Business
ZAWYA-SNG: How South Africa’s corporate medical aid landscape is changing in 2026?
ZAWYA-SNG: How South Africa’s corporate medical aid landscape is changing in 2026?
About this update from Sanlam Maroc
Staff WriterWhen it comes to corporate medical aid options in South Africa, there’s less choice than initially meets the eye. Although over 70 medical schemes are active in the country, only 16 of them are open schemes that any individual or company can join; the rest are restricted to specific employer groups or industries. Within those open schemes, a few major players dominate the space: Discovery Health, notably, holds nearly 58% of the total market share.In light of this, the recent partnership between Sanlam and Fedhealth is set to change this landscape permanently for both consumer and corporate clients. “When it comes to corporate medical aid, employers are under increasing pressure to find the right solution for their employees beyond just covering their basic health needs,” says Jeremy Yatt, Fedhealth’s Principal Officer. “They also want a medical aid scheme that integrates wellness, improves morale and productivity, and that acts as a retention tool for valuable talent – all while being financially viable as a company benefit.”Yatt says Fedhealth and Sanlam’s scheme aims to deliver all this, while also solving common consumer frustrations with medical aid in general. “Many consumers find medical aid as it is today to be rigid, complicated and expensive,” he says. “Our relaunched scheme aims to provide a solution to these by embodying five core values: affordability, customisation, inclusivity, simplicity and trust. These values will shape everything from pricing strategies to benefit enhancements and partnerships, making it the medical aid scheme that South African corporates not only need, but deserve.”For corporates in particular, the partnership between Fedhealth and Sanlam will mean easier access for employees to a suite of physical and financial wellness products. At the heart of this is the Sanlam Integrated Health Product Strategy that includes value-added health products such as Sanlam Gap Cover, Sanlam Primary Care, and oncology solutions. Beyond healthcare, these benefits extend even further with Sanlam Funeral Insurance and life insurance that includes health-linked bonuses, as well as discounted car and home insurance through Santam, and estate planning services with Sanlam Legacy.For employee groups, these benefits are supported by a comprehensive corporate wellness suite designed to address workplace risks, absenteeism and chronic...