Kanyisa Mkhize, Chief Executive Officer of Sanlam Corporate, and Gerald van Wyk, Group CEO: Afrocentric Group
For too long, healthcare and financial planning have been managed in silos. In reality, health and wealth are inseparable. A major illness, chronic condition, or the rising costs of treatment can undo years of careful financial planning – for households and for businesses.
Sanlam has long recognised this connection. With the launch of Sanlam Health Solutions, employers and individuals can access an integrated offering that places health firmly at the centre of long-term financial security.
The rising cost of ill-health
The case for integration is clear. Medical scheme premiums increased by 11% in 2025, now ranging from R1 400 to R10 000 per month. With only 15% of South Africans covered by medical aid, healthcare is already unaffordable for most – and even those who are members face complexity and gaps in cover.
At the same time, ill-health is undermining productivity on a national scale. According to AfroCentric, a Sanlam Group company, presenteeism – when employees are physically at work but unproductive due to health challenges – costs the economy an estimated R235 billion annually. Add absenteeism, and that climbs to R250 billion, or more than 4% of GDP.
Mental health is an especially urgent concern. AfroCentric data shows a 25% year-on-year increase in hospitalisations for South Africans under 35 due to mental health issues. UNICEF reports that 60% of young people needed mental health support in the past year, rising to 70% among 15-24 year olds. If we fail to act, we risk cultivating a workforce that is employed but not thriving, undermining our economic foundations.
For employers, this is not just a social issue, it is a bottom-line risk. A workforce in poor health is a workforce that is less productive, more absent, and more financially vulnerable.
Why Sanlam Health Solutions?
Sanlam Health Solutions is designed to respond directly to these challenges by giving employers and employees access to healthcare that is:
- Affordable: Among the most competitive premiums in the market, critical in a high-cost environment.
- Flexible: Offering access to two preferred medical schemes, covering a range of needs and budgets.
- Simple: With expert advice, seamless switching, and clear benefit structures that remove confusion.
- Value-adding: With Health Boost, a rewards system that translates healthy behaviours into tangible financial benefits.
By embedding healthcare within the broader Sanlam ecosystem of financial planning, employers can give their people more than cover. They can give them confidence – the reassurance that both health and wealth are being protected.
A strategic advantage for employers
In a competitive talent market, employee benefits matter. Healthcare is consistently ranked as one of the top factors employees consider when choosing or staying with an employer. Offering integrated, affordable, and transparent healthcare through Sanlam Health Solutions strengthens an organisation’s ability to attract, retain, and support staff.
Just as importantly, it helps stabilise productivity. With earlier detection of illness, greater access to primary care, and financial safety nets for serious conditions, businesses reduce the disruptions caused by absenteeism and presenteeism. The payoff is a healthier, more resilient workforce – and stronger organisational performance.
The timing is right
South Africa’s quadruple burden of disease – from HIV and TB to non-communicable conditions like cancer and diabetes – is escalating, while healthcare costs rise relentlessly. Employers cannot afford to wait for systemic change. The need for integrated, employer-supported solutions is urgent.
Sanlam Health Solutions arrives at the perfect time. It brings together competitive premiums, choice, simplicity, and added value in a way that directly addresses the realities businesses and employees face.
Completing the picture
Our purpose is to empower generations to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous. Quality healthcare is an essential part of that mission.
For employers, Sanlam Health Solutions represents the missing piece – the chance to move from fragmented benefits to a holistic package that safeguards both employee wellbeing and business performance.
In short: better health, greater financial security, stronger confidence: for individuals, for companies, and for South Africa’s economy.
ENDS
