BusinessLive reports that SA’s 1.3-million public servants have until 8 December to consider whether to change healthcare plans after it was agreed on Tuesday that contributions to the Government Employee Medical Scheme (GEMS) will rise 15% from January 2017.  

The state subsidy to employees will increase 8.8%, meaning state employees will pay the additional 6.2% required to keep GEMS solvent.  Public servants and the government agreed during collective bargaining in 2015 to retain 75% state medical assistance for in-service employees, with state contributions capped at R925 per principal member and R565 per dependant.  Parties further agreed to adjust the subsidy according to the medical price index on 1 January each year.

• Read this report in full at BusinessLive

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