Our articles aim to provide you with information on benefits and tips for improving your health.
A healthy diet is not only important for your child’s physical development and a strong immune system. What should a healthy diet include to ensure healthy mental development from conception to school-going age? We will help to answer this question…
Family
It’s not just therapy animals that help improve patient wellbeing in hospitals. Your pets at home can also help you recover much faster. Here’s how pets have made a significant difference in people’s recovery over the years.
Family
Blue zones are areas of the world in where the people generally live much longer than in other areas, even in their own countries. Are these people just genetically gifted, or have they truly unlocked the secret to healthy ageing?
Family
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide “are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation” by 2050. The WHO also states that about 15% of adults 18 years and older have some hearing loss. The risk of hearing loss rises as you age, and up to 39% of adults in their sixties have hearing problems.
Family
While healthy lifestyle choices can stack the odds in your favour, your genes also have a say in how you age. While it’s true that you may have higher odds of living longer if you have a family history of people reaching a great age, lifestyle changes can still tip the scales in your favour. Your genes are the foundation, but how you build on that foundation is equally important.
Family
Giving a pet a home is a fulfilling, wonderful experience. Did you know that having a pet can also have a positive impact on your physical and mental health, including stress reduction, cardiovascular health, and emotional support. Here’s a few reasons why dealing with a few hairs on your bed might just be the best trade-off you can ever make.
Family
Your gut microbiome can influence your mood, cognition, and overall mental health. But what does an unhealthy gut look like and how can you support your own gut health? Let’s take a look.
Family
Tuberculosis, often referred to as TB, remains a significant health concern, especially in South Africa. What are the symptoms of TB and what steps do you need to take if you suspect you've contracted it? Let’s find out.
Health and Wellness
Navigating the twists and turns of life is never easy. Challenges are inevitable. But, there is a way to handle those sharp turns effectively. By tapping into your own resources and strengths, you can build emotional resilience.
Family
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is always difficult, but losing someone to suicide can add another level of pain to your grief. The grief you experience is called suicide bereavement. Research suggests that the mourning process for the loved ones of a person who commits suicide differs from the mourning process of those who lose a loved one through other ways.
Family
Behind every great success lies something seemingly mundane – daily routines. Daily routines and rituals allow you to harness the power to shape your life. Many successful people attribute their triumphs to the consistency. But, how do you prevent these routines from becoming mundane?
Family
Compassion is often only expressed outwardly. The compassion for others and understanding their struggles and the fact that they are just human. They will make mistakes. But, how do you practice that compassion on yourself. And what does it look like?
Family
The mid-life crisis is a well-documented, and often mocked phenomenon. Characterised by major changes in lifestyle, appearance, and perhaps even the purchase of a sportscar. But, while you may have heard of a mid-life crisis, the quarter-life crisis is not as well-known or understood.
General
Life is filled with ups and downs we can’t control. These challenges can take every bit of you to overcome, all taking a toll on your mental health. When exacerbated by the difficulties of modern life, the challenges, and difficulties we face can lead to anxiety and depression.
Family
Your diet doesn’t just affect your weight and energy levels. Your memory, mood, and more can be affected by what you fuel your body with. What does nutrient deficiency-induced memory loss look like, and what should you be eating to keep your mind sharp?
General
Good sleep hygiene isn’t just about a comfortable mattress. It’s about your pre-bedtime routines, how your room is set up, and much more. This is what you need to know about good sleep hygiene to finally get the rest you’ve been looking for.
General
Microplastics are a seemingly unsolvable crisis. Recently, microplastics have even been found in human hearts and blood. So, how are you being exposed to microplastics? What effect do they have on your health, and can you even do anything to protect yourself?
General
From the moment after your last cigarette, your body immediately undergoes serious and profound changes. So, what happens when you finally kick the butts?
General
Is AI really coming for your job? Or your doctor’s job? Or is it simply going to be a tool that will help you diagnose an illness quickly and easily? Read more to find out about the changing face of diagnostics and if you can use AI to diagnose illnesses today.
