With the National Health Insurance Bill being signed into law in the next few weeks, we have listed everything you should know about it. 

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would sign the bill. 

Parliament approved it last year, but it has been sitting on his desk following objections.

Several political parties and other stakeholders have urged the president to refer the bill back to Parliament because it was flawed. 

Lobby group AfriForum Ernst van Zyl said the president’s “search for a pen” to sign the impugned NHI bill is a shameful attempt to use the false promise of better health care to win a few votes.

Meanwhile, DA Shadow Minister of Health, Michele Clarke MP said the ANC continues selling their NHI bill pipedream. 

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“The DA has been unequivocal that we in principle, support universal health care; the NHI is, however not the answer to the many problems plaguing the public health sector, including corruption and maladministration; failure to maintain and upgrade health facilities; persistent vacancies; broken and outdated equipment; surgery backlogs; and medicine stockouts.” 

She said that while Ramaphosa was “looking for his pen” to sign the NHI Bill, no new funds had been allocated. 

“In fact, the provincial national health insurance grant has been lowered from R695 billion in the past year to R456 billion in the next year. Further, NHI grants have been shifted to public health oncology services.” 

Let’s look at everything you should know about the controversial bill: 

The objective of the NHI Bill is to provide universal access to quality health care for all South Africans, as enshrined in the Constitution.

The Parliament said the Constitution recognizes healthcare as a fundamental human right. 

How will you benefit from the National Health Bill? 

• The NHI fund will cover South Africans of all races, rich or poor, and legal long-term residents.
• There will be one pool of healthcare funding for private and public healthcare providers.
• Our healthcare system, which is currently the most expensive in the world, will be reduced.
• When people visit healthcare facilities, there will be no fees charged because the NHI fund will cover the costs of people’s medical care in the same way that medical aids do for their members.
• NHI will narrow the gap between the rich and poor in terms of healthcare standards.

You will no longer be required to contribute directly to a medical health scheme to get quality health care. The NHI Fund will be funded from:

• Monthly contributions made by the employees to the fund.
• General taxes and
• Contributions of persons earning above a set amount. 

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