BCIMA posts 10.5% membership growth while industry faces economic headwinds

Johannesburg - The Building and Construction Industry Medical Aid (BCIMA) has bucked industry trends, recording 10.5% membership growth even as South Africa’s construction sector grapples with delayed infrastructure projects and global economic volatility.

Highlighting the scheme’s central role during turbulent times, Chairperson Mohau Mphomela said: “As geopolitical tensions ripple through core industries across the country, BCIMA remains a steady source of security for the employees and their families we proudly serve.”

The closed industry medical scheme maintains a robust solvency ratio of 57%, more than double the regulatory requirement of 25%, as well as stable claims patterns despite inflationary pressures on healthcare costs.

“We’re not like any other medical scheme,” noted Ruth Maseko, BCIMA’s Chief Executive and Principal Officer. “In industries where very specific healthcare realities can shatter a family’s future without proper access to care, we provide a foundation of security. Our members work with massive machinery, scale dangerous heights, and face conditions that most people cannot imagine. They deserve healthcare built for their reality, not borrowed from models that don’t reflect their daily risks.”

The scheme’s growth since January 2025 stands in stark contrast to South Africa’s broader medical schemes industry, which has struggled with stagnant membership for over a decade. This performance is particularly noteworthy given the construction sector’s well-documented challenges, including project delays in Gauteng and volatile input costs driven by fluctuations in global energy prices.

Mphomela acknowledged these headwinds but struck an optimistic note. “Yes, infrastructure projects are sluggish, and global instability is pushing up costs. But we’re also seeing green shoots - electricity supply has improved, inflation is easing, and business confidence is slowly returning.”

The scheme’s resilience stems in part from its laser focus on the specific needs of employees in the building, construction, civil engineering and opencast mining sectors. With occupational hazards ranging from immediate trauma to long-term respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions, these industries require specialised healthcare solutions.

“Our stable claims patterns reflect a deep understanding of our members’ health profiles and needs, as well as strong partnerships with healthcare providers focused on primary and preventative care. This positive outcome demonstrates both responsible healthcare utilisation by our members and our strategic approach to cost-management,” states Mphomela.

For BCIMA members, the scheme’s stability provides peace of mind for entire families. The average member supports 2.7 dependents, making comprehensive cover essential to household financial security.

“Every construction worker who goes to work is someone’s parent, spouse or breadwinner. When global tensions drive up fuel, steel and raw material prices, these families feel the impact at the dinner table. Their access to proper healthcare certainly shouldn’t add to their worries,” notes Mphomela.

The scheme’s strong financial position enables it to weather economic storms while maintaining high-quality benefits for members. “With our deep understanding of industry-specific healthcare needs, BCIMA positions itself as a sustainable partner in South Africa’s infrastructure development,” Maseko explains.

Looking ahead, both leaders emphasised that BCIMA’s role extends beyond traditional medical cover. “As South Africa pursues ambitious infrastructure goals, the health of those building the nation’s future cannot be secondary,” Mphomela said.

Maseko echoed this sentiment, framing it as a national imperative. “Infrastructure development is central to our economic growth, but it is meaningless without healthy people to build it. The wellbeing of employees who build, construct, and work in the opencast mining sectors cannot be an afterthought - it must be a priority.

“Together, we are not just building an industry medical scheme. We are building healthier communities, safer workplaces, and a stronger South Africa - one member, one family, one project at a time,” she concludes.