General
Cognitive biases, trauma, and your life experiences can influence your decision-making process. How can you identify and overcome these occurrences that impact the way your brain functions, to improve your efficiency and achieve the goals you have for your personal and professional life?
General
Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance immune function. So, how can you find ways to spend more time in nature? And what benefits will you experience?
General
New year’s resolutions aren’t just a great way to help you achieve your goals, but they’re fun to set as well. But, without the right tools and know-how, you may just stay stuck in the starting blocks for most of the year. Here’s how you can face your fears and make the best of 2024, knocking every goal and resolution out of the park.
General
Your health and wellness are your greatest assets. It’s the bedrock, the foundation of a healthy, happy life. So, while the year is still fresh, introduce these five essentials to your daily routines and start building the life you want.
General
The holiday season is right around the corner. While the temptation to unwind, unplug, and switch off often means easing up on your healthy diet, you can still live your best life on holiday and ensure that the entire year’s healthy habits don’t go to waste. Make this holiday season the last one filled with the ‘regretti’ from eating too much spaghetti.
General
Since our inception, Bestmed has distributed communication to members via post. Unfortunately, the continued deterioration of the South African Post Office means that we have no assurance that members receive the communication we send to them.
General
Self-care is self-preservation. And when the road gets tough, and you don’t feel like you’re enough, the Tempo Emotional Wellbeing Journey is here to help. Best of all, you can start your Emotional Wellbeing Journey directly from the Bestmed App.
General
Stress is a natural human response to challenges. The resulting worry and mental tension from stress can impact your overall well-being and, ironically, your ability to deal with the problems causing the stress.
Health and Wellness
The things that happen to you during childhood, both good and bad, will leave a unique epigenetic “signature” on your genes, changing who you are and your ability to cope with things like stress and addiction.
Health and Wellness
Wound healing requires more than just antiseptic cream and plasters. It’s an active effort that starts from within. And your physical and mental wellbeing can affect how fast you heal. Fuel your body with everything it needs to heal your injuries.
Health and Wellness
Healthcare workers face high-stress situations and have severe emotional demands placed on them because of their profession. So, if you’re a healthcare worker, how can you look after yourself mentally and emotionally so you can continue to give your patients the best care?
Health and Wellness
During Youth Month, we don’t just celebrate the actions of the youth of yesterday, but also look forward to the possibilities for change and success for the youth of today. By empowering the youth through health education, we create a stronger, healthier tomorrow.
Health and Wellness
CFS is an often-misunderstood condition. While the symptoms can be hard to notice and the condition hard to diagnose, it’s more than simply feeling tired.
Health and Wellness
When life gives you lemons, take them! Free stuff is cool. But, what’s even better than free fruit? A FREE wellness programme that can help you live your best life! Best of all, as a Bestmed member, you already have access to it regardless of your benefit option.
Health and Wellness
Intermittent fasting can be tough, whether you’re doing a 16:8 or hardcore 23:1 split. But, by reducing your eating window, you can better manage your weight, improve your metabolic health, and boost your cellular repair processes.
Health and Wellness
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious, highly contagious lung infection. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TB “is the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV and AIDS).” However, TB is preventable and curable. A simple test can help to detect TB, so that you can receive the right treatment to increase chances of a full recovery.
Health and Wellness
Your mental health is essential to your overall wellbeing. By prioritising it, you’ll equip yourself with the tools and fortitude you need to make a success of every challenge you take on in 2024. Here’s how to take the first step and what you need to know.
Health and Wellness
Tempo partner biokineticists make a big difference in the lives of the Bestmed members. They get them started them on their Fitness Journeys and help them by creating a tailored track to improve their health and happiness. We reached out to the Tempo partner biokineticists who assisted the most Bestmed members with their Fitness Journeys and gave each a small token of our appreciation.
