Double storey family home with good accommodation. Entrance hall, lounge, dining room, family room, billiard room with fitted bar, study. Kitchen with breakfast nook, pantry, scullery, laundry. 5 Bedrooms (guest suite downstairs), 5 bathrooms, Guest cloakroom. Staff accommodation, garaging for 3 plus off street parking. Covered patio overlooking pool and garden.
Women’s health, men’s health, chronic disease management, innovative plans, catching criminals and a digital revamp – Bonitas reflects on 2018 and launches its 2019 plans and strategy.
Bonitas Medical Fund (Bonitas) announced a weighted increase of 8.9% for 2019. “This,” says Gerhard van Emmenis, Principal Officer, “despite a challenging year for the healthcare industry, against a backdrop of uncertainty around the NHI, the recent Health Market Inquiry and current tough economic conditions faced by consumers.
Gerhard van Emmenis
“The past 12 months have been extremely trying, with a number of uncertainties and changes anticipated. In addition, consumers have been heavily impacted by the increase in VAT and escalating prices which resulted from this.”
In July Bonitas announced its financial results for 2017, the best in its 35-year history, with a solid surplus of R730.20 million, having recouped a deficit of R16.9 million from 2016. “This turnaround was due to several key cost saving strategies, says Van Emmenis, “and it bolstered our reserves from R3.1 billion to R4 billion which means that we are able to invest back into the Scheme and offer our members access to healthcare of the highest quality.”
The Fund has announced a number of additional benefits for its members for 2019, while keeping increases as low as possible. “We know that it’s not only the monthly premiums that affect the consumer’s pockets but the value they get out of their medical aid plan,” says Van Emmenis. “Some of the benefits have been tweaked, others increased, one plan has been discontinued and two new options have been introduced, all aimed at helping members take control of their health and lead better lifestyles.”
Working together to reduce healthcare costs
“We continue to seek partnerships with healthcare providers to ensure we are part of the same value chain, rather than being part of the supply and demand of the healthcare economy,” says Van Emmenis. “In addition, we are focused on educating role players to balance the triangle of affordability, quality and cost efficiencies. We are developing an incentive model to motivate service providers to eliminate activities that do not add value to members.”
Over the past few years, Bonitas has taken a multi-pronged approach to cost saving, focusing on:
Hospital negotiations
Hospital claims account for half of Bonitas’ annual claims, around R6 billion a year. For this reason we negotiated a pricing structure with the main hospital groups, to deliver a savings of R242 million last year. We project that this saving will increase to approximately R550 million over the next two years in present value terms.
Managed care
We place great emphasis on our Managed Care initiatives to help members, with chronic conditions, manage their health better. It takes into account the best clinical and treatment protocols while containing costs. Our back and neck, oncology, hip and knee and HIV/AIDS programmes respectively, continue to offer our members emotional, clinical and financial support.
Chronic conditions
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) cites chronic conditions – with diabetes in particular, as one of the key contributors to a rising disease burden in South Africa and escalating healthcare costs. 80% of the Scheme’s diabetic patients have associated chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease and depression which need to be managed on a unique basis. “Through our Diabetes Programme, hospital admissions related to diabetic patients having reduced by 11.6% year-on-year,” says Van Emmenis.
Prevention is better than cure
We have a keen focus on preventative care as early detection is a critical factor in ensuring our members get the support they need to manage any serious conditions timeously.
Women’s health
Last year, we kept a firm focus on women’s health introducing cover for pap smears on all our plans. Since cervical and breast cancer continue to be most prevalent, we have continued our efforts towards early detection by ensuring mammograms for women over 40 will be covered once every two years on all our plans from 2019.
Men’s health
In addition, we have placed the spotlight firmly on men’s health, especially in light of a prevalence of prostate cancer, by adding the prostate screening antigen test to all options for men aged between 45 and 69.
GP network
We have South Africa’s largest GP network which ensures our members get value for money and stretch their benefits. Our online provider locator tool has been enhanced so that members can find network hospitals, doctors and specialists in their area quickly and easily.
Fraud, waste and abuse (FWA)
Our ongoing efforts to reduce FWA have been successful, with a number of convictions and sentencings. This significant focus delivered recoveries of R31.2 million with a potential preventative savings of R75 million. We will continue to ensure that all outstanding money is successfully recovered and repaid to the Fund, so that it can be put to better use to benefit our members.
