Gems Payout Bombshell: 67B Rand, Hikes, and Cancer Claims
Johannesburg News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · The Daily News Now!
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Show Notes
South Africas Government Employee Medical Scheme (GEMS) has announced a staggering payout of 67 billion rand in claims for one year, surpassing what Discovery, one of the largest private medical aids, paid over 25 years. This massive outlay, covering over 2.3 million beneficiaries, has led to increased contributions and dipping into reserves. The schemes high claims, including 22,000 doctor visits, 60 births, and nearly 600 hospital stays daily, have resulted in a 13.4% contribution hike for 2025 and a 9.5% increase for 2026. Public servants, who received only a 4% salary bump, are struggling with reduced take-home pay. GEMS members use their plans more frequently than private aid members, with some top payouts reaching 11.4 million rand. The department is implementing cost controls, efficiency improvements, fraud checks, and stable leadership to ensure sustainability and affordability for public workers.
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