Joining your employer
Employer policy
Membership of a University of the Western Cape (UWC) recognised medical scheme is compulsory for all permanent full-time staff members unless the staff member is a registered dependant of a scheme through his/her spouse’s terms of employment at the spouse’s place of employment.
Membership of the medical schemes may also be made available to full-time staff members appointed on contract for two years or more.
The recognised medical schemes are currently the Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) and SizweHosmed. Alexforbes are the appointed healthcare consultants to the DHMS members.
If you join DHMS within 90 days of your date of employment, there will be no waiting periods or penalties imposed on your membership for you and your immediate family. Underwriting may apply to special dependants or for employees for who it is not compulsory to join.
Gap Cover is offered on a voluntary basis through Kaelo Gap and is deducted in full as a debit order. Waiting periods may apply to pre-existing conditions.
The employer policy confirms all the UWC guidelines and rules regarding your healthcare arrangements.
Compare medical scheme options
The selected UWC scheme is the Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS). Contributions are a payroll deduction. There are many different medical scheme options within the medical scheme in terms of affordability and health needs. Use this tool to filter and compare the options that are most appropriate for you and your family.
How to use the tool
- The rates are automatically calculated for the main member.
- Select “add dependant” to add spouse, adult(s), or child(ren).
- Answer the three questions relating to hospital and day-to-day cover.
- Select your budget range using the sliding scale.
- The option comparison tool will start generating your contribution and order based on benefit richness.
- By selecting “Group by plan type”, the table will group the plans allowing you to expand and collapse the groupings.
- To view further detailed information about the plans, select the required plans by clicking on each row. Once completed, click the “View Comparison” button.
- To revert to the list of plans, click the “Back to Selection” button.
Gap cover
Gap cover is a top up insurance that can be added to your medical scheme to cover specialist in hospital shortfalls, co-payments in hospital, cancer shortfalls and more…
Kaelo Gap is the preferred gap cover provider available to UWC employees. Membership is voluntary and monthly contributions are a payroll deduction. A general 3-month general waiting period, 9 month waiting period on pre-existing conditions and 12 months on pregnancy and cancer, may apply.
The Kaelo Gap contributions for 2024 are as follows:
Chronic medicine and disease management
If you have been diagnosed with a chronic condition e.g., hypertension, diabetes, or an illness (e.g., oncology, dialysis), you will need to register this on your medical scheme. Medical schemes require you to complete a process to ensure registration on the programmes. It is advisable to obtain a membership number and then submit your application for chronic and disease registration.
Loyalty programmes
Discovery does offer a loyalty programme called Vitality and participation in this programme is voluntary. Should employees wish to join this programme they must join Vitality in their private capacities, and Vitality premiums are not paid via the UWC payroll.
Forms
Each provider has various forms that you may need to complete to ensure you are registered as a member.
Once completed, please send your form to your HR Representative.
If you are joining the medical scheme within 90 days of your employment date
If you are joining the medical scheme after 90 days of your employment date
If you are already a member of one of the existing medical schemes and you need to transfer this to your new employer
Gap cover application form
Chronic application form
Loyalty programme application form