The results of 2010 OMAC Actuaries & Consultants Healthcare Survey reveal that the rising cost of healthcare is the major concern in the healthcare industry. The main factor responsible for the rising healthcare expenses is the overall cost of Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs). These PMBs are a set of 270 medical conditions and 26 serious chronic diseases that medical schemes must cover under their offerings.

The rising cost of healthcare is the main concern for employers, brokers and medical schemes within the industry.

Head of Healthcare Consulting at OMAC Actuaries & Consultants, Margaret Hulme said that the medical schemes and employers need to be proactive in order to make the maximum number of members aware about the worth of PMBs. The survey has also shown that the members in general are satisfied with the level of communication that they receive and only 45% of the members read the material thoroughly.

Ms. Hulme has advised the scheme promoters to directly communicate with the providers of healthcare and not only to members. She says that inappropriate communication methods are used by the schemes to educate members about their disease, which increases their interest in using wellness programmes.