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HARARE – Health insurer, Premier Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) has increased monthly subscription fees for its members by 80 percent with immediate effect, an official has said.
PSMAS, which operates clinics and pharmacies across the country through its subsidiary PSMI, has an estimated 800 000 members, the majority of whom are civil servants.
Public Service Commission secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said treasury granted the upward review with effect from August 1 this year.
“The 80 percent review on the main plan scheme will increase the subscription to $67.50 which translates to the member and first beneficiary paying $13.50 each whilst government will contribute $54.00 using the 20:80 ratio,” he said in a circular.
“The second and subsequent minor beneficiary’s subscription has been increased to $40.50 which translates to $8.10 per month per member whilst government will contribute $32.40 using the same ratio of 20:80.”
He added; “The adult dependant subscription has been increased to $45.00 which will be paid by the member per month.”
PSMAS has over the past few years faced various operational challenges, resulting in most medical service providers demanding cash from PSMAS members as the health insurer was failing to pay for services rendered to its members.
Some of the challenges faced by PSMAS emanate from failure to recover on time amounts due to it particularly from government which owed it over $100 million by March last year.
Government has since started meeting its monthly obligations to the health insurer while working on clearing arrears owed to PSMAS. – New Ziana
Bongani Ndlovu