MEDICAL AID

Discovery Health Medical Scheme says its contribution rates will increase only on April 1 next year, instead of January 1. This is the third time the scheme has deferred annual contribution increases to provide financial relief for its members. The scheme says its 2023 increase will be announced in February, “to ensure careful alignment with medical inflation”. Discovery Health chief executive Dr Ryan Noach says: “For now, both consumer price inflation and healthcare utilisation outlook remain volatile. It’s important that the contribution increase accurately reflects underlying price and utilisation changes for 2023. The eventual increase will be in line with medical inflation, which is typically 3% to 4% above CPI.”