Amalgamation

The Competition Commission, Competition Tribunal, and Council for Medical Schemes have now approved the amalgamation of NMAS with Bonitas, with an effective date of 1 January 2022.

In the meantime, both NMAS and Bonitas have been hard at work behind the scenes to ensure that the transfer goes as smoothly as possible.

In the case of members transferring to our chosen amalgamation partner, Bonitas, the transition should be seamless, as both are administered by Medscheme. As a reminder, see this fact sheet for more Bonitas offerings.

The option selection closing date is 26 November 2021.

Nedbankers
Please use the Employee Portal to select your new option.

Pensioners and OMI employees
Please use this link to select your new option.

 

The Trustees chose Bonitas as a preferred amalgamation partner as they viewed this route as optimal for most NMAS members. We’ve asked Bonitas to offer NMAS members some more information about their undertaking to you, should you transfer to Bonitas:

Additional benefits for added value

Bonitas believes in giving you more value for money by providing you and your beneficiaries with additional benefits, over and above your savings, day-to-day, and other benefits.

Examples of these benefits are:

• Flu, pneumococcal, and Covid-19 vaccines
• HIV, Mammogram, Prostate, Stool, and three Covid-19 tests
• Two Covid-19 screening (including virtual) consultations by a GP, specialist, or nurse.
• A wellness screening, which is a free annual check-up that includes blood pressure, blood glucose, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and cholesterol measurements. By completing a wellness screening or online wellness assessment, you automatically activate your Benefit Booster, which opens up to R2 730 in additional benefits. You can use this additional benefit to visit a GP, biokineticist, dietician or physiotherapist, or to go for blood tests and x-rays, or to get medicine.
• Our Maternity Programme, which offers expectant members support and pregnancy education during their maternity journey. The programme includes weekly stage- appropriate SMSs, online antenatal classes, health advice, and more. As a pregnant member you also get a beautiful baby bag to congratulate you on the arrival of your bundle of joy. All members who are at least 24 weeks pregnant may register for the Bonitas baby bag.

You can access your medical aid benefits and more, anywhere you go, anywhere you are and at any time when you download or register on our various platforms.

Bonitas website for information

You can find more information about Bonitas options and benefits on www.bonitas.co.za.

MemberZone for access to information, authorisations and more

The Bonitas MemberZone allows members to:

• Manage membership information 24/7, on any device
• Access their electronic membership card and email it to dependants or doctors
• View benefits
• Look up, query and submit claims
• Apply for chronic medication
• Apply for hospital pre-authorisation
• Submit queries
• Update contact details
• View brochures, how-to guides and more
• Access Pharmacy Direct to manage your chronic profile and submit prescriptions

Member App for managing your medical aid on the go

The app is designed to enrich the lives of Bonitas members and is packed with functionality that allows them to do so much more, all from the palm of their hand. In addition, it gives Bonitas another way to stay connected and communicate with members.

Let’s look at what the Member App will offer you if you move to Bonitas:

• Arrange virtual consultations with a doctor through virtual care;
• View the balance of your savings and other benefits;
• Submit your prescription to Pharmacy Direct for chronic medicine delivery;
• Use the chat function to interact with the Bonitas support team; and
• Easily find doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies on our network.

In addition, the Member App can help you to manage your health and lifestyle:

• Get a health score for yourself and each of your dependants;
• Receive nudges to educate and guide you to a healthier lifestyle;
• Earn badges (and bragging rights!) for completing health questionnaires or a health risk assessment;
• Get access to bespoke eating plans from EatForLife;
• Access virtual gym sessions; and
• Access Avo by Nedbank, which offers you:
  • Great deals across groceries, tech, professional home services, takeaways, prepaids, and so much more
  • Discounted deals from more than 20 000 different merchants
  • 1% cashback on all purchases
  • Free delivery on orders over R450.

The Bonitas Member App is available for free, from the various device app stores.

WhatsApp for instant help

This simple, reliable platform gives you another self-service channel to access your medical aid information and get in touch with us. But you can do much more than chat with Bonitas via WhatsApp, as it also offers you the ability to:

• Get your statement;
• View claims for the last 90 days;
• Download your tax certificate;
• Save your electronic membership card;
• Submit a claim;
• Chat to a support agent to resolve queries; and
• Access Covid-19 information and a symptom-checker.

