for a planner who can help you over the long-term and provide
you with a holistic view of all the products out there, then an Independent planner
is the way to go. Independent planners have the benefit of being able to offer a
much wider array of products than a tied planner can and can tailor them to best
suit your needs.

Remember though, just because a planner works for a known product provider
(and has that company name on his/her business card) it does not necessarily
mean that they are Tied; there are many planners who work for large organisations
that are entirely independent.

Individual or Team Servicing
Whilst you may initially meet a senior member of a financial planning firm
(or association) be aware that your day-to-day interaction and communication
with the firm may be with one of their more junior colleagues.

This may not be a big issue for you (and may actually be better as they may
have more time to devote to your financial health) but you should definitely
try to get a commitment from the senior planner that they will continue to
provide oversight and guidance in managing your account.

Conclusion

So: Make sure you understand whether your planner is Independent or Tied to a
specific Product Provider. Both have their advantages but it’s important that you
know who you are dealing with.

Secondly, just ensure that you will have adequate oversight and guidance from
an experienced planner, even if a more junior team-member takes care of the
day-to-day servicing of your account.

If you want help finding a quality and accredited planner visit our website and
be on the lookout for more posts in the future.

- See more at: https://www.objectivemoney.co.za/#/what-is-an-independent-financial-planner

Compliment - Our staff set the bar high

Sent: 13 August 2015 12:18 PM

To: medicalaid@c-line.co.za

Subject: FW: Cancellation of medical aid Affidavit

Good day Vicky

I wanted to thank you and send my greatest appreciation for your effective assistance. You called me to follow up and dedicated yourself to attend to my query which I am really thankful. I hope you continue with the good service you provided to me after the problems I came across.

Please will you send me the cancellation confirmation as per the telephone conversation advising me that the cover will be cancelled effectively from the 01.009.2015.

Kind Regards,

Dinah Lande | 

 

Life Cover: The Basics



Life Cover: The Basics
The life insurance industry in South Africa is notoriously tainted by
bad publicity. Stories about extortionate premiums paid by workers
barely earning enough to survive do not help to salvage the industry’s
already struggling reputation. Whilst these stories may carry some
truth, our job is to help you make up your own mind by separating
the facts from the opinions. Follow these 5 simple steps to better
understanding the life insurance industry and the value it may (or
may not) bring to your life:

Step 1: Understanding life insurance versus life assurance
Life insurance or life cover requires you to pay regular premiums to
an insurer over a specific period of time. If you die during the stated
term of the policy, the insurer pays-out a lump sum to your chosen
beneficiary. If, however, you escape death and outlive the policy
there is no pay-out and your premiums disappear into nothingness.

Life assurance has an added investment component and is not taken
out over a set period of time. Instead, premiums are paid throughout
your lifetime and they build in value. The amount of pay-out received
by the beneficiary is dependent on how long you have paid premiums
and the investment performance of the insurer.

Typically, life assurance policies are more expensive than insurance
policies due to the added investment opportunity and the fact that
there is a guaranteed pay-out regardless of when you die.

Step Two: Understanding your needs
Life insurance policies come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It would
take much more than the 5 steps of this article to discuss all the available
variations, but the key thing to remember is that you need to select a
policy best suited to your individual needs.

For example, Funeral Insurance Plans pay out a lump sum to be used
exclusively towards the costs of arranging a funeral. These plans are
more suited to those that have limited long-term financial obligations.
In comparison, Salary Insurance Plans will be based on covering a
certain percentage of your monthly salary. These plans are more
appropriate for individuals who will require an income value similar to
their existing salary (for example, if you are required to a pay regular
monthly bills that are close in value to your salary). Disability Insurance
Plans provide a pay-out only in the event that you become disabled and
unable to earn an income.

To decide on the best cover to suit your needs, you need to consider a
number of different factors including the following:
Your age and domestic circumstances
Your health situation
The needs of your dependants
Your debts (for example a bond on your home or a car loan)
To help you understand how these factors come into play, consider these
two examples:

o Tumi is a 30 year old single parent to two young children. She is
responsible for paying all bills (including a bond on their home) and
school fees for the children.

o Michael is a 40 year old business owner. He is unmarried and has no
direct dependants. His home and car were purchased with cash and he
does not have other unpaid loans.

Whilst Tumi will require more comprehensive life cover to account for her
current expenses as well as future obligations (such as the costs of sending
her children to varsity), Michael is likely to opt for little or no cover.

Step Three: Choosing your beneficiaries
When applying for a life insurance plan you will need to stipulate a
beneficiary or beneficiaries. Usually, you will need to identify a primary
beneficiary who will receive the pay-out on your death. Secondary or
contingent beneficiaries will also be identified should the primary
beneficiary die before the pay-out is finalised.

Step Four: Calculating your premiumst
Once you approach an insurance provider for a quote, you will need to
disclose your personal information including any health issues for your
monthly premiums to be calculated. The younger and healthier you are,
the lower your premiums are likely to be. Disclosing all relevant
information is critical as the insurer could refuse to pay-out for reasons
of non-disclosure.

Step Five: Choosing an insurance provider
The life insurance industry is a very competitive space with a handful of
big providers competing for your monthly premium. This is where doing
some research is essential to making sure that you find a provider that is
best suited to you. When you first start out, you might receive several
quotes and feel inclined to choose the provider that requires you to pay
the lowest premium.

