Every GEMS member matters: A tale of two dads

Monday 14 July 2014

GEMS currently covers 1.85 million lives - a responsibility we take seriously, especially as 55% of our members did not previously have healthcare cover. As South Africa's second largest medical aid scheme, we aim to provide all public service employees with equitable access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare benefits.

At GEMS, our philosophy is that every member matters. Like Johan Hendriks* and his partner, James,* of Somerset West, who have been GEMS members for six years now. In September of last year, Johan and James decided that they would like to start a family and commenced with the process of adopting a baby. "While we were still busy with the process I contacted the GEMS maternity programme to find out if I could register on the programme as we realised we would need all the advice and help we could get," writes Johan, in a letter to the Scheme.

"Within days of sending in an application form I was contacted by Debbie from GEMS to confirm our request. I was pleasantly surprised by the unbiased and friendly manner with which my request was treated, as we are a same-sex couple. Days after her call I received a gift bag from GEMS packed with baby necessities," notes Johan.

The bag and its contents were to prove very useful in the next month as the adoption was processed rather speedily. In January 2014 Johan and James became first-time parents to two-month old Nathan*. "Nothing could prepare us for the speed at which the adoption took place. We could never imagine how our son would change our lives.

In the short space that we have had him he has taught us patience, given us unconditional love and a great appreciation for the plight of single mothers, orphans and the organisations that make it their mission to not only find good homes for orphans but also ensure these children have a different future." Johan concludes his letter by saying, "GEMS made us feel valued not only as members of one of the biggest medical schemes in the country but also as a new, modern family.

Thank you to GEMS and everyone at the maternity programme for helping to make this experience one we will never forget."

It's simple gestures like these, which help make our members' lives easier, which is what a medical scheme should do. GEMS believes in uncomplicated, straightforward medical cover which provides both low-income and high-income earners with peace of mind when it comes to their health and that of their families. GEMS supports a medical aid that is mindful of the unique needs of its members, that is sustainable and effective and that provides all public service employees with equitable access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare benefits.