An advantage for members who are registered on any of the NMAS managed care programmes and who transfer to Bonitas, is that their registrations will automatically be transferred. Members on these programmes will receive personal letters clearly outlining the benefits and processes that apply to them.

In the meantime, we share a message from Bonitas below. This is specifically for members on NMAS managed care programmes who have already chosen to transfer to Bonitas, or are thinking of doing so. (There is also specific communication for members currently registered on NMAS managed care programmes here.)

 

Remember, however, that you will be able to choose a benefit option from the entire Bonitas range of fourteen benefit options, and that you can also choose from the options on the other medical schemes made available by the Employers.

You are encouraged to study all relevant amalgamation material, and to consult Alexander Forbes Health, who is available to help NMAS members with the election of a suitable benefit option, to make sure that you end up with the optimal benefit option for your individual needs and circumstances. The Alexander Forbes call centre contact number is 011 269 2690, or you can e-mail nedbank@aforbes.com (for Nedbank employees and pensioners) or omi@aforbes.com (for Old Mutual Insure employees and pensioners).

How to choose a medical scheme option other than your default option shown above

Nedbankers

Please use the Employee Portal to select your new option.

Pensioners and OMI employees

Please use this link to select your new option.

Nedbank and Old Mutual Insure have confirmed that pensioner members who qualify for the post-retirement medical (PRMA) subsidy and are currently receiving the PRMA subsidy, will continue to receive the PRMA subsidy going forward provided they are members of one of the medical schemes offered by the employer, namely Bonitas Medical Fund, Bestmed Medical Scheme, or Discovery Health Medical Scheme.

Message from Julia

 

Tools to help you decide

Recap: Why the Scheme chose Bonitas as amalgamation partner

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We can appreciate that members may have a lot of questions about the amalgamation and how it will affect their future benefits and contributions.

Alexander Forbes, who is assisting the Employers in this process by offering advice to members to choose between the options available to them, will be sending out detailed information to all members – please be on the look-out for this from 18 October 2021.

As the Scheme, we will also send you communication aimed at helping you to make an informed decision about your medical scheme options.

Roadshows will be held throughout the country both virtually, and onsite at certain Nedbank, Old Mutual Insure (OMI) and Alexander Forbes sites. Please see the schedule below and save the date!

VIRTUAL SESSIONS

Hosted by Alexander Forbes, covering an overview of all schemes and options available:

18 October	10:00 – 11:00	Click here to join the session
27 October	09:00 – 10:00	Click here to join the session
2 November	13:00 – 14:00	Click here to join the session
11 November	07:30 – 08:30	Click here to join the session
15 November	14:00 – 15:00	Click here to join the session
24 November	16:30 – 17:30	Click here to join the session
26 November	09:00 – 10:00	Click here to join the session

 
 

Hosted by Bonitas, covering specifically Bonitas options and benefits, for Nedbank employees:

18 October	12:00 – 13:00	Click here to join the session
28 October	10:00 – 11:00	Click here to join the session
4 November	07:30 – 08:30	Click here to join the session
11 November	14:00 – 15:00	Click here to join the session
16 November	11:00 – 12:00	Click here to join the session
23 November	16:00 – 17:00	Click here to join the session

 
 

Hosted by Bonitas, covering specifically Bonitas options and benefits, for OMI employees:

18 October	12:00 – 13:00	Click here to join the session
27 October	11:00 – 12:00	Click here to join the session
3 November	09:00 – 10:00	Click here to join the session
10 November	10:00 – 11:00	Click here to join the session
15 November	15:00 – 16:00	Click here to join the session
25 November	10:00 – 11:00	Click here to join the session

 

ALEXANDER FORBES ONSITE SESSIONS – FOR BOTH EMPLOYED AND PENSIONER MEMBERS

These sessions will be hosted at various Alexander Forbes sites across the country, from 9:00 to 15:00 each day.

