Expectations of future UK life expectancy have declined for several years now. This is not to say that current life expectancy has decreased, but rather than estimates of future mortality improvements are being lowered, pushing down future estimated life expectancy. One report indicates this change may roll back a year of expected mortality improvements. So…
I love to read, so I’m not proud to admit right upfront that everything I know about “Love in the time of cholera” I learnt in 3 minutes from wikipedia starting about 3 minutes ago. Seems like a book I should read. But another than playing on the well known book and movie title, this…
Life Expectancy is going up. In general. But what really matters isn’t the general but the specifics. I know it’s hard to work through maths and actual calculations, but it doesn’t help if you run your analysis off slogans. US Life Expectancy is going up. But not as much “at retirement” as it is up…
The debate around access to healthcare and medical schemes in South Africa suddenly sounds pretty similar to the healthcare debate that is part of the US presidential election.
Medical Schemes in South Africa are actually pretty fair. It doesn’t matter how old or sick you are, as long as you’ve been part of the programme at some scheme, you’re generally covered. There is a natural subsidy from young to old, healthy to sick and that is absolutely intentional. It’s “fair” in that you…
I wish this would be the last time I say this (or the first or the second): “Medical Schemes are non-profit entities are don’t make profits for shareholders.” There are administration companies that charge administration fees that have shareholders and make profits. However, if my medical scheme pays me a greater benefit, they will be…
I really struggled when Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced (many sources, but here is one) that private healthcare costs have increased by 121% over the last decade. He continued: “Over the past decade, private hospital costs have increased by 121%, while over the same period, specialist costs have increased by 120%.” Anyone who measures growth…
With all the debate and discussion about the costs (and hopefully benefits) of NHI, it really is encouraging to see that the Department of Health and government aren’t hanging all their hopes on the Big Bang of NIH to solve our healthcare issues. As we slowly put the curse of the Mbeki-Manto-Beetroot alliance behind us,…
