Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 is an infection caused by a type of Coronavirus. The primary means of spread seems to be saliva-droplet based spread. This is similar to the common cold and seasonal flu. COVID-19 appears to be more infectious than the seasonal flu with an infection rate that is 1.5 to 2 times higher than seasonal flu. Reassuringly, however, the vast majority of people who contract COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms, including a potential fever, a cough and shortness of breath.

You can check the live tracker on this illness for updates on confirmed cases. You can also view daily situation reports to keep informed.

The primary symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

COVID-19 spreads quickly, through:

• Coughing or sneezing - people could catch COVID-19 if they are standing within one metre of a person who has the illness, by breathing in droplets coughed out or exhaled by the ill person
• Close personal contact, such as when shaking hands or touching others
• Touching an object or surface on which the virus is found (after a sick person coughs or exhales close to these objects or surfaces such as desks, tables or telephones), then - before washing the hands - touching the mouth, nose, or eyes

Healthcare Professionals can only treat the symptoms of COVID-19 as they present. No specific therapy is effective against the virus itself. If you meet any of the criteria listed below, you must seek medical care early and share your previous travel history with your Healthcare Professional.

When to seek medical care:

• If you have acute respiratory illness and suddenly have a cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or fever (>=38°C)
• Were in close contact with someone who had a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 infection
• If you have travelled to areas with presumed ongoing community transmission of COVID-19
• If you have worked in or attended a health care facility where patients with COVID-19 infections were being treated
• If you have been admitted with severe pneumonia of unknown aetiology

People who contract the COVID-19 may take anywhere from one to 14 days to develop symptoms. Even if you have not recently travelled to a COVID-19-affected region, or had contact with an individual who has been affected by the illness, you must still inform your Healthcare Professional if you meet the criteria listed above. A virtual consultation is an excellent way to consult with your Healthcare Professional.  

Bankmed, in partnership with our Administrator, has introduced a range of initiatives to support our members during COVID-19. These initiatives included detailed analytics and reporting to identify and understand the risks and needs of our members, new benefits to provide full financial indemnity against COVID-19, initiatives to protect high risk members against the severe effects of COVID-19, home care and monitoring for early detection of signs of deterioration, digital services for remote consultation and doctor support.

As the pandemic has progressed, much like the rest of the world, the healthcare system has experienced high volumes of COVID-19 related admissions, placing significant strain on ICU bed capacity. In regions where the capacity of hospital beds - particularly ICU beds - comes under strain, Bankmed will do everything in our power to ensure that every single member who requires ICU care, receives this at the highest standards. If necessary, this includes contingency planning to transport members to an available ICU bed, where appropriate. We are fortunate that as we have seen volumes peak recently in various provinces, including the Western cape, Eastern cape and Gauteng, there have been sufficient beds in the private hospitals to accommodate all patients needing urgent care.

Our Administrator, is working very closely with the private hospital groups; with whom we have longstanding relationships. This includes regular check-ins on the capacity of the private hospitals, and particularly the availability of ICU beds for urgent cases. In the event that ICU bed capacity is seen to be threatened or diminishing to dangerously low levels, we will work with the hospitals, the treating doctors, and the members' families to move members being treated for non-COVID related conditions, to ICUs where sufficient surplus capacity exists. This would serve to free up additional capacity, in the pressurised and overloaded ICUs.

We are optimistic that as a result of the healthcare infrastructure contingencies, and extra resources added during the lockdown, that there will be sufficient healthcare resources to meet the country's and our members' needs. We do, however, encourage preventative and social distancing measures, including reminders of available benefits and services that our members have access to, in the context of the rising infection rate.

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, emerging experience from other parts of the world, as well as data highlights the importance for members to understand and manage their health risks during COVID-19.

Five reasons why you should have the COVID-19 vaccination

Getting Your Vaccine is Like Getting Your Drivers License

Understanding the front Runner COVID-19 Vaccines

Whats Swiss Cheese got to do with wearing masks

Understanding how Viruses Work Once they are Inside the Body

COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Debunked

Eight Reasons Why COVID-19 Vaccines have been created so quickly - and why they are safe and effective

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

A complete guide

Bankmed's response is to enhance our COVID-19 basket of care with an additional Hospital at Home benefit. The Hospital at Home benefit was introduced to assist with capacity constraints and to alleviate pressure from the in-hospital setting for members who could be treated safely at home.

