Big changes for medical aids in South Africa are coming

• South Africa is shifting its medical aid system from a disease‑specific prescribed minimum benefits (PMB) model to a service‑based Primary Health Care (PHC) package for the 2026/27 financial year.
• The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) is updating costs, aligning the new PHC package with the National Department of Health, and incorporating Competition Commission recommendations to create a base benefits package.
• The overhaul aims to broaden coverage, reduce financial strain on members, and could lead to revised premiums and benefit structures once the new PHC framework is implemented.