SABMAS Change of administrator and related Medprax file updates
Medprax confirms that we are aware of the upcoming change of administrator at the SAB Medical Aid Scheme (SABMAS) and outlines the steps we are taking on the Medprax file to ensure our users are not disrupted.
What is changing
Discovery Health has been appointed as the administrator of SABMAS with effect from 1 October 2026. The Scheme’s current administrator, 3Sixty, has advised that it will cease providing services from 28 August 2026 — including wind-down services.
To protect members and maintain continuity, SABMAS and Discovery Health have agreed on a limited set of interim priority services for the month of September 2026, ahead of the full transition on 1 October 2026.
| Date | What happens |
| 28 August 2026 | 3Sixty ceases all services to SABMAS, including wind-down services. Discovery Health begins providing a limited set of interim priority services. No claims should be submitted between 18:00 on 27 August 2026 and 00:00 on 28 August 2026. From 00:00:01 on 28 August 2026, claims should be switched to Discovery Health for processing. Discovery request that Healthcare Professionals finalise all outstanding claims queries with service dates before 28 August 2026 with 3Sixty Health. |
| 1 – 30 September 2026 | Interim period. Discovery Health handles hospital pre-authorisations, oncology benefit applications and Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) applications only. |
| 1 October 2026 | Discovery Health takes over as SABMAS administrator in full. |
| End October 2026 | First claims payment cycle administered by Discovery Health. Claims received from 1 September are acknowledged and pended until this cycle. |
Action Medprax is taking on the Medprax file
We will update the Medprax file as follows:
- 3Sixty Administrated SABMAS scheme will be flagged as Discontinued but will remain on the Medprax file for four months. This change will be included in the file dated 28 August – even though it will be flagged as Discontinued, you will still be able to submit using the information provided up until 27 August 2026.
- Discovery Health will be loaded as the incoming administrator for SABMAS, with the relevant SABMAS plan options added as new options under Discovery Health.
This means that from the 28 August 2026, practices drawing scheme and option data from Medprax will see SABMAS presented under Discovery Health, with the correct routing details for new submissions.
Claims submission and payment — what to expect
Discovery Health has confirmed the following claims arrangements for the transition:
- Claims received from 28 August 2026 will be acknowledged and pended.
- The first claims payment cycle administered by Discovery Health will take place at the end of October 2026.
- Pended claims from 28 August will be processed for payment in that end-of-October cycle.
| Please note — cash flow impact Claims submitted from 28 August 2026 will be acknowledged but held (pended) and only paid in the end-of-October 2026 payment run. Practices should plan for a delayed payment cycle of up to approximately two months on submissions. This is a transitional measure and does not indicate a claim problem. |
Benefits that are not affected
The following arrangements continue unchanged and should not be re-routed:
- Chronic benefit applications — continue to be managed through MediKredit.
- HIV benefit applications — continue to be managed through Aid for Aids.
What we ask of you
- Please note the 28 August 2026 flag date and the 1 October 2026 full transition date in your own communications.
- Please make your practices and users aware of the delayed first payment cycle so that expectations are managed up front.
Discovery Health has indicated that further information will be shared with healthcare professionals and SABMAS members over the coming weeks. We will monitor those communications and update the Medprax file promptly should any of the above dates or arrangements change.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further detail.
Kind regards
Candice Barker
031 904 9207 / candice@medprax.co.za