Expert Advice from Bonitas Medical Fund
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Vaccinations proving to be the best defence

As the fourth wave of Covid spreads, South Africa is seeing a considerable increase in positive cases. Just as the Delta variant became part of our daily vocabulary, the Omicron or BI.I.529 strain has too. Omicron has more than 30 mutations (double those carried by Delta) that may have an impact on how it behaves. This includes how easily it spreads and the severity of the illness it causes. The Omicron variant was found in 74% of the 249 Covid-19 samples that were gene-sequenced in November in SA. It appears with more than double the mutations carried by Delta, Omicron is virulent enough to take over from Delta. Current international data shows that there are far more positive cases, meaning that Omicron appears to be highly transmissible. However, although more people are testing positive, they are presenting with mild symptoms with fewer hospital admissions. Medical professionals believe this is a direct result of the immunity acquired through vaccinations. The first wave of Covid-19 took the world by surprise but globally everyone is better prepared for this new wave. This includes a sustained effort to vaccinate as many people as possible. What the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and most people involved in the healthcare sector agree on unanimously, is that the best form of protection from serious disease is vaccination.  Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer, Bonitas Medical Fund says, “We have been proactive in urging our members and the public to be vaccinated. Our statistics show that, of our members over 60, there are 90% fewer admissions to hospital after full vaccination and 56% fewer after one vaccination. Research across the public healthcare environment has shown the same results. With this information freely available it is disturbing that only 16 944 413 people living in SA have been vaccinated. This is only 35.5% of adults and 23.7% of the total population. ‘The cost of hospital admissions too, especially ICU, are very high. Our figures show that up to November 22, the Bonitas Covid-19 costs totalled R1.75 billion. 80% of this (R1 399 181 922) was hospital costs, while only 4.9% (R85 669 068) was for vaccinations.  ‘The average cost of admission to ICU, per patient, was R533 969. There is no doubt that vaccinations not only save lives but also reduce the burden on the public healthcare system, as well as save the country billions in costs related to treating Covid. Vaccinations are a fraction of the cost of treating Covid.’ Both in the public and private sector, the unvaccinated are filling our hospitals. Dr Waasila Jassat, from NICD, announced at the end of November that ‘unvaccinated patients suffered more severe symptoms than vaccinated ones and were most likely to face hospitalisation if infected by the new Covid-19 variant.’  She said that 90% of patients admitted to hospital in Pretoria (one of the current hotspots) are unvaccinated. ‘Not only is there a higher incidence of hospital admissions but also that the chances of death amongst unvaccinated are considerably higher.’ Callakoppen says there is enough clinical evidence to show that the vaccination reduces the severity of Covid and he encourages everyone to be vaccinated. He urges those who have been vaccinated to encourage others to do the same. However, this doesn’t mean you can forgo following the Covid protocols: Wearing a mask; sanitising your hands, maintaining social distancing; staying in well ventilated spaces; coughing or sneezing into your elbow or a tissue. Bonitas has reported the following Covid related figures for 2021 as of 22 November. Total lives older than 18 estimated to have received at least 1 jab 66.4% Total tests performed:  441 929 Total Covid-19 hospital admissions: 20 376. (12 264 during 2021) Bonitas lives currently in hospital: 0.3% Admission rate: 25% ICU Admission Rate: 22% Total Covid deaths: 3 515 (2 292 in 2021)  Total Bonitas membership vaccinated: 70% Highest number of people vaccinated is in the 35-49 age group followed by the over 60s ‘I must reiterate that our best defence against Covid-19 is to be vaccinated,’ says Callakoppen. ‘It won’t necessarily stop you from getting the coronavirus but it will reduce the severity of the disease. I contracted Covid in September but thankfully because I was fully vaccinated, my symptoms were mild which meant I was able to heal and recover at home. My experience is not unique.’   Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa, Head of Operations at Bonitas Medical Fund answers some common questions around Omicron What is it? It’s a new, heavily mutated Covid variant known as BI.I.529. When was Omicron first detected? The earliest sample was detected on 11 November in Botswana. Is it more transmissible? Circumstantial evidence indicates it is. Within two weeks of its detection, it has outpaced Delta to become the main strain in Gauteng. Will vaccines work against it? Yes, most likely. A crucial objective remains to increase vaccination rates. Current vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease, hospitalisation and death. Should updated vaccines be developed, they will be rolled out globally and used as guided by WHO. Will prior infection provide me with immunity? Preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron but information is limited. More information on this will become available in the coming days and weeks. What about treatment? Currently Oxygen and Dexamethasone have been saving lives. There is however very exciting data coming from two antivirals. What about the current tests? The widely used PCR tests continue to be the global standard to detect infection including Omicron. Studies are ongoing to determine whether there is any impact on other types of tests including rapid antigen tests.

