NN 20/2024
Nasionale Gesondheidsversekering (NGV)
Op Woensdag, 15 Mei het President Cyril Ramaphosa die Wetsontwerp op Nasionale Gesondheidsversekering (NGV) onderteken, soos wyd in die media berig is. Met soveel individue en organisasies wat hulle by die huidige debat aansluit en uiteenlopende menings publiseer, verstaan ons dat SAOU-lede moontlik onsekerheid ervaar. Ons deel graag die antwoorde op die mees algemene vrae wat ons van ons lede ontvang.
Wat gebeur volgende?
Die feit dat die President die Wet onderteken het, beteken nie dit dat dit reeds van krag is nie. Die President moet die Wet, of dele daarvan, proklameer om dit in werking te stel. Dit is nog nie gedoen nie en daar is tans geen aanduiding wanneer of hoe dit sal gebeur nie.
Gaan die SAOU met die NGV akkoord?
Die SAOU stem saam dat toegang tot primêre gesondheidsorg vir alle Suid-Afrikaners ’n basiese mensereg is. Ons siening is egter dat die NGV-wet in sy huidige vorm om verskeie redes nie lewensvatbaar of bekostigbaar vir die Tesourie is nie.
Wat is die SAOU se siening ten opsigte van toegang tot privaat gesondheidsorg?
Die SAOU beskou toegang tot privaat gesondheidsversekering en privaat gesondheidsorg as ’n grondwetlike reg en is oortuig dat lede die vryheid moet hê om te besluit watter gesondheidsorgopsies die beste aan hul individuele vereistes voldoen. Na ons mening is die keuse tussen privaat gesondheidsversekering en die NGV nie teenstrydig nie, maar alternatiewe wat individue se grondwetlike regte handhaaf.
Wat gaan nou met my mediese fonds gebeur?
Die funksionering van alle mediese fondse gaan normaal voort en niks verander nie! Lede kan dus voortgaan om dieselfde mediese fonds voordele te benut.
Dit is belangrik om te onthou dat die NGV nie ’n enkele gebeurtenis is nie, maar ’n ingewikkelde onderneming wat, weens die vele hervormings wat dit in verskeie staatsektore vereis, lank sal neem om te implementeer.

Moet ek my mediese fondslidmaatskap kanselleer?
Nee. Jy sal jou lidmaatskap moet behou om seker te maak jy het voortgesette toegang tot gehalte privaat gesondheidsorg. Moet dus nie u betaling van die maandelikse premies staak nie. Indien u betaling staak, sal u voordele opgeskort word.
Gaan die NGV mediese fondse se reserwe fondse onteien?
Die NGV het geen reg tot toegang tot fondse se opgehoopte reserwes nie aangesien die reserwes aan die fondslede behoort en nie aan die betrokke fonds nie. Ons regsadvies bevestig dat reserwefondse veilig is en dat die staat nie daarop beslag kan lê nie.
Gaan die SAOU hof toe om die NGV te beveg?
Die SAOU sal die implementering van die Wet monitor en beskik oor betroubare en ervare regsadviseurs. Ons sal altyd in die beste belang van ons lede optree. Ná gesprekke met vername belanghebbers in die vakbondwese evalueer ons ons opsies om hierdie aangeleentheid gesamentlik te benader. Hierdie besprekings sal aandui van wat ons volgende moet doen en ons sal ons lede op hoogte hou van enige besluite. Om regstappe op ons eie te neem, word nie op hierdie tydstip as gerade geag nie.
Gaan die Staat pensioenfondse benut om die NGV te finansier?
Sover vasgestel kan word, steek daar geen waarheid in hierdie gerugte nie. Die trustees van pensioenfondse het 'n fidusiêre plig om altyd in die beste belang van die pensioenfonds en sy lede op te tree. 'n Belegging in die NGV word nie as 'n gesonde belegging beskou nie.
National
health insurance (nHI)
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law on Wednesday, 15 May, as has been widely reported in the media. With so many individuals and organisations joining the current debate and publishing diverse opinions, we understand that SAOU members may be experiencing uncertainty. We wish to share the answers to the most common questions we receive from our members.
What happens next?
The fact that the President signed the Act does not mean it is already in force. The President must proclaim the Act, or parts thereof, to implement it. This has not yet been done and there is currently no indication when or how it will happen.
Does the SAOU agree with the NHI?
The SAOU agrees that access to primary healthcare for all South Africans is a basic human right. However, our view is that the NHI Act in its current form is not viable or affordable for the Treasury for various reasons.
What is the SAOU’s view regarding private healthcare?
The SAOU regards access to private health insurance and private healthcare as a constitutional right and stands firm that members should have the freedom to decide which healthcare options best meet their individual requirements. In our view, the choice between private health insurance and the NHI is not contradictory, but that they embody alternatives which uphold individuals' constitutional rights.

What will happen to my medical aid now?
The functioning of all medical aid schemes continues normally and nothing changes! Members can therefore continue to utilise the same medical aid benefits.
It is important to remember that the NHI is not a single event, but a complex undertaking that, due to the many reforms it requires in various government sectors, will take a long time to implement.
Should I cancel my medical aid membership?
No. You will need to retain your membership to ensure you have continued access to quality private healthcare. Therefore, you should not cancel the payment of monthly premiums. Your benefits will be suspended if you cancel payments.
Will the NHI expropriate the reserves of medical funds?
The NHI has no right to expropriate the accumulated reserve funds as the reserves belong to the fund members and not to the fund concerned. Our legal advice confirms that reserve funds are safe and that the state cannot expropriate these.
Will the SAOU approach the court to contest the NHI?
The SAOU will monitor the implementation of the Act and has reliable and experienced legal advisers. We will always act in the best interest of our members. After discussions with major stakeholders in other trade unions, we are evaluating our options to jointly approach this matter. These discussions will indicate what we need to do next and we will keep our members informed of any decisions. Taking legal action on our own is not deemed prudent at this time.
Will the State use pension funds to fund the NHI?
As far as can be determined there is no truth in these rumours. The trustees of pension funds have a fiduciary duty to always act in the best interest of the pension fund and its members. An investment in the NHI is not regarded as a sound investment.
Salarisonderhandelinge Terugvoer – Lede Mandatering | Salary Negotiations Response – Member Mandates
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