GAUTENG

21 October 25 October 4 November 10 November 15 November 25 November	Alexander Forbes Sandton, 115 West Street, Sandown
29 October 11 November 26 November	Alexander Forbes Pretoria, 180-197 Amarand Ave, Waterkloof Glen

 

KWAZULU-NATAL

22 October 27 October 3 November 10 November 17 November 22 November

Alexander Forbes Umhlanga, Ridge Office Estate, 10 Torsvale Cres, Torsvale Park, La Lucia

 

WESTERN CAPE

26 October 3 November 10 November 17 November 22 November

Alexander Forbes Cape Town, Block A, The Boulevard, Searle Street, Woodstock, Cape Town

 

EASTERN CAPE

27 October 11 November	Alexander Forbes Port Elizabeth, 256 Cape Rd, Greenacres, Gqeberha
28 October 11 November	Alexander Forbes East London, 1st Floor Shortmill House, The Quarry, Berea, East London

 

FREE STATE

27 October 11 November

Alexander Forbes Bloemfontein, 101 Olympus Drive, Pentagon Park, Bloemfontein

 

NEDBANK ONSITE SESSIONS – FOR NEDBANK EMPLOYEES ONLY

These sessions will be hosted at various Nedbank sites countrywide and will be open to Nedbank employees only. Unless specified otherwise, these sessions will be open from 9:00 to 15:00 each day. Covid protocols will be in place. Remember to pre-screen before you go.

BUILDING	DATES
135 Rivonia	19 October 2 November 16 November 23 November
105 West	28 October 17 November
Newtown Junction	20 October 26 October 9 November 22 November
Lakeview	22 October 18 November
Menlyn Maine	27 October 12 November
Kingsmead	19 October 2 November 16 November 23 November
Park Square	06:00 – 19:00 20 October 26 October 9 November 24 November
Pietermaritzburg	21 October 19 November
Clocktower	2 November 23 November
Plattekloof	22 October 18 November
Breda	16 November
Stellenbosch	17 November
George	19 November
270 Cape Road	2 November 16 November
Polokwane	10 November
Bloemfontein	29 October 24 November
Rustenburg	12 November
Nelspruit	18 November

 

OLD MUTUAL INSURE (OMI) ONSITE SESSIONS – FOR OMI EMPLOYEES ONLY

These sessions will be hosted at the following OMI sites and will be open to OMI employees only. Unless specified otherwise, these sessions will be open from 9:00 to 15:00 each day. Covid protocols will be in place. Remember to pre-screen before you go.

BUILDING	DATES
Parktown	3 November 8 November 19 November
Pretoria	17 November
Westville	5 November 18 November

 

The majority of member votes were in favour of amalgamation.

Thank you to each member who took the time to study the communication that the Scheme sent out about a proposed amalgamation with Bonitas Medical Fund, and especially to those who took an active part in voting.

Seventy five percent (75%) of the NMAS Scheme members who voted, voted in favour of amalgamation.

The next step is a formal period for inspection of the exposition document by all stakeholders.

As part of the regulatory process, the exposition document is open for inspection for 21 days from 5 August to 3 September 2021. It will then be open for comment for a further 21 days from 6 September to 5 October 2021. The exposition document is available on the following websites:

• The Council for Medical Schemes’ website: www.medicalschemes.co.za
• Bonitas Medical Fund’s website: www.bonitas.co.za
• Nedgroup Medical Aid Scheme’s website: www.nmas.co.za

If you have any objections and/or comments about the amalgamation, you may email these – by no later than 5 October – to one of the following email addresses:

• The Registrar of Medical Schemes: information@medicalschemes.co.za
• The Principal Officer, Nedgroup Medical Aid Scheme: julial@nedbank.co.za
• The Principal Officer, Bonitas Medical Fund: lee@bonitas.org.za

The timing of the proposed amalgamation is out of the Scheme’s hands.

Although the intention is for the amalgamation to be finalised in time for members to move across to the new medical scheme on 1 January 2022, this will depend on the regulatory authorities making their decisions within certain time frames. If necessary, we will continue with the Scheme as a going concern into 2022, until such a time that we can move members across to their new medical scheme. We will keep you informed of progress every step of the way.

We will continue to keep you updated.

Even though this change is a welcome one to most members, any change is stressful, especially if it is coupled with uncertainty. The Trustees and Scheme management are also not sure of the exact timing of certain events, since so much depends on the actions of the regulatory authorities. What we are certain about, however, is that we will share all relevant information with you as soon as we have it available. If you have any questions about the proposed amalgamation that you need answered in the meantime, please email me at julial@nedbank.co.za.

It is currently extremely difficult to get printed communication to pensioners without email addresses. We will post all updates from the employer in this section so that we can send an SMS with a link and hopefully reach more members.

Nedbank update – 20 July

Old Mutual Insure update – 20 July