Health and Wellness
Wearing sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from sunburn, which can lead to damaged skin and an increased risk of developing skin cancer. According to research done by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), South Africa has one of the highest monitored ultraviolet (UV) levels in the world, which results in one of the highest skin cancer rates globally.
So, why is sunscreen not just a luxury, but a necessity on holiday? And how can you protect your skin throughout the year?
Health and Wellness
Summer heat arrived across the country in full force. While the blooming flowers and Spring air beckon you to come out of hibernation and start exercising again, the excessive heat might make it a difficult ask. How do you exercise safely if you don’t have the luxury of an air-conditioned gym?
Health and Wellness
Tempo Talks and Tempo Group Discussions are wonderfully insightful sessions where Bestmed members get to attend sessions on a range of health and wellness topics presented by industry professionals. Best of all, all sessions are FREE to attend.
Health and Wellness
An ongoing trend in the medical schemes industry is the non-disclosure of material information.
Advisor
Bestmed’s steady growth in 2022 is significantly owing to the valuable contributions of our brokerages and healthcare advisor community. As such, it was only fitting for the Scheme to conclude this successful year with a series of Best Advisor Engagements.
Advisor
Meet Mariechen Dickens - Client Service: Supervisor.
Advisor
The vaccines and administration thereof are already available at certain Bestmed network pharmacies or Bestmed medical centre without a co-payment. Bestmed will reimburse service providers for the cost of the vaccine, together with the contracted dispensing fee and administration fee (code 981062001). There should be no co-payment payable by members as the above reimbursement should fall within available benefits.
Advisor
There is a common misconception that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is behind us, and that it doesn’t pose the threat that it did in the past. This is, in fact, untrue. The virus is very much still in our midst, and it continues to mutate into different variants.
Health and Wellness
It has been a tedious two years of contactless interactions and virtual events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for everyone’s safety. However, with the easing of restrictions and gradual return to ‘normality’, the Bestmed team was excited to host the first Advisor Engagement Sessions for 2022.
Advisor
Meet Wendel Chair - Client Service Specialist at Bestmed.
Advisor
Palliative care is multidisciplinary medical care that supports those with life-threatening diseases, most commonly AIDS and cancers. This specialised care aims to optimise a patient’s quality of life, as well as support their family members, at every stage of illness. Care begins when a life-threatening disease is diagnosed and continues regardless of whether treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or any other treatment directed at the disease, is received or not.
Advisor
We are excited to announce that the online individual member application functionality on our Advisor Portal is now live! You are now able to process your applications online, making it simpler and more efficient to manage your paper(less) work. Our guide takes your through this simple process.
Advisor
Zerina Richards, our Advisor Sales Channel Manager started her journey with Bestmed almost four years ago. Get to know her a little better.
Advisor
We previously communicated that we need our advisors to sign new contracts, as approved by the CMS. However, several brokerages have not finalised the process. This is a crucial requirement, and we want to urgently request you to please assist us in this process and submit your contract to us by Friday, 19 November 2021. If you are unsure of your status, please do not hesitate to contact your BC.
Advisor
The Bestmed Diabetes care programme focuses on actively managing members with diabetes while taking into consideration any associated diseases/disorders, e.g. high cholesterol, high blood pressure etc. The programme is designed to assist the diabetic member and their dependants to live a constructive and rewarding life.
Advisor
Providing access to affordable and quality healthcare remains a top priority for Bestmed. On Friday, 17 September 2021, we officially announced our 2022 product offerings, enhancements, and contribution increases. This includes the strategic decision to use some of the Scheme’s reserves to ensure all members receive a below CPI contribution increase of 3.9% for 2022.
Advisor
“Bestmed performed exceptionally well, emerging as the leader in the overall Customer Satisfaction Index well above industry par. Bestmed also takes the lead in the value index by a significant margin on the industry par and is well ahead of all other schemes,” states Ineke Prinsloo, Head of Customer Insights at Consulta.