December 7, 2021
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Medical aids can’t bear the brunt of hospital increases

Hospital admissions are one of the biggest cost drivers for any private medical scheme which is why the tariffs are under review and negotiated annually by Bonitas Medical Fund. If no agreement is reached, medical aid members will bear the brunt of high co-payments. According to Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, hospital admissions account for half of the Scheme’s annual claims cost. ‘Last year due to the pandemic, hospital admissions and the utilisation of other medical aid benefits fell to record lows. However, the 2021 claims’ experience has shown that a lot of services, particularly the day-to-day benefits and several hospital admission categories, are already close to 2019 levels.  Since the start of the pandemic Bonitas has spent more than R2,7bn on COVID-19 related costs, of which R1,73bn pertain to 2021 year-to-date. More than 80% of these COVID-19 costs relate to hospitalisation. Non-COVID utilisation patterns are almost back to typical levels and, since June this year, overall claim ratios have returned to pre-COVID levels. Schemes are therefore not generating the same level of short-term surpluses in 2021 as was seen in 2020. ‘We anticipate that during 2022, utilisation is going to go back to where it was in 2019 or even higher. Which is why it is critical that schemes, such as Bonitas and hospital groups, through an annual negotiation process agree fair and equitable tariff charges, to ensure the lowest possible increases in the interest of members. This will not only help keep costs down but also ensure quality and affordable healthcare for current and future members, while maintaining the sustainability of schemes. We must acknowledge that over the last three years concerted efforts have been made by hospital groups to support and keep tariffs low. However, there are still significant opportunities to drive healthcare cost down. ‘We know that all sectors had been hard hit by the pandemic and the poor economic outlook in this country. Healthcare and medical schemes are no exception. However, we need to remain mindful that key to the survival of the private medical aid industry is its members. If hospital costs balloon above CPI, so will membership premiums, which will result in medical aid becoming unaffordable. We are appealing to all our service providers, including hospital groups, not to pass their costs on to schemes and, by extension, to members.  The pandemic saw healthcare facilities and healthcare providers intensify their efforts to ensure that South Africans received the appropriate care for Covid-19 as far as possible. And while their efforts have been lauded, consumers have had to contend with tough conditions as well.  Moving into 2022 There are major concerns about 2022 utilisation levels, notably due to the risk of an increased burden of disease due to gaps in care that may have arisen during the pandemic, which is no fault of any party. We anticipate an elective procedure claims catch-up after so many were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 during national lockdowns. Other areas of concern include the unknown impact of long-haul COVID as well as new or more expensive COVID-19 treatment costs, including booster vaccines, which may emerge,  All stakeholders in the healthcare value chain need to be prudent in managing their costs of doing business. The intention of negotiated hospital tariffs is to reach an agreement that supports sustainability of the healthcare ecosystem and, ultimately, members. The issue comes when there is no agreement reached and members may have to pay in the difference between what the hospitals charge versus what the scheme is able to pay. We try to avoid such a situation so as not to have a negative member impact, but if parties are unreasonable in their demands, this situation may arise.’ To assist our members and reduce the effect of significant contribution increases for 2022, Bonitas used R600m of its reserves to keep increases as low as possible. Contribution increases were kept below 5% for both 2021 and 2022 despite underlying claims expenditure increasing by a significantly higher margin. Bonitas’ medium-term objective is to sustain solvency levels above the statutory minimum of 25% and to make strategic decisions about current reserves in the interests of its members. This while facing significant uncertainty, especially in terms of the cost and prolonged impact of COVID-19, non-COVID-19 utilisation and roll-out of vaccines. All non-healthcare costs are capped below CPI for 2022.  However, if healthcare providers and hospital groups do not negotiate favourable tariffs for the year ahead, it results in higher increases in the long run, for all patients and unnecessary out of pocket costs.  The benefits of negotiations Negotiations resulted in a 3.1% saving in 2021 terms – these savings could exceed R200 million in 2021 – while in 2020 strategic purchasing yielded hospital negotiation savings of R346 million. These savings contribute to a lower contribution increase. The impact of failed negotiations However, when the costs of doing business is passed on to schemes and, by extension, customers – or medical aid members – things become complicated, especially where tariff increases agreements cannot be reached.  In these instances, there are two possible scenarios: A scheme pays what it deems to be a reasonable rate and the hospital bills its rate. This means the member would be required to pay in the shortfall on the account unless the hospital decides to override the difference A scheme excludes the hospital from on its network and actively discourages a member from using this hospital. The member may need to pay a deductible or co-payment if they choose to be admitted at this facility unless the hospital decides to override the difference. ‘Neither of these situations is a favourable outcome,’ says Callakoppen. ‘Which is why reaching a workable middle ground on hospital cost/tariffs is imperative.’

