Despite the current trend among our competitors, towards increased subscription fees and reduced benefits, we are committed to offering you comprehensive cover at the lowest subscription fees possible. Our 2010 product offerings give both prospective and existing members a variety of options.

Product renewal season

The end of the year is rapidly approaching, and if you are already a CMP member we encourage you to revisit your product options to ascertain whether your current product choice will be suitable for you and your family in the upcoming year. It is important to us that you have the best medical cover possible ? cover that meets you and your family's needs at a cost you can afford.

Making the right choice

To ensure that you select the option best suited to your needs, we suggest that you ask yourself the following questions:

1. Would an excellent stand-alone hospital plan suffice for my needs?
2. Do I want a good hospital plan as well as day-to-day benefits?
3. Do I need an excellent hospital plan and comprehensive day-to-day benefits, as well as a medical aid savings account?
4. How much can I afford to pay for medical aid?

Managing price increases

The continual price increases implemented by hospitals and specialists as a result of the rise in medical inflation mean that subscription increases are unfortunately unavoidable. This highlights the necessity of assessing your particular needs and budget.

HealthPact Select: a new option for 2010

We are excited to announce that we have developed a brand-new product for 2010, called HealthPact Select. HealthPact Select combines flexibility with affordability, and is geared towards giving our members the best of both worlds. Here are some of the advantages HealthPact Select offers:

1. An excellent hospital plan

HealthPact Select's comprehensive hospital plan pays specialists at 200% of the NHRPL/CMP tariff, making it excellent cover.

2. Day to Day (out-of-hospital) pre-funding

Day to Day funding allows you the freedom to choose how you'd like to utilise your out-of-hospital benefits while making use of registered service providers.

3. Increased Day to Day (out-of-hospital) funding

Out-of-hospital funding has been increased to R4,800 per adult and R1,200 per child per annum. These Day to Day benefits are combined, so one member of the family can utilise the entire pool should the need arise.

4. Competitive pricing for those new to CMP and those changing from one plan to another

The competitive pricing of HealthPact Select means that principal members can be covered for under R1,900 per month. If you are already a CMP member on HealthPact Gold, switching to HealthPact Select will lower your monthly contributions by more than 20%, without compromising your overall benefits.

For members currently on HealthPact Gold

The HealthPact Gold product will cease to exist on 1 January 2010, so it's important to note that all members who are currently on HealthPact Gold will automatically be transferred to the new HealthPact Select product unless they advise otherwise by 30 November 2009.

For members on the Chronic Medicine programme

Please remember that all members who are currently on CMP's Chronic Medicine programme need to reapply for this benefit before 1 January 2010. It is vital to do so as early as possible in order to avoid interruption in the monthly supply of your medication.

Have you received your product renewal pack for 2010?

Our updated product information for 2010 was sent out via post and email during the week of the 20th of October 2009, so if you have not yet received your documentation, please contact us urgently at 021 937 8300 or email us at customers@cmp.co.za, and we will resend the information to you.

A big thank-you to all those members who called us and updated their contact details in September, as requested in the last edition of Elixir. The lucky draw has taken place, and the winners are...

Mrs Dialina Van Dijk of Durbanville,

who won a day of pampering at a local salon, including a hot stone massage, facial, manicure and pedicure.

Mr Derek Brandt of Bellville,

who won a 500GB Seagate external hard drive, which can be used on a laptop or desktop computer.

A smile costs nothing, brightens up the day for others, and can even help lighten your mood. Fifty percent of people say that the first thing they notice about someone is their smile. Here are 8 interesting facts about your teeth and oral care:

The enamel on your teeth is the toughest substance in your body.

The enamel on your teeth is made from a combination of minerals, including calcium salts, water and a small amount of organic material. The enamel is incredibly hardy because very little organic material is present in its composition.

Over two-thirds of a tooth is found below the surface of your gum.

As amazing as it sounds, the majority of a tooth is found below your gum. The tooth can be divided into two sections. The section above the gum is known as the crown, while the section below the gum is called the root. The root of a tooth contains the nerves and the blood supply network that keeps the tooth alive. When the root of a tooth is damaged or destroyed, the tooth will die and darken to a greyish colour.

Your dentist can help spot warning signs of cancer.

When you visit your dentist or oral hygienist, they are not only cleaning your teeth or filling up cavities. They are also checking for the early signs of oral cancer. This is especially important if you are a smoker or at high risk of developing oral cancer. By going to see your dentist regularly, you lower your risk of developing oral cancer.

Gum disease can affect your overall health.

Gum disease causes a wide spectrum of health issues, among them halitosis and tooth loss. Scientific studies have also linked gum disease with an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks. They have also found that it is more difficult for diabetics with gum disease to control their blood sugar levels effectively. So having gum disease can negatively impact your overall health, and not just the state of your teeth.

Children under five should use fluoride-free toothpaste.

Most toothpastes contain fluoride, a substance that helps fortify tooth enamel. However, it is recommended that children under the age of five use toothpaste without fluoride, until they learn not to swallow the toothpaste during brushing. An excess of fluoride can cause a condition known as fluorosis. Fluorosis can be identified by spots and slight discolouration of the teeth. The biggest period of risk is between the ages of 1 and 4 years.

