You have cover for palliative care

Did you know medical treatment can be curative or palliative? Most of us know about curative treatment since it’s why most of us go to the doctor; we want them to help us get well or be cured. Palliative care is care that aims to keep people comfortable, support their families, and help to control symptoms, especially if they have a life-limiting illness. Both kinds of care are equally important and TFG Medical Aid Scheme offers members cover for both kinds of care.

Everybody matters: why we’re writing about palliative care

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day takes place every second Saturday of October. This year marks a 100 years since the founder of the modern hospice movement, Dame Cicely Saunders, was born. She realised that palliative care was a speciality field, founded the first research and teaching hospice linking expert pain and symptom control, compassionate care, teaching and clinical research.

No-one wants to think about you or a family member having a life-limiting illness. However, it’s important to know that care is available and that you can have access to it. Palliative care usually involves more than just taking care of one person, it helps the family as well.

Cancer and Advanced Illness Benefit (AIB)

The Advanced Illness Benefit gives members with advanced cancer access to comprehensive palliative care that offers quality care in the comfort of your own home, with minimum disruption to your normal routine and family life. You have to be registered by your treating doctor to gain access to the benefit.
Palliative care is provided by a multidisciplinary team, including trained doctors and nurses, in partnership with the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa.

In addition to standard benefits and Prescribed Minimum Benefit entitlements, members registered on the Advanced Illness Benefit have access to:

• Support from a dedicated care coordinator
• Personalised high-touch care (counselling services)
• Comprehensive home-based care such as oxygen, pain management and home nursing
• Specialised telephonic support.

Your doctor must register you for cover on the Advanced Illness Benefit
The application form is available on our website at www.tfgmedicalaidscheme.co.za under Application forms.