November 17, 2021
Parenting Hub

Walking the road to wellness

Being healthy and living a full life is what we all want, for ourselves and our family.  An important part of life’s wellness journey is about having the right people to support you – physically, emotionally, mentally and even financially – when it matters most. The latest television ad by Bonitas Medical Fund underpins this ‘holistic’ healthcare message in a simple, real and compelling way. It addresses the fact that medical aid is a necessity but expands on the message to show how the Scheme acts in the best interests of its members and ‘has a plan’ for everyone.  The story is one of perseverance and tenacity as a father tackles his tough wellness journey with the support of his family, friends – and medical aid – in order to walk his daughter down the aisle. ‘The story is about protecting our loved ones and making sure they have the best care possible,’ says Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas. Produced by Joe Public and shot over three days in various locations, the advert reinforces the Bonitas’ brand strategy of being the ‘Medical Aid for South Africa’ while it introduces a campaign takeout referencing affordable and accessible quality healthcare and better benefits that don’t impact your savings. ‘We are a unique medical scheme,’ explains Callakoppen. ‘In that we offer medical aid solutions for all sectors of the market and the South African population. Our advertising needs to be slightly disruptive and set us apart, which is why we chose to portray a real life family dealing with a healthcare situation that was impacting their lives and future.  ‘We’re always taking strides to see how we can provide our members with more value – and connect with them more strongly. Be it through competitive plan design, the introduction of new benefits that add meaning to their lives or innovation in the way we communicate and engage with them.’ There are several versions of the ad including a 60s, 30s and three 10s which will be flighted across a range of DStv channels as well as Business Day TV, ENCA, eTV and SABC. Supporting the campaign will be radio, print and digital adverts. ‘We are passionate about ensuring South Africans make informed decisions about their healthcare and that they have the cover they need, when they need it. Our hope is that this TV advert will resonate well with viewers and get them thinking about the future of their health.  We believe ‘when I becomes we, illness becomes wellness’ and would like to be the medical aid that takes the wellness journey with them.’ Click here to view the latest Bonitas Medical Fund TV advert

November 10, 2021
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Keeping kids healthy throughout the year

Parents are often very good about getting their children off to a healthy start at the beginning of the year with medical check-ups and healthier schools lunches but it’s equally important to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the year. So, here are some tips on what you should be doing to maintain your child’s health.

November 8, 2021
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Keep your kids moving

Winter is here and with it comes colder weather, making getting outside to play and exercise more of a challenge. But it’s still important. Bonitas Medical Fund suggests you try and keep your child active throughout the year and provides some suggestions to get them moving, exercising and having fun.