Going digital
Digital remains a key driver for member and broker communication with Member, Broker and a newly introduced Corporate Zone available on the website. The online application has been revamped, we’ve introduced an electronic membership and a live chat function has been added to assist current and potential members with any questions they may have.
Besides enhancing the Member Zone as from January 1, 2019 members will have access to the Bonitas App – a revolutionary cell phone application that will offer the full benefits of the Member Zone. Making it easier for them to view their benefits and claims as well as submit claims, obtain authorisation, find a network provider, resolve queries and so much more while on the go.
As a value-add for members, Bonitas has aligned itself with strategic partners to offer a comprehensive and holistic solution to help members take care of their financial health and wellness, without paying anything extra. “This is not another loyalty programme,” explains Van Emmenis, “but rather real added value aligned to member needs, with no fee or points scoring.” The model includes a Multi-Insurer Platform offering Medgap, exclusive gap cover with a discount of up to 48% discount for Bonitas members and a wide range of life, funeral, disability cover products through Sanlam Indie with exclusive benefits in the form of free investments up to 110% of monthly contributions. And finally, a variety of free monthly discount vouchers from 30 participating partner retailers through Electronic Line.
In conclusion, Van Emmenis says, “Our plans have been restructured to meet market demand, consumers are looking for options that offer attractive benefits at a more affordable rate.”
Summary of key changes for the year:
A weighted increase of 8.9%.
A new multi-insurer platform with exclusive deals and offers for Bonitas members including gap cover.
Two new plans introduced – Primary Select and BonEssential Select. These use dedicated networks and are both are priced around 15% lower than the Primary and BonEssential options respectively.
The Hospital Plus plan has been discontinued.
Mammograms for women over 40 will be covered once every two years across all the plans.
Prostate screening antigen tests for men aged between the aged of 45 and 69 have been included across all plans.
Childhood immunisations according to the EPI schedule, are now offered to members on BonClassic, Standard, Standard Select, BonComplete, BonSave, Primary, Primary Select and BonFit – paid from risk.
The introduction of the My Family Model which contains a full suite of care – such as maternity consultations, 2D scans, antenatal classes, newborn hearing screening – all paid from risk.
The day-to-day benefits on Primary has been increased by 15% for 2019.
A family benefits of R31,500 has been introduced on BonEssential for internal prosthesis, it is also included on BonEssential Select.
BonClassic has been re-aligned to fit in with other options with radiology and pathology combined into one benefit.
For more information on the range of medical plans available from Bonitas, or to compare options, go to www.bonitas.co.za.
Highbury Media (Pty) Ltd is SA’s largest independent magazine and digital publishing company responsible for some of the country’s best-performing titles. We are currently looking for a recipe developer and food stylist for our Food department.
Are you skilled at creating recipes? Does food styling interest you? Do you want to excel in the exhilarating world of print and digital content creation? Have you gone to culinary school? Are you the kind of person that wakes up excited to eat breakfast? Do you live to eat? Then this is the position for you.
We look after a variety of award-winning magazines, ranging from focusing on full-blown delicious food trends to budget meals, fitness-inspired food and living a healthy life. We create all the food content and it is pure excitement.
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
Creating, testing and writing recipes
Keeping up to date with food trends
Assist senior food stylists on set
Creating briefs for internal and external clients
Propping for food shoots and videos
Styling food shoots and videos –
Collaborate with the food team to organize shoots and create content
Managing budgets and keeping within specific budgets
Tracking and handling invoices
Styling food on shoots, in restaurants and for video content
Booking photographers, videographers and studios
The ideal candidate will be curious, with enthusiasm for generating food-related ideas
This position reports to the food editor
Requirements:
Culinary background or culinary school diploma
One to two years of working experience
Organised and able to work on different tasks at one time
Budgets and recons
Able to work in a high paced deadline driven environment on various platforms
Highbury Media (Pty) Ltd is SA’s largest independent magazine and digital publishing company responsible for some of the country’s best-performing titles. We are currently looking for a junior food editor for our Food department.