The Hospital at Home benefit is open to high-risk members who test positive for COVID-19 and are mildly symptomatic and at risk for hospitalisation. Additionally, had these members been admitted, they would have met the criteria for general ward admission, but not High Care or ICU.

The Hospital at Home benefit consists of two components:

1. Remote Monitoring
Bankmed provides members who require monitoring with daily check-in calls from the remote monitoring system, 24-hour monitoring by the Care team, oversight by the treating Healthcare Professional, and a biosensor patch to remotely monitor vitals and alerts for out of range readings.

1.1 Qualifying criteria:

• High risk patients >35 years with comorbidities +/- obesity who are COVID-19 positive are symptomatic and at increased risk of hospitalisation

1.2 Criteria for GP vs Physician monitoring:

• Based on admitting/referring Healthcare Professional for remote monitoring

2. Hospitalisation in the Home
Bankmed provides members with acute in-patient treatment at home to avoid hospitalisation. This benefit also covers members who are deemed medically stable by their treating provider to be discharged from hospital earlier to continue their treatment at home.

2.1 Qualifying criteria:

• Patients >18 years in Stage 2 COVID-19 infection who meet criteria for hospitalisation

2.2 Criteria for GP vs Physician monitoring:

• For hospitalisation at home only physicians eligible

How does a member access this benefit?

Contact your Healthcare Professional and they will make a decision as to whether you qualify to access this benefit based on the above mentioned criteria. If you do, they will contact Bankmed and begin the preauthorisation process.

For more information call 0800 226 5633 or email enquiries@bankmed.co.za.

Answers to important questions about COVID-19 vaccines

Q: How do we overcome anti-vaccine sentiment and myths around vaccination?

A: It's important that we confront anti-vaccine sentiment - and any misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines - with credible content and well-considered responses. First, the approved vaccines have been developed by big and well-established companies that have been around for decades. They employ thousands of scientists and Healthcare Professionals, and these are the people who have developed the vaccines, giving us a significant sense of the calibre of people who are working on vaccine development.

There are many excellent reasons why these vaccines have been developed so quickly, including unprecedented access to funding, the global priority placed on their development and access to thousands of trial participants. These vaccines have also undergone rigorous testing in every phase of the clinical trial process and been tested across massive groups of participants (up to 60 000 people) once they have reached the phase 3 clinical trial phase. The results of these clinical trials so far demonstrate high levels of efficacy (most well over 90%) and safety.

Keep in mind that COVID-19 vaccines are only approved if two requirements are met:

• The vaccine is safe
• The vaccine is effective

South Africa also has a very strong regulator, namely the South Africa Health Product Regulatory Authority (SAPHRA). This regulator is responsible for approving all medication and vaccines for use in South Africa and conducts an in-depth and extensive scientific and analysis of the safety and efficacy clinical data of all medical products before approving their use in South Africa.

Also, getting vaccinated is a far more 'natural' way of preventing disease than taking other pharmaceutical products.

Q: We will have access to a number of different vaccines. Are they all equal in efficacy?

A: All the vaccines that we will have access to in South Africa are required to meet a minimum standard of efficacy to be effective on a population basis. And, the COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved for use are well above these levels of efficacy, at around 90% for most. Where a two-dose vaccine regimen is indicated, people will receive the same vaccine in the first and second round.

Q: Will it be compulsory to be vaccinated?

A: People cannot be forced to be vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine is a medical treatment, and medical treatments cannot be made compulsory. South Africa's constitution protects our rights in this regard and President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated this many times. However, people will be strongly encouraged to be vaccinated to protect themselves and those they interact with, whether loved ones or colleagues, or others in the wider community.

Q: Can employers access COVID-19 vaccines themselves and run their own vaccine drives?

A: There are two parts to this answer:

• It's critical that we drive equitable access to vaccination. We must all follow the national rollout plan. This means that all people will have the option to be vaccinated according to where they fall into South Africa's three-phased rollout. In our view, it would be completely unethical and unfair for a young, healthy person to access a COVID-19 vaccine ahead of a healthcare worker, an at-risk person or an older person. Vaccine access cannot be linked to one's socio-economic status or resources. We must follow our country's rollout plan and ensure fair, carefully considered access to vaccines
• Employers cannot legally import COVID-19 vaccines. Until a vaccine is registered in South Africa and unless an entity has a licence to import and distribute this vaccine, it is illegal to import any parallel medical products or vaccines. Additionally, if an employer imported vaccines without the necessary approvals and licences and someone receiving that vaccine experienced an adverse reaction, the consequences for the employer would be dire. We ask that employers work alongside us and our Business for South Africa colleagues to accelerate the procurement of reliable, safe vaccines to all South Africans

Q: Will we need a COVID-19 vaccination each year?