November 1, 2021
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Home-based care – there is no place like home

The shift towards home-based care was accelerated by the Covid pandemic. Although not necessarily always possible for Covid patients, the benefits of home-based care vs hospitalisation have been highlighted for both patients and their families for several procedures and illnesses.  Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa, Head of Operations at Bonitas Medical Fund, says the Scheme has a renewed focus on home-based as an alternative to in-hospital care, without compromising the health of its members.  What is home-based care? It’s defined as the provision of health services, by healthcare practitioners and formal and informal caregivers, in the home. Home-based care is to promote, restore and maintain a patient’s maximum level of comfort, function and health, including care towards a dignified death. It can be classified into preventive, promotive, therapeutic, rehabilitative, long-term maintenance and palliative care categories. When is home-based care appropriate? Post-operative care – after a surgery or procedure so that you gain your independence and become as self-sufficient as possible Generalised illness – when you are ill enough to be admitted to hospital but can be treated at home by healthcare practitioners Palliative care – when you have life-limiting illnesses and the focus is on the relief of symptoms, pain and stress. Some patients may also receive therapeutic treatment.  The primary benefit of home care is that you are in a space which is familiar and usually surrounded by loved ones. This is beneficial not only for those recovering from a disease or needing palliative care but especially those who have cognitive diseases such as dementia.   The alternative to hospital strategy (ATH) Dr Mkhatshwa says, ‘Hospital-at-home enables some patients who need acute-level care to receive care in their homes, rather than in a hospital. This care delivery model has shown to reduce costs, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience. The need for home-based care is not only because of the cost of hospital care but a shortage of beds, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, particularly in the public sector.’   ‘Bonitas is constantly looking for ways in which to minimise contributions and add value for members.  It is common knowledge that hospitalisation costs are the main cost driver for all medical schemes. Even with 24-hour professional care at home the costs are far less. Most medical aids will pay for nursing care at home For this reason, Bonitas’ partnered with Quro Medical, an innovative South African digital health company, to provide patients with active treatment by healthcare practitioners at home. The technology-enabled hospital-at-home service brings all the essential elements of in-hospital care to the patients’ home, without moving away from evidence-based protocols and state-of-the-art vital sign monitoring. Patients are monitored wirelessly, automatically and continuously to enable early identification of significant clinical change or deterioration. In fact, research has shown that, ‘patients admitted in the home programme were less likely to return to the hospital within 30 days of their discharge’. ‘The partnership also offers earlier and safer relocation to the home,’ says Dr Mkhatshwa’ home-based care is offered to all members, subject to pre-authorisation and Managed Care protocols. ‘It’s important to note that the treating doctor remains at the centre of the patient’s care. While patients who are medically stable may qualify for home-based care, each and every one is different and their response to hospitalisation and/or surgery differs. This means each request has to be reviewed carefully to ensure we provide quality care to deliver the best possible health outcome for the patient.’ The advantages of home-based care Health care at home, in a comfortable environment, improves patient participation in treatment. Having family members and loved ones participating in the care of a loved one – such as helping with bathing, feeding – makes a significant difference in the outcome.  Personal attention Hospitals, out of necessity, have strict rules so instead of the patient adjusting to these, they can be at home, amongst family and in familiar surroundings.  Nursing sisters or carers come to the home for a few hours a day, full time or when the need arises There are no visiting hours and the patient is the primary focus of the caregiver, so needs are met faster and more time is spent with patients.   This also means a faster recovery and the chances of picking up an infection, which can happen in hospital when they are exposed to germs, is reduced. Independence and companionship Losing independence is always a huge concern for those chronically ill or the elderly.  Having home-based care means they have more control and can decide when they want to eat, drink, socialise and sleep.   Companionship A caregiver provides your loved one with a familiar face, friendly conversation and a meaningful human connection, all of which can have a big impact on overall health and well-being. Family involvement Home care enables the family to play a larger part in their loved one’s care plan, this includes a direct line of communication with the caregiver and a care manager providing frequent updates regarding care. Pets It is common knowledge that pets are beneficial to those who are vulnerable and home-based care means pets can stay with their owners. They help calm dementia patients, reducing heart disease and stress related conditions and generally make patients happier.  What about home-based care for COVID-19 For patients with mild disease, home management may be possible, provided they are not at high risk of deterioration (i.e., older than 65 years or presence of co-morbidities). Dr Mkhatshwa says, ‘It must be stressed that while hospital care is indispensable for patients in critical condition, home health care is equally right for thousands of people. This personal approach to treatment gives patients the confidence they need to lead independent, full lives. We have no doubt that this is going to play a key role in the future of healthcare.’