Are you interested in food styling? Do you want to excel in the exhilarating world of print and digital content creation? Have you gone to culinary school? Are you the kind of person that wakes up excited to eat breakfast? Do you live to eat? Then this is the position for you.
We look after a variety of award-winning magazines, ranging from focusing on full-blown delicious food trends to budget meals, fitness-inspired food and living a healthy life. We create all the food content and it is pure excitement.
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
Keeping up to date with food trends
Managing budgets and keeping within specific budgets
Tracking and handling invoices
Liaising with editors from different magazines
Develop and execute content strategy
Planning, briefing, propping and executing a stills food shoot
Planning, briefing, propping and executing a food video
Dealing with internal and external clients
Delegate food assistants to assist on various projects
Pitch and execute print and digital story ideas related to trends, news and the intersection of food, luxury, restaurants and style
Meet tight deadlines while maintaining a superior level of accuracy and attention to detail
The ideal candidate will be curious, with enthusiasm for generating food-related ideas
This position reports to the food editor
Requirements:
Culinary background or culinary school diploma
Able to be extremely meticulous and precise in food preparation
One to two years of working experience in the food industry
Able to prep, prop, plan and execute a food shoot
Able to prep, prop, plan and execute a food video
A passion for food and food culture, restaurants, travel, style, design and lifestyle
Organised and able to work on different tasks at one time
Creative mind-set, hardworking and strong communications skills
Budgets and recons
Able to work in a high paced deadline driven environment on various platforms
Self-starter that is able to make decisions, we don’t micromanage people.
A team player than is open to collaborate well with other creatives, editorial and design teams
A technical retail supplier are looking for a cashier in Kimberley.
Please Note: If you do not fit the specification with the minimum requirements your application will not be accepted for this position. Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete an Assessment or Test to demonstrate your knowledge of this position.
Skills / Duties:
Processing of all payments for customers when paying at the cash office
Management of all excel spreadsheets and cash up for the day
Ensure cash is always handled correctly as per SOP
Ensure normal cheques and special clearance cheques are handled correctly
Ensure debit cards and credit cards are handled correctly
Do daily cash ups
Ensure that all refunds and credit notes have been authorized before processing payment
Ensure that all rebates have been authorized before processing payment
Handle pro-forma invoices and proof of payment for EFT
Follow all processes and procedures as indicated
Any additional duties as requested by Management while still maintaining segregation of duties
Regular Stock takes at branch
Applicants must reside in Kimberley or surrounding area.
Only South African citizens, who are suitably qualified, live in the applicable area and meet the requirements of the position are eligible to apply for this vacancy.
Please take note: if you have not been contacted within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Visit our website to view all of our current vacancies: www.mprtc.co.za
Posted on 01 Oct 10:02
MPRTC Recruitment
The most essential and important resource any company can possess will undoubtedly be the talent that they employ. This is where MPRTC is crucial, in that we specialise in the most diverse and complex resource; we supply people, the right people, for your company.
At the end of a long day, it’s tempting to dive into your social feeds or Netflix queue the minute you’ve finished eating. But back before screens bogarted all our free time, an after-dinner stroll was a popular activity and one associated with improved health and digestion. “Italians have been walking after meals for centuries,” says Loretta DiPietro, a professor of exercise science at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, “so it must be good.”
Research backs this up. One small study co-authored by DiPietro found that when older adults at risk for type-2 diabetes walked on a treadmill for 15 minutes after a meal, they had smaller blood sugar spikes in the hours afterwards. In fact, the researchers found that these short post-meal walks were even more effective at lowering blood sugar after dinner than a single 45-minute walk taken at mid-morning or late in the afternoon.
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The human digestive system converts food into the sugar glucose, which is one of the body’s primary energy sources—so after a meal, glucose floods a person’s bloodstream. Hormones like insulin help pull that glucose into cells, either to be used immediately or stored away for later use. But for people with diabetes and impaired insulin activity, too much glucose can remain in the blood, which can cause or contribute to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other health problems.
“Insulin secretion in response to a meal tends to wane later in the day, and this is especially so in older people,” DiPietro says. She points out that many of us eat our largest meal of the day in the evening, and we also tend to sit around afterward. As a result, “blood glucose levels will rise very high and will stay elevated for hours,” she says.
