Minister promotes GEMS

Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi is in the Northern Cape to promote and create awareness about the new inexpensive medical aid for public servants.

The minister will interact with provincial government officials regarding the Government Employees Medical Aid Scheme (GEMS) and the products it offers while encouraging them to join the affordable scheme.

As part of the GEMS communication and marketing strategy, road shows will be conducted to all national and provincial departments.

GEMS was registered on 01 January 2005 and the interim Board of Trustees had last year worked on establishing the scheme to allow the commencement of member enrolment on 01 January 2006.

The scheme offers five various products namely: Sapphire, Beryl, Ruby, Emerald and Onyx.

For example, a single member earning under R2 500 could select Sapphire where they would be required to pay R327.

Government as the employer would pay R218 (two-thirds) and the member only R109.

Its implementation is widely seen as a positive development that positions government as an employer of choice that cares for the health and wellbeing of its employees.

Public servants who do not qualify to join the scheme include employees of the South African National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency, the South African Secret Service and any department where the conditions of service do not allow their enrolment on GEMS.

Persons employed for a period of less than 12 months are also not eligible for membership.

GEMS may see the enrolment of an additional 1 million medical scheme beneficiaries, through the promotion of greater access to the employer subsidy by 380 000 of employees and their families who are currently not enrolled on a medical scheme.

Public ServHe said GEMS also catered for low income earners in the public service who could not afford private medical schemes. -BuaNews

Vice spokesperson Clayson Monyela told BuaNews today that although the scheme was not compulsory, it welcomed potential members who sought to leave other medical schemes.
"The aim is to get as more public servants as possible. We will also be encouraging new members or officials in the public service to join the scheme," he said.