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Medical Aid

FAIS Act

Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act

The law that regulates anyone giving advice or selling medical aid in South Africa.

FAIS governs the people and businesses that advise on or sell financial products, including medical aid. Anyone who recommends a specific scheme or plan must be a Financial Services Provider (FSP) licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), AND additionally accredited by the Council for Medical Schemes for medical-scheme intermediary services. Without those licences, you can describe products and help people compare them, but you can't recommend one.

SA example: A website that lets you filter and compare schemes is operating within FAIS limits. The moment it says 'we recommend you pick Discovery Classic Saver' it has crossed into regulated advice and needs an FSP licence.

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