/ 2 August 2020

The benefits of being a GEMS member

Gems
GEMS offers comprehensive and affordable healthcare options to all public service employees

SPONSORED

The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) offers a basket of benefits to its members of the public service and their families. As a scheme that understands the needs of the South African family, over the years GEMS has improved its benefits while keeping its contribution increases among the lowest in the industry.

GEMS offers comprehensive and affordable healthcare options to all public service employees and provides lower income earners with greater access to better healthcare. The scheme takes pride in differentiating itself through its product offering and as a public service employee, you may qualify for a subsidy from your employer when you join GEMS, resulting in further savings to your pocket.

As a scheme that provides quality healthcare coverage to over 720 000 members and 1.8 million beneficiaries, the scheme provides its members with peace of mind, especially with products such as the Tanzanite One and Emerald Value options.

Tanzanite One is the most affordable of the scheme’s options for low-income earners. Members on the Tanzanite One option are provided full access to private and public facilities, awarding them much-needed dignity. This option gives members comprehensive cover for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital benefits, a dedicated GP with unlimited consultations, access to a network of private and public hospitals as well over-the-counter medication. Members on this option who are in the level 1 to 5 income bracket may qualify for an up to 100% employer subsidy.

The Emerald Value Option is the best performing option in the Scheme. It minimises members’ exposure to out-of-pocket payments, and provides ultimate peace of mind for network general GP consultations, acute prescribed medicine obtained at a network pharmacy and pathology tests performed at a preferred pathology laboratory.

Members on both options are required to adhere to the principles of co-ordinated care, meaning that they must nominate their own network GP; members should also obtain specialist referrals and make use of hospitals on the GEMS Hospital Network.

GEMS is extremely agile and to support the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, the scheme will spend around R900-million in treatment and care for members who are affected by Covid-19. The scheme wishes to encourage its members who show flu-like symptoms to get tested for Covid-19. Eligible public service employees are encouraged to plan ahead and explore the varied options best suited for them with one of South Africa’s foremost and affordable schemes on:

https://www.gems.gov.za/members

 0860 00 4367, or

 [email protected]