Treatment for cancer is considered to be amongst the most expensive across the globe with the average cost exceeding R300 000 per annum. Most medical aids cover these treatments from their Oncology benefits which is mostly available on the higher plans although limited options are available on the lower plans. Almost always however, the out of hospital expenses are not covered in full. Medical Aids could cover up to 300 percent of the Scheme rate but mostly fall short in covering the rates of Healthcare Providers which must then be covered by the member. An exclusion to this is when the cancer condition is considered as a PMB (Prescribed minimum benefit) which includes inter alia the following cancers:

• Cancers of treatable organs
• Acute and chronic leukaemia
• Multiple myeloma and lymphomas

The question then arises on when is the treatment of a cancerous organ considered to be treatable? The Medical Schemes Act determines that cancer is considered treatable in the following instances:

• Only the organ where cancer originated are affected and there is no spread to other organs, or
• The organ of origin and other other organs critical to life support have not been irreparably affected by the cancer,or
• Scientific evidence exists that more than 10% of people with similar cancer have survived with the treatment for a minimum of five years

The above is a snapshot of the financial impact Cancer can have on an individual, whether on a medical aid or not. An aspect not always considered is the impact of cancer treatment on the breadwinner of a family. The physical impact of especially chemotherapy normally results into absenteeism from the workplace and subsequent loss of income compounding the financial effect on the family.

GAP Covers and Hospital Cash Plans are the most suitable options covering the above shortfalls with the latter providing valuable cover in these difficult circumstances. In addition to the Hospital Illness benefit payable by Asterio Medical Insurance for in hospital treatment, the member will receive R5 000 per day for a maximum of 10 days to cover medical expenses.

The circumstances of each individual differs and you are invited to contact us for advice on the best solution to cater for your needs.

Herewith, a few points to consider which will hopefully provide some insight into the differences.

Medical Aids are regulated/governed by the Council for Medical Schemes and are their benefits and premiums approved by the Council annually after a submission by the relevant Medical Aid. It is common practice by Medical Aids to only allow members to use healthcare specialists who belong to it’s network and pre-specify the conditions qualifying for cover. Healthcare specialists are paid directly by the scheme.

Medical Insurance is regulated/governed by the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) and clients receive a fixed lumpsum when they need funds for a medical treatment/situation. The treatment required or healthcare provider being used have no impact on the amount paid out by the Medical Insurance Company. Rates are determined by the Underwriters to ensure claims can be paid as and when required. Claims are paid directly to the client.

Medical aid contributions are deductible for tax purposes whereas health insurance premiums are not. Currently you can deduct up to R319 monthly for the taxpayer and 1^st dependent under a medical aid plan, and R215 for each additional person.

In summary, Medical Aids offer more comprehensive cover than Medical Insurance Plans but are more expensive. Medical Insurance also offers clients more flexibility in choosing cover according to their unique circumstances i.e. affordability.

As one of the first Medical Insurance Providers in SA, Asterio has identified the need to provide a more affordable medical cover which allows someone to  pay for medical treatments when needed.

In the study published in the Journal Nature publication, the researchers report that dieting results in an increase of specific bacteria — notably Clostridioides difficile, which is associated with antibiotic-induced diarrhoea and colitis.

These bacteria apparently affect the body’s energy balance by exerting an influence on the absorption of nutrients from the gut.

The human gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms and differs from one person to the next. In persons who are overweight or obese, for instance, its composition is known to be different to that found in individuals with normal body weight. Many of us will, at some point in our lives, try dieting in order to lose weight.

But what effect does such a drastic change in diet have on our bodies? An international team of researchers co-led by Charite has addressed this question. “For the first time, we were able to show that a very low-calorie diet produces major changes in the composition of the gut microbiome and that these changes have an impact on the host’s energy balance,” said Prof. Dr Joachim Spranger, Head of Charite’s Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases and one of the study’s lead authors.

The findings were published in the journal eLife. While it may seem intuitive that stress can accelerate graying, the researchers were surprised to discover that hair colon can be restored when stress is eliminated, a finding that contrasts with a recent study in mice that suggested that stressed-induced gray hairs are permanent.

The study has broader significance than confirming age-old speculation about the effects of stress on hair color, said the study’s senior author Martin Picard, PhD, associate professor of behavioural medicine (in psychiatry and neurology) at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

“Understanding the mechanisms that allow ‘old’ gray hairs to return to their ‘young’ pigmented states could yield new clues about the malleability of human aging in general and how it is influenced by stress,” Picard said.

“Our data add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that human aging is not a linear, fixed biological process but may, at least in part, be halted or even temporarily reversed,” Picard added.

Studying hair as an avenue to investigate aging

“Just as the rings in a tree trunk hold information about past decades in the life of a tree, our hair contains information about our biological history,” Picard said. “When hairs are still under the skin as follicles, they are subject to the influence of stress hormones and other things happening in our mind and body. Once hairs grow out of the scalp, they harden and permanently crystallize these exposures into a stable form.”

Though people have long believed that psychological stress can accelerate gray hair, scientists have debated the connection due to the lack of sensitive methods that can precisely correlate times of stress with hair pigmentation at a single-follicle level.