October 13, 2021
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Advice from the experts
Parenting Hub

Disinfect your home Safely with Earthsap

Are you worried that your house needs a thorough disinfecting, but you don’t want to overdo it on harsh chemical-filled cleaning products especially with the kids around?

April 10, 2020
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Free virtual medical consultations for all South Africans

Bonitas Medical Fund announced that it has extended its free virtual medical consultations to all South Africans. This facility includes medical advice about COVID-19, other medical problems, the writing of prescription, where necessary and free delivery of chronic medication.

April 9, 2020
Parenting Hub

National lockdown: An opportunity to start new , healthy habits

They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit – the exact time we have been told to stay at home in order to flatten the curve. Memes all over social media have suggested that most of us have one fear being at home – the refrigerator! And, our fears are not unfounded according to Catherine Clark, Owner and Founder of the Harvest Table. She says that a study conducted by Dr Sandi Mann from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) showed that people who are bored crave fatty and sugary foods.

April 3, 2020
Parenting Hub

Help at hand for moms-to-be with chronic conditions

For parents-to-be and their loved ones, pregnancy is a wonderful, almost magical time, filled with joy and anticipation. For expecting women with chronic conditions though, it can also bring anxiety and discomfort.

March 20, 2020
RediscoverDairy

Ideas for healthy lunchboxes

With every new generation of school going kids, comes the important topic of healthy school lunch boxes. What are some of the healthy things to include in the lunchbox? Why is it important for kids to eat healthy foods while they are at school? What are the best drinks for lunchboxes?

March 12, 2020
Baby's and Beyond

Caring for a child with Eczema

Allergic reactions are becoming more prevalent around the world, especially in more developed countries. This heightened sensitivity
may be due to increased exposure to harmful environmental factors, such as air pollution and cigarette smoke, as well as cleaner living environments with fewer micro-organisms and bacterial exposure

March 4, 2020
Good Night Baby

WHEN NUTRITION CAN INFLUENCE SLEEP

As sleep consultants we rarely advise on nutritional problems and always refer our clients to registered dieticians when we do pick up on problems as we are sleep experts after all and NOT feeding experts. However, when we’re working together with parents who have smaller babies, we always address the feeding issue before addressing the sleep.

February 17, 2020
STBB

CLAIMING PREGNANCY RELATED EXPENSES

Yes! Both parents of a child have an obligation to pay for pregnancy related expenses, which are called lying-in expenses, pro-rata according to their means.

February 5, 2020
Parenting Hub

Of life and lice

Preschool and prep-school teachers are modern day superheroes. They gently introduce our little ones to a love of learning and creativity, yet they are also tough enough to manage anything that could affect their little charges. Even the horror of head lice in the classroom.

February 3, 2020
Happy Family Organics

Happy baby snacks

We ensure all our products are age and stage appropriate for your little ones.

January 30, 2020
Happy Family Organics

6 -9 month meal plan

Starting solid foods is an exciting time for you and your baby. Research shows that it is most beneficial to introduce solid foods around 6 months of age (but never before 4 months!).

January 27, 2020
Happy Family Organics

Happy tot snacks

Fiber helps keep your tot’s digestion regular. Protein is a key building block of little growing bodies and is essential for muscle development.

January 24, 2020
Caroline Syokao

Explaining autism to a neurotypical child

Parenting is not easy. But, parenting a child on the spectrum is even harder. This is because there are numerous challenges that come with it. One of the challenges is explaining to your neurotypical child about their ASD sibling.

