With more than 126,000 lives covered nationwide and a growing footprint across hundreds of employers, Flexicare health insurance is helping employers give their employees access to quality private primary healthcare through a network of healthcare providers. The result is a healthier workforce, improved wellbeing and stronger business resilience.

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Employee wellbeing has become a strategic priority for organisations across industries. Employers increasingly recognise that healthy employees are more productive, more engaged and better able to contribute to business success.

At the same time, many South Africans still have limited access to private healthcare. This is driving growing interest in health insurance solutions that help employees access quality healthcare while remaining affordable for both employers and employees.

"Employee health should not be viewed as a cost to business. It is an investment in productivity, resilience and long-term sustainability," says Maria Makhabane, Chief Growth Officer at Discovery Health.

 

Healthy employees help build stronger businesses

Research shows a clear link between employee wellbeing and performance. A global study by Gallup found that organisations with high employee wellbeing report 18% higher productivity, 23% higher profitability and 81% lower absenteeism than those with low wellbeing.

Similarly, analysis published by Harvard Business Review, based on US and multinational company data, shows that organisations investing in employee wellness programmes can reduce healthcare costs, improve retention and drive measurable performance gains over time.

These studies look at overall wellbeing, including physical and mental health, workplace support and access to care. Physical health remains a core factor. When employees can access healthcare early and easily, they are more likely to stay present at work, recover faster from illness and maintain consistent performance.

When employees struggle to access healthcare, minor health concerns can become more serious conditions that need more time away from work. Delayed treatment can also affect concentration, performance and overall productivity.

The notes that healthy and supportive working environments improve staff retention, work performance and productivity, while poor support can negatively affect attendance and performance.

Similarly, the International Labour Organization highlights the close link between worker wellbeing and productivity, noting that improvements in worker wellbeing contribute to stronger organisational outcomes.

"Employee wellbeing is not only an HR or people team priority – it is a business priority. When employers invest in cover that gives their people access to high-quality private primary healthcare, they reduce avoidable illness and create the conditions for sustained performance," says Makhabane.

 

 

What is health insurance?

As employers explore ways to support workforce wellbeing, it is important to understand where health insurance fits in the healthcare landscape.

Health insurance is different from medical aid. Medical aid is regulated under the Medical Schemes Act and generally offers more comprehensive cover, including hospital admissions and Prescribed Minimum Benefits.

Health insurance is regulated as an insurance product and provides cover for specific healthcare needs, particularly day-to-day healthcare services.

For many employees who may not have access to traditional medical aid, health insurance offers an affordable way to access private primary healthcare, such as GP consultations, medicines, dentistry, optometry and preventive benefits.

This makes health insurance particularly relevant for employers looking to extend healthcare access to a broader segment of their workforce.

 

Access to private healthcare throughout South Africa

Through Flexicare, members can access an extensive national provider network that includes more than 1,700 GP practices, 3,600 pharmacies, 2,500 dental practices, 2,800 optometry practices and 170 specialists, as well as hundreds of nurse-led care sites.

The value of this access is reflected in how actively members use their benefits.

In 2025 alone, Flexicare members recorded over 320,000 GP visits, including both in-person and virtual consultations, showing the important role of primary healthcare in everyday health management.

Preventive healthcare is equally important. Health checks and screenings help identify potential health risks before they become more serious conditions that need intensive treatment.

Flexicare members completed close to 9,000 health checks during 2025. This continues a strong upward trend in preventive healthcare engagement, with health checks increasing by 58,5% between 2023 and 2024. This was followed by another 14.7% increase in 2025.

The growth in health check participation suggests that more members are proactively managing their health, helping to identify potential risks earlier and support better long-term health outcomes.

"Giving people access to healthcare is about much more than treating illness. It helps people take charge of their health earlier, which benefits individuals, families and employers alike," says Makhabane.

 

 

Growing demand for health insurance reflects growing value

The increasing uptake of Flexicare reflects the importance employers are placing on employee wellbeing.

• At April 2026, Flexicare covered more than 126,000 lives nationally, a year-on-year increase of over 10% compared to April 2025
• Around 67% of all lives covered through Flexicare are linked to employer-sponsored participation, showing the significant role employers play in expanding access to private healthcare.

Employers using Flexicare operate across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, telecommunications and education, highlighting the broad relevance of health insurance across different industries and workforce types.

 

Young adults increasingly prioritising and using health insurance benefits

Young adults aged between of 20 and 34 have emerged as Flexicare’s largest contributor to new membership. Over the past three years, they have made up nearly half (46%) of Flexicare’s direct client base (members who have chosen to self-fund their health insurance). They are also increasingly recognising the value of protection against unexpected medical events, with Emergency Cover uptake among self-funded members in this age group rising by 44% in one year.

The data shows active use of their cover: GP consultations account for more than R50 million in annual healthcare spend, making routine primary care the largest area of utilisation. Pharmacy benefits are the second-largest category of spend, suggesting that many members in this age group are not only visiting a doctor but also following through on treatment. Day-to-day maternity-related claims are also increasing as more young adults move through major life stages such as starting and growing their families.

"Young adults are showing that healthcare is something they prioritise enough to pay for themselves," says Makhabane. "What’s particularly relevant here is that they're not just taking on our cover for emergencies. They’re accessing care regularly, to support their health and wellbeing as a priority."

“For employers, these insights present a real opportunity to offer a benefit that young employees – whether new entrants to the job market or young professionals - genuinely value, with direct impact on their presence and productivity at work.”

 

 

Supporting employees and their families

For many working parents, a child's illness can mean time away from work to visit a clinic or healthcare provider. Access to private healthcare helps employees get care more quickly and conveniently, reducing disruption to both family life and work schedules.

At April 2026, approximately one in five Flexicare policies included cover for children. This combination of family cover and accessible healthcare helps provide employees with peace of mind while supporting household wellbeing.

 

A practical investment in people

As businesses navigate economic uncertainty and changing workforce expectations, employee wellbeing is becoming increasingly important to organisational success.

Providing access to healthcare helps employees stay healthier, seek care sooner and manage their wellbeing more effectively. In turn, this supports workforce resilience, productivity and employee loyalty over time.

For employers, health insurance is more than an employee benefit. It is a practical investment in people that can help create healthier workplaces and stronger businesses.

 

 

Discover how Flexicare can support your workforce

Whether your organisation employs 20 people or 2,000, providing access to private healthcare can help employees stay healthier, access care sooner and remain productive at work.

Learn more about how Flexicare health insurance can support your employees and your business.

 

Disclaimer: Flexicare is underwritten by Auto&General, a licensed non-life insurer and FSP and administered by Discovery Health, an authorised FSP. Ts and Cs apply to benefits. Flexicare is not a medical scheme and the cover is not the same.