What good does walking do? “The muscles we use to walk use glucose as energy, drawing it out of circulation and therefore reducing how much is floating around,” says Andrew Reynolds, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Reynolds coauthored a 2016 study of people with type-2 diabetes and found that just 10 minutes of walking after a meal helped control their blood sugar levels. “We saw the biggest differences with walking after dinner time,” compared to other times of the day, Reynolds says. Like DiPietro, he says many people just sit around in the evenings, and this may be especially bad because the body’s ability to manage blood sugar at that time of day is weakest. “Getting up and moving around at that time was very effective,” he says.
Along with combatting surges in blood sugar, a little post-meal movement may also aid digestion. “Exercise stimulates peristalsis, which is the process of moving digested food through the GI tract,” says Sheri Colberg-Ochs, a diabetes and exercise researcher at Old Dominion University. Her research has found that a post-meal walk is much more effective than a pre-meal walk for controlling blood sugar.
More research has found that walking helps speed up the time it takes food to move from the stomach into the small intestines. This could help improve satiety after eating. There’s also evidence that links this type of faster digestion with lower rates of heartburn and other reflux symptoms.
Walking isn’t the only type of post-meal exercise that provides these benefits. “Whether it is resistance exercise or aerobic exercise, both have a similar impact on lowering blood glucose levels,” says Jill Kanaley, a professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at the University of Missouri. One small study by Kanaley and others found that for people with obesity and type-2 diabetes, doing a weight training session with leg presses, calf raises, chest flies and back extensions 45 minutes after dinner lowered their triglycerides and blood sugar for a short time—and improved their wellbeing.
But more isn’t necessarily better when it comes to post-eating exercise. There’s some evidence that vigorous forms of training may delay digestion after a meal. “Exercising muscles pull more of the blood flow their way during activity, and the GI tract gets relatively less,” Colberg-Ochs says. “That actually slows down the digestion of food in your stomach during the activity.” Most of the research on post-meal physical activity suggests that moderate intensities—think fast walking or biking—are best. “Anything but really intense exercise would probably work equally well,” she adds.
As far as timing goes, try to move your body within an hour of eating—and the sooner the better. Colberg-Ochs says glucose tends to peak 72 minutes after food intake, so you’d want to get moving well before then.
Even if you can only fit in a quick 10-minute walk, it’ll be worth it. Apart from the perks mentioned here, more research has linked short bouts of walking with benefits like lower blood pressure and a reduced risk for depression.
So make like the Italians and head out for a walk after your next meal. Your TV and the Internet will still be there when you get home.
OUR CLIENT IS A SUPREME PROPERTY INVESTMENT COMPANY, THAT ARE LOYAL, ENERGETIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEIR WORK IS LOOKING FOR A DYNAMIC AND FINANCIAL-SAVVY PROPERTY INVESTMENT CONSULTANT TO JOIN THEIR TEAM IN CAPE TOWN TO PROVIDE INVESTMENT CONSULTING FOR RESIDENTIAL BUY-TO-LET INVESTMENTS.
The successful candidate will be responsible for sourcing suitable investment property stock, securing bank finance, providing legal and statutory services to set up investment structures, accounting, tax planning, wealth management, and rental property management services.
The successful candidate will benefit from state-of-the-art systems for marketing and advertising, as well as receive training and support. Great opportunities to become a team leader within our group of companies.
Requirements:
– NQF 4 qualification in Real Estate
– Registration with Estate Agency Board for a Valid Fidelity Fund Certification
– Minimum 2 years Property Sales experience (Preferably in the new development arena)
– Must have Consulting experience
– Experience dealing with Property Contracts, Property Sales Processes, Financial planning, Cash Flows and investments
– Experience conducting Affordability assessments
– Valid License and own vehicle
Applicants must reside in CAPWE TOWN or surrounding area.
Please take note: if you have not been contacted within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Visit our website to view all of our current vacancies: www.mprtc.co.za
Double storey family home with good accommodation. Entrance hall, lounge, dining room, family room, billiard room with fitted bar, study. Kitchen with breakfast nook, pantry, scullery, laundry. 5 Bedrooms (guest suite downstairs), 5 bathrooms, Guest cloakroom. Staff accommodation, garaging for 3 plus off street parking. Covered patio overlooking pool and garden.
