Understanding your contributions

Each year your medical scheme contributions are adjusted to provide for new or larger benefits, the building of statutory reserves and to accommodate inflation. In order to strengthen our financial reserves and based on legal reasons and to ensure that members receive more benefits, this year's contributions were increased by an average of 8.75% as from 1 January 2012.

How do contributions work?
Your member contributions on GEMS are linked to your salary and income bands, which are reviewed annually to allow for equal distribution of members by income on each benefit option. If a member's salary increases during the course of a year, for example, they may find that they move up an income band and therefore have to pay a higher contribution. The income bands promote access and equity.

The full contribution table is available in your 2012 member guide (sent with your option specific Z-card). There is also a contribution calculator on our website's homepage, www.gems.gov.za Please contact us on 0860 00 4367 if you have any enquiries in this regard.