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On Monday, 23 March 2020, The President of South Africa, declared a national lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This will cause significant disruption to our daily lives and will have a material impact on the South African economy. Exceptional circumstances call for
exceptional measures. Decisive action is essential to protect human health and life, and socio-economic sustainability. Kaelo therefore supports and aligns to the measures announced by President Ramaphosa.
Kaelo is classified as a Critical Business Continuity Service during the COVID-19 Response Plan and is an essential service supporting the provision of healthcare, hospital and emergency services.
By supporting our clients we play a crucial part in the infrastructure that ensures that food; equipment; medical supplies and medical services are distributed effectively. We also recognise that our clients will need the essential support provided by our products over this time. As a business, the steps we’ve taken to date enable us to operate fully and to continue
delivering the service that you expect from us, without compromise. The continued health and safety of our people is critical to the success of the national plan. The steps we took to enhance hygiene of all our facilities and enforce social distancing will remain in place. None of us have faced a challenge of this type and magnitude before, so we will remain agile and respond to this crisis as required.
If you do need to reach us, our call centres and all our service teams will remain available to assist you. We have worked hard to minimise the impact of the lockdown and successfully landed a full move to remote work-from-home status.
Product Support
Kaelo Clinics | Health at Work
Our Kaelo Onsite Clinics will remain operational during this period to care for essential services employees.
Kaelo Lifestyle | Family Wellbeing | Ask Nelson
Psychological stress will significantly increase over this time. As always ,our Kaelo Lifestyle | Ask Nelson team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to deal with stress and anxiety around COVID-19 or any other psychosocial matters that may arise. Contact us on 0861 635 766 to access these services.
Kaelo Health - MyHealth Plans | Health Insurance
Our Kaelo Health products will continue to support you as they have done in the past.
Enhancements to Kaelo Health – MyHealth Plans
Flu Vaccines
In response to COVID-19, specifically and responsibly for those who are high-risk, we’re providing an additional 2 weeks of flu vaccine availability immediately, extended until 30 June 2020 (subject to availability and as per policy).
This is available to those who have active Kaelo Health plans and who use the Prime Cure Network. Only those with the following indications qualify:
- Children between the ages of six months and six years
- Pregnant women
- Persons 65 years of age and older
- Adults and children who actively registered for chronic medication for the following diagnosis:
- Chronic pulmonary disorders (including asthma)
- Cardiovascular disorders (except isolated hypertension)
- Renal or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
- Patients with immunosuppression
Use any contracted network pharmacy for the administration of the flu vaccine.
Testing for COVID-19
- Kaelo will cover the cost of the pathology test for COVID-19 (up to a maximum of R1 400), for confirmed positive COVID-19 cases.
- Kaelo Health Member pays cash upfront for the test.
- If the result is positive, they submit the claim, together with a copy of the test results and proof of payment, and a completed refund form to refunds@primecure.co.za, for reimbursement.
Testing is also done free of charge via the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). Please visit their website for more information. http://www.nicd.ac.za/
Kaelo Gap and Western Gap | Shortfall Cover
Comprehensive Gap Cover is an important part of your medical insurance portfolio. Our Gap Cover products will continue to support you as they have done in the past by helping clients navigate through unexpected medical costs and tariff shortfalls.
Knowledge, Support and Advice for All Our
Clients
Kaelo COVID-19 Medical Line
Should you suspect that you have COVID-19, please contact our COVID-19 Medical Line for medical-related advice on prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Call 0861 493 587 and select option two (2) for member and then select option six (6) for patient management/COVID-19.
Kaelo Cares Webpage
We have also created a repository with information that can be shared with employees to assist in the education process. The page can be accessed below using the Kaelo Cares button and will be continuously updated with additional support. Keep a look out for our 21 day psychosocial and managerial "making a difference support
campaign".
Virtual Consultations and
Counselling
Kaelo Health – MyHealth | Virtual General Practitioner (GP) visits
We have a number of our doctors providing you with virtual consultations during this period.
To see how this works, click on the button below:
Kaelo Lifestyle – Virtual Counselling
Face-to-Face Counselling | Now Virtual
In line with our current clinical protocols and processes, should it be assessed that an offsite face-to-face counselling intervention is required, a referral will be facilitated to one of our treatment professionals in private practice. The treatment professional will schedule a virtual counselling appointment with the referred employee / dependent.
Onsite Counselling | Now Virtual
All scheduled monthly onsite counselling clinics will continue as per normal but will be held either telephonically or virtually. Employees wanting to book an onsite session must pre-book their appointment through the AskNelson support line on 0861 635 766.
Group Interventions | Now Virtual
In the event where a trauma or bereavement intervention is required kindly note that arrangements for these interventions will be made via the AskNelson support line. These interventions will take place through a virtual or telephonic counselling process. We will accommodate this process based on each individual’s ability to access our services.
Our stated mission to provide high quality and affordable healthcare that significantly improves the lives of all South Africans is now more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge, but one that also gives us a rare and unique opportunity to have a
real impact and make a difference to our clients and South Africa as a whole. We are completely committed to this.
Yours Sincerely,
John Jutzen
CEO Kaelo
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