Discovery shares stumble as Covid hits bottom line
Discovery achieved the following results for the six months ended 31 December 2020:
Net asset value increased by R582m
Total new business API increased 8% to R10 920m
Normalised profit from operations increased 19% to R4 507m
Profit for the period decreased 10% to R1 875m
Gross income of the Group increased 9% to R34 936m
Headline earnings per share decreased 10% to 280.3 cents per share
Earnings per share decreased 10% to 280.2 cents per share
Diluted Embedded value per share decreased 2% to R108.96 per share
Due to the uncertain and potentially volatile economic environment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Discovery has not declared an interim ordinary share dividend (2019: interim ordinary dividend of 101 cents per share). The reintroduction of dividends will be considered when appropriate.
The criteria for Covid-19 testing and medical aid benefits are important to understand should you require medical attention related to the virus.
Each medical scheme has different criteria for testing, which can make members decision making tricky should they require a test.
Health24 outlines the Covid-19 testing criteria of the five biggest open medical schemes by membership.
As South Africa continues to navigate the second wave of Covid-19 infections, an increasing number of individuals will be seeking testing for the virus.
It is, therefore, important to understand what medical aids will cover, should testing, hospitalisation or treatment be required.
Amended regulations
Private hospitals await governmentâs vaccine roll-out plans
By Marvin Charles
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Cape Town - The private hospital sector is awaiting more clarity on whether it can start the process of independently procuring vaccines for private hospital patients.
However, to date the national Department of Health has remained adamant that it will be the sole purchaser of vaccines.
Melomed Hospital spokesperson Shameema Adams said: âThe hospital group would not be able to procure vaccines as this is done by the national Department of Health (NDOH).
âWhat we do look forward to is to work with the NDOH to ensure the vaccines are issued to health-care workers.â
Discovery Health will fund a vaccine for 2-million of its members in a national initiative BL PREMIUM
UPDATED 28 December 2020 - 20:47
SA expects the first delivery of Covid-19 vaccines only after March 2021, while Discovery Health says funding has been set aside for 2- million of its members to get the vaccine as it throws its weight behind a national effort to source a cost-effective supplier.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday evening SA expected to receive the first delivery of vaccines in the second quarter of 2021 under the World Health Organisation s (WHO) Covax scheme and the government was holding parallel talks with vaccine makers for a larger supply.