Brushing your teeth vigorously can damage your teeth and gums.

It is often tempting to scour away at your teeth when you brush. Many people choose toothbrushes with hard bristles, and brush with force each morning and evening. Dentists warn that brushing your teeth with excessive force can cause tooth sensitivity, damage the enamel on your teeth, and make your gums recede. Instead, brush gently but thoroughly, not forgetting to brush your tongue, for a minimum period of 2 minutes.

Nutrition and stress can contribute towards gum disease.

Aside from bacteria causing gum disease, stress and nutrition also play a role in your oral health. Keeping your stress levels low, and eating healthily, can have a positive effect on your oral health.

If you are pregnant, your hormones can affect your oral health.

Hormone levels that fluctuate, such as during pregnancy, can make gums ache, swell and bleed. This can be fixed by a set routine of brushing and flossing to keep your teeth and mouth clean. It is also a good idea to have your teeth cleaned professionally early in your pregnancy, to reduce any discomfort or symptoms.

Every minute's delay in the treatment of a stroke patient means the loss of 1.9 million neurons. In other words, your brain ages by an effective three-and-a-half weeks each minute after you have had a stroke.

"It's all about moving fast when you suspect that someone has had a stroke," says Jan Roos, head of pharmacy operations at Clicks.

Statistics released by the World Health Organisation estimate that, worldwide, 16 million people suffer a stroke every year and of those, 60% are over 70 years old. Two-thirds of strokes are suffered by people living in low- to middle-income countries like South Africa. Stroke is already the biggest killer of over-50s in South Africa and the biggest cause of disability in all age groups.

For Roos, "fast" is more than just moving quickly. It's also an easy way for the public to recognise the symptoms of a stroke. If you think you or someone you are with is having a stroke, remember:

• F is for facial weakness (is your smile lop-sided?)
• A is for arms (can you raise them together, or is one lower than the other?)
• S is for speech (is your speech slurred or garbled?)
• T is for time (get help now!)

"Remain calm, and respond fast. Your doctor will start treatment immediately, as per your blood pressure profile. Some patients with very high blood pressure will need urgent but gradual BP lowering, so as not to precipitate a full-blown stroke. It is important to help the patient to get back on their feet as soon as possible after they come out of hospital," says Len Bailey, a pharmacist with Clicks.

"Our in-store pharmacies and clinics offer a Health Tracker service, which can be an important part of a patient's recovery. When following the guidance provided by healthcare professionals, then such lifestyle modifications can help to prevent another stroke from occurring."

Research conducted by the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Stroke Unit between 2000 and 2006 found that the type of stroke and risk factors differed between race groups, reflecting the changes that occur as historically rural populations move to the cities and adopt a more western lifestyle.

The most common stroke type found in the study group was ischaemic infarction (81%), while black patients had the highest risk of lacunar stroke (38%, compared to 30% in the white and coloured groups). An ischaemic infarction occurs when a blood clot cuts off the flow of blood to an area in the brain, causing tissue death. A lacunar stroke occurs when blood flow leading to a small arterial vessel is blocked, resulting in the appearance of a small hole (lacuna), often deep in the brain tissue. It is closely linked to high blood pressure or hypertension.

A stroke may be experienced at different severity levels. A pre-stroke, called "transient ischaemic attack" (TIA), can be seen as a warning of a full-blown stroke. A transient ischaemic attack may also affect speech, facial and limb weakness, but is reversible immediately prior to or during treatment. TIAs are warning signs that allow corrective preventative steps to be taken to improve the patient's quality of life.

"Clicks Pharmacy clinics can help people to monitor their blood pressure regularly, as well as provide advice on the best diet and lifestyle choices to make," says Bailey. "And the convenience of being able to carry out basic health tests at your local shopping centre means that people are more likely to make the kind of choices that will save their lives."

To locate your nearest Clicks Pharmacy call the Clicks customer care line on 08600 CLICKS/254257.

Part of our service commitment at CMP is to keep in contact with our members on a regular basis and to ensure that they are kept informed every step of the way.

One of the quickest and most efficient ways for us to communicate important information is via SMS. For instance, we might send you an SMS

• to provide you with an authorisation number
• to inform you that we have received a request for an authorisation number
• to let you know that your claim for chronic medication has been processed
• if you have contacted us and we have attempted to contact you back, but have not been able to reach you

We would like to be able to communicate with all our members via SMS when necessary, but we can only do this if our database is up to date at all times. So if you have not already done so, please contact us without delay and provide us with your current cellphone number and email address.

• Medical Case Management - 0860 100 512
• Customer Care - 0860 102 930
• Sales - 0860 102 344

To help you plan and take control of your day-to-day medical expenses, we are continuing with our series on medicine pricing.

This month we compare the prices of several therapeutic-equivalent drugs used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hayfever. (Therapeutic-equivalent drugs are those that contain the same active ingredients and exhibit largely the same effects. They are better known as "generics".)

In the first table, we compare the prices of three brands of loratadine (10mg - 10 tablets), a popular non-sedating antihistamine.

Next, we look at the prices of two types of budesonide (100mcg/dose), a corticosteroid that is also often prescribed for the treatment of asthma.

In the final table, we compare two injectable variants of the corticosteroid betamethasone (4mg/ml).