However, there are a number of other questions that should be part of your
decision-making process:

How reputable is the insurance provider in terms claims payouts?
Does the insurance provider offer cash back benefits if no claims are made
over a certain period of time?
Does the insurance provider reward you for reaching certain life milestones
or making improvements to your health?
What other benefits are available (for example regular health checks or
assistance in preparing a will)?

Call us to assist you ... 0861 450045

Foreign travel adviceSouth Africa

Summary
Still current at: 12 August 2015
Updated: 7 August 2015

Latest update: Summary and Entry requirements section - updated details
on requirements for travelling with children

South Africa has introduced new immigration rules. From 1 June 2015,
parents travelling with children (under 18) will be asked to show the child’s
full unabridged birth certificate. The full unabridged birth certificate should
list the child’s details and both parents’ details. The abridged (short) birth
certificate which only lists the child’s particulars won’t be accepted. The
South African Department of Home Affairs are not accepting uncertified
copies of birth certificates or copies of the parents/guardians identification.

A parental contact affidavit (PCA) must have a certified copy of the parent’s/
guardian’s identification (ie passport) attached to it.

From 26 May 2014, if you live in South Africa, you must have a valid
esidence permit in your passport when you enter and leave the country.
Instead of fining those whose permits have expired, you may be blacklisted
and prevented from applying for a visa to re-enter South Africa for a period
from 12 months to 5 years. See Entry requirements

There has been an increase in strike action in South Africa and some
demonstrations have turned violent. Follow developments in the local
media and avoid all demonstrations, rallies and large public gatherings.

There is a very high level of crime, but the most violent crimes occur in
townships and isolated areas away from the normal tourist destinations.
See Safety and Security

There have been incidents involving foreigners being followed from OR
Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to their destinations by car
and then robbed, often at gunpoint. Be vigilant in and around the airport
and when driving away.

The standard of driving is variable and there are many fatal accidents.
See Road travel

Most visits to South Africa are trouble-free.

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. See Terrorism

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for
British companies operating overseas on how to manage political,
economic, and business security-related risks.

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

Make sure you have at least 2 blank pages in your passport on arrival.

Woman's Month - At Care Line

Happy Woman's Day on the 9 AUG 2015 - Lucky Ladies get a Long weekend :)





Happy women’s month South Africa

Take a flyer from one of our friendly guys and contact us to assist you with your medical aid today.

New Advertising - Check it out 

Want Your Employees to Work More

New research shows that more freedom leads to longer hours.

  

BY JESSICA STILLMAN

Editor-at-large, Women 2.0@EntryLevelRebel

If you want your people to put in more hours, you can go the
Google route and offer everything from free burritos to onsite
haircuts to keep them at the office longer. But these sort of
perks are obviously expensive and probably won’t work 
anyway if your employees don’t already like their jobs. But
what if I told you there’s a far cheaper way to convince your
team to dedicate more time to work? In fact, there is such a
way, new research suggests, and, better yet, it’s both free
and makes management’s job easier. What is it? Just let you
employees set their own schedules.

Less clock watching means 

greater productivity.

That’s the conclusion of a new working paper from three
European professors that analyzes a large German data set,
looking to see how the type of schedule an employee works
affects his or her level of effort. The authors compare how
many hours workers put into their jobs with the number of
hours they’re contractually obligated to perform for a variety
of scheduling arrangements. It turns out that it’s not those with
clock-watching bosses who spend the longest hours on office-
related matters. In fact, when management doesn’t record hours
worked at all, letting employees set their own start and finish
times and control their time off, workers put in an additional
7.4 hours a week above and beyond what they're obligated to
do. Some of that’s down to demographic factors (more senior
people are more likely to have this freedom and more likely to
go the extra mile, for instance), but not all of it, the researchers
conclude.

What happens when you treat 

adults like adults.

MORE:

How 7 Entrepreneurs Make Their Mornings Simpler

7 Mindsets That Will Radically Improve Your Life Right Now

How Israel's Hot Startup Scene Is Fostering Several Unicorns

17 Simple Habits That Will Make You Look More Professional

5 Office Mistakes Costing Millennials the Promotion

What’s the explanation for this phenomenon? It seems that–
surprise! surprise!–treating your team like actual adults boosts
intrinsic motivation, leading them to put in a greater effort on
your company’s behalf. Take an already dedicated employee
and offer her freedom from time monitoring and she’ll likely
put in 75 more minutes of work a week than if you had continued
to dictate her hours, the authors’ calculations indicate. This is
not too shocking for veteran freelancers, many of whom will
tell you (myself included) that they put in many more hours
when they were freed from the nine-to-five grind. Some of that’s
 down to the economics of being your own boss demanding longer
days, but some of it, I find at least, is simply a byproduct of losing
yourself in work you feel intrinsically motivated to do well. It’s
a pretty open-and-shut case from the employer’s perspective.
Sure, if you run a retail or service business, there’s no way to
chuck employee schedules, but if your team is doing office-based
work, you might consider tossing your set hours and letting your
people come and go as they please. The most likely downside to
monitor won’t be less hours spent at work, but the opposite problem
of always-on burnout (experience shows this is an issue with
unlimited vacation policies in particular).