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SOUTH AFRICA’S
L A RGEST MED ICA L SCH EMES There were 79 medical schemes in South Africa at the end of 2018, according to the 2018/19 annual report by the Council for Medical Schemes, down from a high of 146 in 2001. Of the 79 existing schemes, 21 are open schemes, meaning their membership is open to the public, and 58 are restricted schemes, which means they serve only certain industries or organisations. In total, almost nine million South
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Africans belonged to a medical scheme, either as a member or as a dependant. About four million belonged to restricted schemes and about five million to open schemes. The five biggest schemes by number of beneficiaries (members and dependants) at the end of 2018 comprised two restricted schemes and three open schemes. Among them they service over two-thirds of the market.