Advisor
Antibiotics changed the face of healthcare. No longer was an infection a death sentence. Or the flu a months-long fight that left you drained and weak. But, the over-prescription of antibiotics has led to a sudden, and serious spike in antimicrobial resistance.
Medical Conditions
Mumps and measles are both contagious viral diseases. They’re spread through direct contact with an infected person, or airborne droplets from a sneeze or cough.
Medical Conditions
Disability is defined as “a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult for somebody to do some things that most other people can do.” You can be born with a disability, or a disability may occur later in your life.
Medical Conditions
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa, nearly 240 people suffer from strokes every day and of those, 70 lose their lives. A stroke is mainly caused by hypertension, also known as high blood pressure (HBP), which is a very common medical condition that we all need to be aware.
Medical Conditions
Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an eye infection that seems to be making its rounds once again, especially among families with children who attend school. Though it may be irritating, pink eye is mostly harmless and rarely affects your vision. If it’s a viral or bacterial infection, it can be highly contagious, so it’s very important to look out for the symptoms and make sure that it’s treated correctly.
Medical Conditions
Spinal health is essential for your overall well-being. You could even say it’s the backbone of good health.
Medical Conditions
Regular self-exams to check for breast cancer are important. Think of this as getting to know your body better and a form of self-care or preventative care. Bestmed highly recommends breast self-exams because it helps with early detection of breast cancer and treatment tends to be more effective during the early stages of cancer.
Medical Conditions
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe”. Monkeypox is mainly found in animals, however, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), “occasionally, the virus may spill over from the infected animals to humans. Once, a person has been infected by an animal, person-to-person transmission may then occur through very close contact”.
Medical Conditions
Diabetes is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects your body’s ability to use the energy provided by food. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease where the pancreas either does not produce any or enough insulin, which causes an excess of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Insulin is the hormone that assists your body’s cells to use glucose as energy for it to function properly.
Medical Conditions
For many people, the change of season allergies can be downright awful. Dealing with the symptoms can be overwhelming and frustrating.
Medical Conditions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.
Medical Conditions
While a professional evaluation is critical in diagnosing autism, it is really important for a parent or caregiver to look out for the early signs. Developmentally, small things like few or no big smiles or other warm, joyful and engaging expressions, very few or no words and avoidance of eye contact, are some of the few things to look out for when you suspect that a child may have autism.
Medical Conditions
Hyperlipidemia is defined as when your “blood has too many lipids (or fats), such as cholesterol and triglycerides”. There are variants of hyperlipidemia, such as high cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, which occurs when both cholesterol and triglyceride levels are high.
Medical Conditions
In light of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA 2024), Bestmed would like to provide members with an update, regarding its position on the adoption of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.
Corporate
I was first introduced to the Scheme in the year 2011 at a Bestmed sponsored race held in my community. Thereafter, I got more exposure to the amazing scheme during my student days at UP. Bestmed is a reputable organisation with a great reputation, amazing products and excellent service delivery, and is generally known for taking good care of all employees by promoting both corporate and academic growth.
Corporate
When you think of a healthy lifestyle, we can almost guarantee what comes to mind isn’t fun or happy thoughts. Essentially, a healthy lifestyle is linked by a golden thread of effort, compromise, and discipline. The commitment that comes with living a healthy lifestyle tends to deter many, but the real barrier standing between most people and the gift of a healthy lifestyle is instant gratification. People give up too soon because they want to see immediate results.
Corporate
Providing access to affordable and quality healthcare remains a top priority for Bestmed. On Friday, 17 September 2021, we officially announced our 2022 product offerings, enhancements, and contribution increases. This includes the strategic decision to use some of the Scheme’s reserves to ensure all members receive a below CPI contribution increase of 3.9% for 2022.
Corporate
For over 22 months, Schemes in South Africa have had to manage the impact of COVID-19 on overall claims and project future claims patterns considering the infection rates, severity levels, treatment costs, duration, and levels of Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) that apply. It is reassuring to see, then, that Bestmed has stayed resilient and shown growth despite the tough times.
