- Medical Aid year
Benefit limits are usually allocated in yearly cycles (from 1 January to 31 December).
When a new member joins during the year, the benefit limits will be prorated.
- How to join
-
1Download the membership application form
-
2Print out and complete the form
-
3Provide the copies of IDs or birth certificates for all dependants as well as the following additional documentation, as required:
- Membership certificates from your previous medical schemes
- A certified copy of your marriage certificate
- An affidavit for common-law partner
- Legal documentation for a child dependant in your legal custody
- Adoption document for your legally adopted child
- Medical records for a child who is 21 years or older and who is dependent on you due to mental or physical disability
- An affidavit for an unemployed child dependant who is 21 years or older and dependent on you for financial care and support
- An affidavit for the parents of the principal (main) member only, who are legally dependent on you for financial care and support and earn less than the maximum of a social pension per month.
-
4Return the form to your HR Department
-
- Who can be dependants?
- check_circle Spouse/Partner
Married
A certified copy of the marriage certificate
PARTNER
A person with whom the member has a committed and serious relationship akin to a marriage based on objective criteria of mutual dependency and a shared and common household, irrespective of the gender of either party.
Affidavit from the main member stating the relationship
- check_circle Member's children
A member's natural child, stepchild, legally adopted child, fostered child, a child in a process of being fostered or legally adopted, or a child who has been placed in a legal custody of a member or their spouse or partner and for whom the member has a duty to support, provided that any such child is not a beneficiary of any other medical scheme.
- check_circle Additional adult dependant
ADDITIONAL ADULT
An unemployed child who is 21 years or older and dependent on you for financial care and support. You will need to provide the Fund with an affidavit to this effect.
Please note that you pay child rates for children under the age of 21 and adult rates for children over the age of 21, unless they are mentally or physically impaired.
PARENTS OF THE PRINCIPAL (MAIN) MEMBER
You may register your mother and father, if they are legally dependent on you for financial care and support and earn less than the maximum of a social pension per month.
You will need to provide the Fund with an affidavit to this effect.
EX-SPOUSE
Your ex-spouse may be registered as an additional adult dependant under the following circumstances:
There must be a legal obligation on you in terms of the divorce settlement to provide your ex-spouse with medical scheme benefits, and your ex-spouse must remain unmarried.
Upon the death of the principal member.
- check_circle Spouse/Partner
- General waiting periods
Prior to joining, if the applicant and their nominated dependants were not previously covered by a registered medical scheme, general waiting periods may be enforced up to three months where claims will not be accepted.
General waiting periods are not applied to new employees, provided that they join the Fund within the first month of commencing employment with Woolworths or Truworths. This will also apply to their immediate family.
- Condition-specific waiting periods
For pre-existing conditions, waiting periods may be enforced up to 12 months, depending on policy underwriting. During this period you are not allowed to claim for treatment for these conditions.
Condition-specific waiting periods are not applied to new employees, provided that they join the Fund within the first month of commencing employment with Woolworths or Truworths. This will also apply to their immediate family. Should you marry or have a baby after joining, you need to register your dependant within 30 days of the event or alternatively underwriting will be applied to your new dependant.
- Late-joiner penalties
If a member or dependant joins a medical scheme and they are over the age of 35 with gaps in their medical scheme coverage history, the Fund can legally increase their contributions.
It is important that you obtain proof of membership of all previous medical schemes in order to reduce the late-joiner penalties, failing which, the late-joiner penalties will be charged until you are able to supply the required proof of previous medical scheme cover. Please note that any late-joiner penalties applied will not be refunded, even if proof is obtained at a later stage.
Calculate contributions with late-joiner penalties.
Joining
About joining
Membership is compulsory according to the Wooltru Healthcare Fund membership policy, unless you are registered as a dependant on your spouse or partner's medical scheme. If you choose to remain on your spouse or partner's medical scheme as a dependant, you must provide proof of membership.
Your membership will be without any waiting periods or penalties if you join the Fund within 30 days from the date of your employment.