The Government Employees Medical Scheme, known as GEMS, was established
in January 2005. The scheme was founded in order to provide government employees
with better access to medical services.
Some of the main reasons that were identified for the establishment of GEMS Medical
Aid were:
- A large number of government employees could not afford any medical aid.
- Medical aid costs had continued to increase making it harder for some employees
to stay on their medical schemes.
- Other medical aid schemes had very little integration with the public health system.
- As the employer, the government was powerless to influence the management of the
schemes to which their employees belonged.
Thus the establishment of GEMS Medical Aid Scheme has allowed:
- the government to take control of the large amounts of money being paid into the
private sector
- the government to select the quality of healthcare benefits that its employees
receive under GEMS
- the government is able to influence the management and governance of the scheme
- the public sector health facilities to decrease their workload as government employees
are now channelled into the private healthcare sector
GEMS is a closed scheme and is open only to government and public sector employees.
Members of the SANDF, National Intelligence Agency, and the South African Secret
Service are however not able to join this scheme.
GEMS Medical Aid Scheme has the following benefit options available:
Sapphire
Provide access to the state hospital network and has a basic day-to-day component
Beryl
Provide access to a private hospital network and has a basic day-to-day component
Ruby
A mid-range benefit plan
Emerald
A comprehensive benefit plan
Onyx
Top of the line plan with access to all private hospitals and a day to day block
To learn more, please take a look at:
2010 Benefits
In order to contact GEMS Medical Aid, please use:
Call Centre: 0860 00 4367
Fax: 0861 00 4367
Physical Address:
Metropolitan Health Group Head Office
61 St George's Mall
Cape Town
Postal Address:
GEMS
Private bag X782
Cape Town
8000
Email: enquiries@gems.gov.za
Website: http://www.gems.gov.za
GEMS and variations of this name/trademark belong to Government Employees Medical
Scheme (GEMS) and not to InsuranceHound.co.za.