January 23, 2020
Brainline

PARENTS SHOULD BE VIGILANT TO ACT WHEN CHILDREN DISPLAY SIGNS OF COMMITTING SUICIDE

South Africa has seen a significant increase in teen deaths and the reality is that 9% of all teen deaths are due to suicide – and this figure is on the increase. Suicide is the fastest growing cause of death amongst teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 – 24. But children as young as 7 years are now committing suicide in South Africa the question is why?

January 22, 2020
Happy Family Organics

WHY FIBER MATTERS FOR BABIES, TOTS AND MAMA

Dietary fiber comes from plants: think fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, beans, nuts and seeds. Diets higher in fiber can help lower cholesterol, control blood sugar, maintain bowel health, manage constipation and help promote a healthy weight. In fact, in epidemiological studies, populations with higher dietary fiber intakes tend to have lower chronic disease rates overall. A higher fiber intake provided by foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole- and high-fiber grain products is likely to be lower in calories, fat and added sugar.

January 17, 2020
OneAid

How To Use a Car Seat Harness Correctly

It’s Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week and I have decided to talk a little about the car seat harness. The car seat harness holds a child down in the car seat so they cannot slide up, forward and out the car seat in the event of a crash.

December 9, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Don’t dread the dentist

Most of us are scared of the dentist which means dental care can easily be overlooked but, taking good care of your teeth will not only leave you with a brilliant smile, it will also keep your mouth healthy. By following a good at-home care regime and regular dental visits, you can decrease the likelihood of health problems in the future.

December 5, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Ambulances are for emergencies only

Too often we read about emergency services and the police force spending hundreds of thousands of Rands on wasted resources due to prank or non-emergency calls. Some emergency services report receiving up to 50 abusive or hoax calls every day. Not only does this waste valuable time for the highly trained personnel but it also causes disruptions to responses to real emergencies and puts people’s lives in danger.

November 28, 2019
Caroline Syokao

Benefits of Music Therapy for Children on the Spectrum

Music is a good therapeutic tool for people with different abilities and ages. This is mostly so for children with autism. Medical experts have shown its calming effects and how it’s helped autistic kids integrate into society.

November 8, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

When you have a pain in the neck or back

Back pain is a common problem – 80% of us will experience an episode at some point in our lives. It is associated with many factors that vary from person to person but can be caused by an injury, a disc or joint problem, an irritated nerve root or poor posture. The pain might be acute or chronic but living with either can be debilitating.

November 7, 2019
Parenting Hub

The Benefits of Outdoor Play

South Africans are fortunate enough to live in a country where the people are blessed with wide-open spaces and an abundance of wildlife. Many children in foreign countries are limited in the amount of time they spend outdoors.

November 6, 2019
Impaq

How bullying can affect your child’s mental health

We’ve all heard the saying, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. But recent research shows that that is not the case. In their book Words Can Change Your Brain, Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman write: “A single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.” The saying would perhaps then be more accurate if changed to sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can change my brain.

November 5, 2019
Parenting Hub

How To Get Your Child To Love Healthy Meals

If there’s anything that a parent would nod their head yes to, it’s the fact that their children would rather have them rip the hair off their heads, than to eat healthy and nutritious food.

October 18, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Enhanced maternity benefits in 2020 from Bonitas

Around 9 000 babies are born to Bonitas Medical Fund members annually and while most of these little members are welcomed into the world without any hitches, about 20% of pregnant moms experience complications during childbirth. Many experience challenges of some kind during their pregnancy, or immediately after the birth of their child. For this reason, the Fund is making maternity education and support a focus for 2020. The aim is to offer pregnant members all the support and guidance they need to improve their health and that of their baby. It is about making the pre- and post- birth period as stress-free and healthy as possible.

