GEM Medical Aid is a South African run government run medical scheme that is there to provide employees of the government with access to good affordable healthcare. Founded as recently as 2006, GEM Medical Aid is now one of the biggest medical aid schemes in the country, helping thousands of people to meet the costs of some of the most expensive medical procedures. Before GEM Medical Aid was introduced back in 2006, a lot or government employees were members of other medical aid companies, however, a large number of government employees were able to afford medical aid cover. Thanks to the contribution for the GEMS healthcare plans being subsidised by the South African government, more government employees than ever before have the chance of being covered against private medical expenses.
You might be wondering what sets apart this government backed medical aid scheme from other medical aid schemes which are open everyone. To start with, it is limited to government employees only, meaning that it is a closed scheme that is not open to membership from members of the general public. Secondly, because it is subsidised by the South African government, the premiums that members are expected to pay each month are a lot lower than other open healthcare schemes.
The Government Employee Medical Scheme has 5 distinctly different healthcare plans to choose from, and they are subtlety named after a number of different precious stones. Sapphire is the lowest priced cover, and it is seen as the entry-level scheme for those government employees that are on a low income. The Emerald healthcare plan offers more than Sapphire, however, it is still competitively priced, and is the one plan that seems to be the most popular amongst government workers. For those that can afford a more comprehensive level of cover, Onyx is the premium option, and it covers hospital expenses, day to day medical expenses as well as treatment for a range of chronic illnesses. Other plans on the scheme are called Ruby and Beryl, and they offer a level of coverage that comes somewhere between Sapphire and Onyx.
As you can see, there are many more benefits to joining the Government Employee Medical Scheme than joining an open medical aid scheme, if you work for the government. Not only are the monthly premiums lower, you do not have the added problem of trying to find the best medical aid company amongst hundreds.