Corporate
Financial pressures are affecting everyone and taking steps to cut down on monthly expenditure is a great way to free up more of your money for the things that matter. “One of the biggest mistakes consumers can make, however, is to cancel their medical aid altogether in the process of tightening their pockets.
Corporate
“Bestmed performed exceptionally well, emerging as the leader in the overall Customer Satisfaction Index well above industry par. Bestmed also takes the lead in the value index by a significant margin on the industry par and is well ahead of all other schemes,” states Ineke Prinsloo, Head of Customer Insights at Consulta.
Corporate
We are a long standing and proud sponsor of the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) TuksSport. The Scheme’s commitment to sports development allows UP to award more sports bursaries, and provide sports science and medical services to all athletes, enabling them to achieve their dreams.
Corporate
World Trauma Day, observed on 17 October, emphasizes the importance of saving and protecting a life during the most critical moments. The day also highlights the importance of preparing and applying critical measures to deal with, and to avoid trauma fatalities.
Corporate
Many people often fear losing vision; yet take minimal intentional steps in caring for their eyes. Eye Care Awareness Month is commemorated from 21 September to 18 October to raise awareness about the importance of eye health, specifically around the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness.
Corporate
The first week of July is Corporate Wellness Week - an opportunity to raise awareness of the need to create a healthy work environment. It is a week that puts the spotlight on wellness in the workplace and identifies the pitfalls and productivity impact of an ‘all work and no play’ attitude in the office.
Corporate
It has taken South Africa more than three months to reach the 1 million mark but the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is now picking up pace. Earlier this month, it was reported that out of the 40 million people targeted for the country to reach herd immunity, 1.2% had been fully vaccinated by 1 June.
Corporate
At Bestmed Medical Scheme, we place a high premium on the privacy of our members, and we acknowledge the importance of ensuring that all personal information is handled with care.
Corporate
After a lengthy application process, we are pleased to announce that the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has approved and registered the Scheme Rules with effect from 1 January 2021. Some of the changes that were approved, were not shared with members during the year-end information sessions and/or communication. We have summarised only those changes as follows: Administrative changes Previously members were required (according to the Rules) to return old membership cards to the Scheme.
Corporate
Life is inherently unpredictable, filled with challenges and unexpected twists. In 2024, we’re hosting a series of Tempo Wellness Webinars, all focused on the theme: “how to live a resilient life”. Here is a short overview of the last webinar, which was themed around the loss of your health or a limb, as well as what the next webinar topic will be and how you can join it.
Events
Find out more and how your whole family can get started on the journey to fitness with the Tempo wellness programme.
Events
The 2024 edition of the beloved TuksRace in association with Bestmed saw almost 4 000 runners from across the country compete in one of the most popular road races on the running calendar. And in 2025, Bestmed CEO and PO Leo Dlamini wants to see more families join and compete together.
Events
We would like to invite you to join our member information sessions themed Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB). These informative sessions will assist you with all the information you need to maximise your medical aid benefits.
Events
TuksRace, in collaboration with Bestmed, is taking place on Saturday, 17 February 2024 at the University of Pretoria’s Hillcrest Sports Campus in Hatfield, Pretoria. Runners of all fitness levels are invited to enter the 21.1km half-marathon, the 10km or 5km races, or a colourful 1km fun run/walk. Entries close soon.
Events
This a friendly reminder to join us for our upcoming Tempo days and member meetings, taking place in Nelspruit.
Events
This a friendly reminder to join us for our upcoming Tempo days and member meetings, taking place in Pretoria.
Events
This a friendly reminder to join us for our upcoming Tempo days and member meetings, taking place in Mthatha.
Events
This a friendly reminder to join us for our upcoming Tempo days and member meetings, taking place in East London.
Events
The purpose of the session is to delve deeper into the 2023 product changes and benefit enhancements, the specific Bestmed options, detailing the benefits and providing a comparison between one option and other options available.
Events