October 17, 2019
Parenting Hub

Sun cream for kids with sensitive skin! The lowdown on keeping your little ones safe in the sun

Covering a wriggling child in sun cream is tricky enough, but when your little one has sensitive skin it can be even trickier– you don’t want to use anything that’s going to irritate. That’s why Childs Farm sun protection products don’t containparabens, SLSs, mineral oils, artificial colours or anything that might make sensitive skin flare up. Plus if you have a super-wriggler on your hands, our spray and roll-on sun lotions make everything easier.

October 11, 2019
Parenting Hub

Head lice – they’re not inside they’re on top!

Moms love it when their little ones come home from school buzzing with knowledge. Sometimes though, the activity isn’t inside their heads but on top! Head lice populations rise in summer, and girls with longer hair pick them up easier than boys.

October 1, 2019
Parenting Hub

The Surprising Benefits of Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverages for Moms

With World Breastfeeding Week recently celebrated and the focus placed on the importance of breastfeeding to improve the health of babies, it is an ideal time to consider the risks of alcohol for pregnant and/or breastfeeding mothers – and the delicious alternative beverage options that are now available in the market. Today, one of the major risks to a pregnant or breastfeeding woman is alcohol consumption. While many women do limit their intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding, they may not be doing enough. The health risks associated with consuming alcohol during pregnancy, breastfeeding and even conception mean that there are now an increasing variety of alcohol-free beverages for moms and moms-to-be in order to have safer (and healthier) choices. In fact, it turns out that 0.0% non-alcoholic malt beverages can even boost breastmilk supply by stimulating prolactin levels. It also has some other surprising – and quite remarkable – health benefits… Without going into the technical details, the barley malt contains lactogenic beta-glucan. This not only makes it highly nutritious, but when enjoyed 90 minutes prior to breastfeeding, can see an increase in the mom’s milk production. This makes sense, considering that barley is a starchy food that contains complex carbohydrates. The soluble fibre (essentially slowing glucose absorption) contained in the barley can lower cholesterol and even reduce the risk of heart disease. Malt drinks are well known to be both wholesome and highly nutritious, while providing some protein, sugar, essential minerals and levels of vitamins A and B vitamins. It also provides the all-important folic acid that is beneficial during both pregnancy and breastfeeding. The Risks of Alcohol During Pregnancy Here’s how it works, in a nutshell. Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. This can result in miscarriages, stillbirth, or a range of disabilities that are classified under the term foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Sadly, South Africa has the highest prevalence of these disorders than anywhere else in the world with 111.1 instances per 1 000 children (the global average is 7.7). The Consumption of Alcohol During Breastfeeding & Alternative Options Conventional wisdom used to state that drinking a beer before nursing could help with the milk ejection reflex. However, more recent studies have shown that infants who are fed milk by mothers who have consumed alcohol tend to take in less milk than those who did not.  Startlingly, consuming alcohol while breastfeeding can lead to a multitude of ill effects: disturbed sleep cycles, extreme drowsiness, weakness, decreased growth in the infant, the possibility of decreased milk-ejection reflex and milk quality in the mother, not to mention the impairment of a mother’s natural reflexes that are needed in taking proper care of her child! On the other hand, consuming a non-alcoholic beverage or two means that you get all the benefits without any of the disadvantages – whether pregnant or breastfeeding. Moreover, modern 0.0% non-alcoholic beverage now has the same taste, while being devoid of the negative health side-effects associated with alcohol. Additional benefits include the hangover-free lifestyle and reduced calorie consumption. A win for South African mothers, and mothers all around the world! To celebrate women as everyday heroes, Bavaria threw a surprise baby shower for Itumeleng Nyathi, a Zimbabwean woman who left her country to pursue a brighter future in South Africa. In doing so, she had to walk away from her family and existing support systems. While in South Africa, Itumeleng met her husband Larry and they are now expecting their first child together, a baby girl arriving in September. Itumeleng received a bumper supply of gifts at the event, courtesy of Bavaria and a Johannesburg Mom’s Group – who banded together to provide her with a stroller, car seat, cot, feeding chair, baby bath, bouncer, booster seat, and more. An extra special surprise awaited Itumeleng as she was reunited with her mother, whom she hadn’t seen in several years.  This heart-warming story has been turned into a special, shareable video: Please click here to watch By Oliver Wills, Marketing Manager at Bavaria

