CHANGES TO THE POST-RETIREMENT SUBSIDY FOR SATS PENSIONERS March 5 2009
CONTEXT and BACKGROUND SATS pensioners worked for South African Transport Services - retired before 1 April 1990 Currently 26 000 former employees and dependants Average age of 76 - risk pool is projected to extend to 2040 (dependants) 60% are female 70% are single and have no dependants registered on Transmed Ring-fenced on Guardian Plan in Transmed Like most schemes benefits have reduced with escalating costs Guardian plan benefits - similar to the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (“PMBs”), include state hospital care enhanced with access to specialist care and some additional chronic care. 2
CONTEXT and BACKGROUND (cont) Transnet currently pays a subsidy directly to Transmed – subsidy collectively applied (R800pm per SATS family, calculated and paid at beginning of year-R200 mil pa) Current ring-fenced subsidy structure is not sustainable – Transmed’s viability would be affected if no solution found before 2010 After much investigation and consultation, Transnet is proposing the New SATS Subsidy
SOLUTIONS INVESTIGATED The Risk Equalisation Fund (REF) The government announced the concept of REF in 2006 to help stabilise the medical industry and to provide a platform for expanding cover to more South Africans. Schemes with healthy membership bases and low claim patterns (typically younger age profiles) would cross subsidise schemes with high claim patterns and clinical medical costs (usually older age profiles) through the use of an equalisation reserve. As a result of the continued delay in implementation and the lack of clarity around eventual implementation, the REF has not been considered as part of the SATS solution. The financial risk to Transnet of waiting for the REF and underpinning the losses in Transmed until REF is implemented are too significant.
SOLUTIONS INVESTIGATED (cont) Possible solutions within Transmed Status quo remains - unsustainable Fund Guardian Plan benefits – expensive and not cost effective Fund reduced benefits (slightly more than PMBs) – not attractive Fund a benefit option that offers less than PMBs (i.e. no hospital cover), subject to Registrar approval – not attractive Possible solutions outside Transmed Transfer SATS pensioner “group” to Government Employees Medical Scheme (“GEMS”) - declined Transfer SATS pensioner “group” to an open scheme - declined Transfer Transnet employees and pensioner “group” to GEMS - declined Transfer Transnet employees and pensioner “group” to an open scheme - declined Pay an independent cash subsidy
CONSULTATIVE PROCESS In accordance with PAJA and to ensure that the interests of all parties have been properly understood and taken into account in determining a final solution for the SATS subsidy, a number of consultative processes have been followed: Workshops have been held with Transmed and their advisors Meetings have been held with GEMS Meetings have been held with largest open schemes Meetings have been held with the Registrar of Medical Schemes SATS consultations include – communications, booklets and ongoing road shows
NEW SATS SUBSIDY - Structure Proposed start is 1 July 2009 Transnet will pay cash into bank account of principal member R730 pm for principal member; and R590 pm for a spouse; and R250 pm for a child under the age of 21 years; and R250 pm for disabled children over 21 years. Increases from 1 January each year will try to ensure subsidy keeps up with inflation but will not be more than 6.25%
NEW SATS SUBSIDY MORE MONEY CHOICE SUPPORT An additional R500 ml allocated to actuarial value of R1.2 bn CHOICE can choose to stay with Guardian Plan can choose to move to an open scheme – which meets their needs can choose not to join a medical scheme – not recommended SUPPORT Mandated Aon to advice, assist and support SATS pensioners at Transnet cost Correspondence, booklets, call centres and country-wide road shows
ADVANCE TO ARREARS CONTRIBUTIONS Open scheme contributions are usually paid in advance (beginning of month) Guardian Plan contributions are paid in arrears (end of month) Transnet will fund an extra month of contributions and subsidy to Transmed to assist the change to advance contributions – SATS pensioners will not have to carry this cost (R20 million) Easier transition to open schemes 9
SATS CONCERNS – open schemes Principle of open enrolment - anyone can join the open schemes, no matter how old, ill or frail At the most a 3 month waiting period will be applied If break in medical scheme membership is not more than 90 days – schemes have to cover PMB’s for this 3 month period (similar to Guardian benefits) 10
Aon’s ROLE SATS pensioners have generally only ever been on one medical scheme Huge mind-set change for them Moving schemes may be frightening and confusing for them Transnet has appointed Aon to provide independent broker advice, assistance and support to the SATS pensioners - Transnet will fund Aon’s SATS related costs for a two year period 11
NEXT STEPS Hope to finalise the consultations by mid-April 2009 Targeting an implementation date of 1 July 2009 12
STABILITY, EXTRA FUNDING, CHOICE, SUPPORT CONCLUSION MORE MONEY An additional R500 ml allocated to actuarial value of R1.2 bn CHOICE can choose to stay with Guardian Plan can choose to move to an open scheme – which meets their needs open schemes likely to be better value for money can choose not to join a medical scheme – not recommended SUPPORT Mandated Aon to advice, assist and support SATS pensioners at Transnet cost Correspondence, booklets, call centres and country-wide road shows Transnet has done much to improve the SATS pensioners’ ability to access appropriate medical care STABILITY, EXTRA FUNDING, CHOICE, SUPPORT