A: We do not know yet. We are not sure how long vaccine-induced immunity will last and what levels of immunity the vaccine will stimulate. We understand short-term efficacy but need more data to understand long-term immunity. We certainly hope that this vaccine will not be needed as frequently as the flu vaccine (which is needed annually due to the speed at which influenza virus variants develop). However, it's important that the data be analysed over the long term before we can answer this question.

Q: How serious are COVID-19 vaccine side effects?

A: We have seen very minor or no side effects in other countries where vaccine rollout process are under way. The most common side effects are some pain around the injection site that lasts a few hours and resolves within a day, as well as other flu-like side effects that also resolve very quickly and are indicative of the immune response taking place.

The more severe adverse events are extremely rare. In most instances, adverse reactions linked to vaccines are far lower than adverse events linked to taking medicines. As evidence of this, latest statistics indicate just 2.8 severe adverse events per million vaccinations for the Moderna vaccine. This means the likelihood of severe adverse events is extremely low and that they are extremely rare.

There will also be health professionals on site at every vaccination centre to immediately manage any potential adverse event that might occur.

Out-of-hospital cover

The WHO Global Outbreak Benefit is available to all members of Bankmed during a declared outbreak period. The benefit covers you for the COVID-19 vaccine as well as a defined basket of care for out-of-hospital healthcare services related to COVID-19.

As part of the basket of care, you are covered for:

• COVID-19 vaccine and the administration of the vaccine
• Screening consultations with a network GP (either virtual consultations, telephone or face-to-face)
• COVID-19 PCR and Rapid Antigen screening tests (only two tests) if referred by your Healthcare Professional, or if referred by a network GP
• A defined basket of pathology tests for COVID-19 positive members
• A defined basket of x-rays and scans for COVID-19 positive members
• Supportive treatment, including medication and at-home monitoring device to track oxygen (pulse oximeter) saturation levels for at-risk members who meet the clinical entry criteria
• Accommodation in accredited isolation facilities

The Hospital at Home benefit is open to high-risk members who test positive for COVID-19 and are mildly symptomatic and at risk for hospitalisation.

This benefit is available on all Plans and is covered by Bankmed as a Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) without using your day-to-day benefits, where applicable.

Cover is subject to Bankmed's preferred providers (where applicable), protocols and the treatment meeting Bankmed's entry criteria and guidelines. Any recommended treatment and healthcare services that are not included in the basket of care may be covered according to the benefits available on your chosen Plan in line with Bankmed Scheme Rules and clinical guidelines or in accordance with Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), where applicable.

In-hospital treatment

In-hospital treatment related to COVID-19 for approved admissions is covered from the Hospital Benefit based on your chosen Plan and in accordance with Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) where applicable.

Cover for COVID-19 vaccine

The WHO Global Outbreak Benefit is available to all members of Bankmed during a declared outbreak period. The benefit provides cover for the COVID-19 vaccine as well as a defined basket of care for out-of-hospital healthcare services, related to the outbreak disease.

The COVID-19 vaccine and administration of the vaccine are covered as Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) without using your day-to-day benefits.

All Bankmed members 18 years and older will be covered for the vaccine, in accordance with the prioritisation framework and the three-phase roll-out plan as established by the Ministerial Advisory Committee and National Department of Health.

Getting vaccinated

You will be required to register on the National Department of Health's Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS), and make use of one of the accredited vaccination sites. The list of accredited facilities will be published by the National Department of Health.

Bankmed members on all plan types are covered for COVID-19 test. The cost of the test is covered from the Insured Benefits (RISK), as long as the test meets the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) protocol and you're referred by a Healthcare Professional. You are covered for the test whether the result is negative or positive.

You are also covered for a COVID-19 test if you've received authorisation to go to hospital, as long as a Healthcare Professional refers you.

COVID-19 is diagnosed by taking a sample from your respiratory tract - either your nose, throat or chest.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to a COVID-19 infection, you need to consult with a doctor. If necessary, they will refer you for testing. Call your doctor or book a virtual consultation rather than going to their consulting rooms first. Online doctor consultations provide a safe alternative to face-to-face consultations for patients and doctors.