September 27, 2019
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Medical Aid – making the right choice

Private and public healthcare has been in the news lately and will continue to be a topic of discussion around the Department of Health’s proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill as well as the current socioeconomic landscape.  Traditionally in September, private medical aids present their products, plans and pricing for 2020 to existing members, or potential members, so that they can make informed choices. ‘It is imperative that the decision you make regarding you and your family’s health and wellness is balanced against affordability,’ explains Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund. ‘For existing medical aid members, it’s the time to analyse the plan they are on, whether it meets their health needs and compare it to the various options available.  If you’re joining a scheme for the first time, you need to consider your specific healthcare needs and spend time investigating which plan will be best suited to deliver on this.’ However, medical aid plans can be confusing which is why it’s important to compare the various options and schemes to ensure you find a medical aid that works for you and your family’s health and that is within your budget. For people who have a broker, that should be the first point of call to help you can make an informed decision. Here are some steps to help simplify the decision.  Analyse your healthcare needs Completing a quick personal healthcare needs’ analysis will help you determine what level of cover you need. If you have dependants, you need to factor in their healthcare needs too.  Consider how much you and your family spent on medical expenses over the past year as a guide and then ask the following: How often did your family visit a doctor Do you require medicine often Did you or the family need to visit a specialist Are any of you in need extra cover for cancer, HIV, renal failure or any other specific conditions How much did you spend on dentistry, optometry and over-the-counter medicine Then consider which of the expenses were once-off and won’t come up again soon (like childbirth) and which are likely to come up again and again (such as flu) as well as chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.  Check how much cover you require If you find you hardly claimed (if you are on a medical aid) or have very a few medical expenses, then you will need a lower level of cover. However, if you have a large number of medical expenses, you will require one of the more comprehensive plans.   Once you’ve established this you can decide whether you require a full medical aid or a hospital plan.  Are you happy to use a network Some plans require you to use a specific GP, hospital network and have a list of preferred providers. This helps to keep costs as low as possible because the Scheme will have negotiated special rates with these services providers. Check whether there is a wide enough network in your area to cover your specific needs. Check your budget Once you have an idea of what you might need for the year ahead in terms of healthcare, then it’s time to look at your budget. Decide what you can afford and remember that the rule of thumb is that contributions should not exceed 10% of your monthly income.  Read the small print  Make sure you read all the details including the benefits. These vary from plan to plan so establish what is covered and look at whether it offers additional risk benefits which can potentially save on the day-to-date expenses. These could include anything from free wellness screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI measurements) through to maternity benefits, flu vaccinations, mammograms, pap smears and HIV tests. All of these are costly if you have to pay for them yourself. What about savings Medical savings are a fixed amount medical scheme gives you at the beginning of the year.  You can use your savings for daily out-of-hospital medical expenses, such as GP and specialist consultations and over the counter medicine. There are ways to maximise your savings but first you need to know what you annual allocation is.  Age can influence the decision If you have young children, ensure that the medical aid option you select provides sufficient child illness benefits. For young couples looking to start a family, ensure the option provides sufficient cover for maternity benefits. However, if you aging then you need an option that covers chronic conditions and provides sufficient in-hospital cover in the event of hospitalisation. Some additional advice Remember to be honest on your application form, disclose all information about you and your dependents’ health. Membership can be suspended or cancelled if you fail to do so Any waiting period or exclusions? Schemes may impose certain waiting periods for new members joining or for a pre-existing medical condition. This is based on the guidelines of the Medical Schemes Act and the specific scheme’s rules. Finally, get expert advice ‘Your health and that of your family is important so it is vital that you are comfortable with the choice you make and are confident your healthcare needs will be taken care of,’ says Callakoppen. ‘My advice is to make sure you are informed. Read the information and fine print and compare what the different plans are offering before you commit. If you are still unsure, phone the scheme and ask questions or check with your broker or financial advisor.’

September 24, 2019
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