News

BHF takes case to Supreme Court of Appeal

03 Jul 2025

The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) decided to request the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) directly.
This follows the High Court’s dismissal on 24 June of the BHF’s requested leave to appeal against a ruling against Low-Cost Benefit Options (LCBOs), reported Business Day (3 July 2025).
Acting Judge Lesibana Ledwaba dismissed the BHF’s application for leave to appeal an earlier ruling in April stating that there were "no reasonable prospects of success" and no other compelling reason to grant the appeal.
The BHF stated that it will continue its mission to pursue every available legal avenue to secure regulatory recognition of LCBOs, which it believes offer a short-term solution to unlocking broader healthcare access for low-income earners”.
LCBOs are medical aid plans that provide primary healthcare cover without including the full suite of Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) mandated by the Medical Schemes Act. The BHF argues that these products are a crucial "constitutionally aligned mechanism" for expanding private healthcare.
The BHF stated it remains committed to pursuing every available legal avenue to secure regulatory recognition of LCBOs, which it believes offer a short-term solution to unlocking broader healthcare access for low-income earners.

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