Bonitas Medical Fund (“Bonitas” / “Scheme”) respects the privacy of the user and is committed to protect such information as may be subject to the protection under law (“Protected Information”) that may be shared with us through this website. By utilizing this website and transmitting information through the website, you (being the user) understand that while the Scheme shall take every reasonable precaution to ensure that Protected Information remains protected, that there are inherent risks associated with the transmission of such information, and that you do so subject to the terms and conditions contained on this website, and fully aware of such risks. Without derogating from the generality thereof, information may be accessed without the necessary authority in the event that systems are compromised through the use of viruses, hacking incursions, and other illicit means of obtaining such data, which may be beyond the control of the Scheme. You hereby agree that where such information is accessed or disclosed through such unauthorised means, the Scheme, except where there is intentional disclosure of the Protected Information, or in circumstances where the Scheme is grossly negligent, shall not be held liable for any such unauthorised disclosure of any such information, including the Protected Information.

The Scheme has also created a mobile app which is downloadable from various app stores. The use of the app shall be subject to these and any other applicable terms and conditions as advised by the Scheme from time to time.

The manner in which personal and special personal information is collected and the manner in which the personal and special personal information is used by Bonitas is set out in these terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are applicable to both personal and special personal information, even where not specified expressly and fall within the definition of Protected Information for purposes of these terms and conditions. The use of the Scheme’s website and other digital platforms, and the provisions specifically pertaining to the sharing of Protected Information, and information in general, shall be subject to these terms and conditions. The user’s personal information is required when Bonitas is to provide services that the user has requested or when the user elects to provide personal information.

1. Collection of personal information

Personal information means any information that may be used to identify an individual, including but not limited to, a first and last name, email address, a home, postal or other physical address, title, birth date, gender, occupation, industry, personal interests, telephone numbers and other information needed to provide a service.

When browsing the Bonitas website, the user does so anonymously, unless the user has previously indicated that their intention is for the Bonitas website to remember the user’s login and password details. Bonitas does not automatically collect personal information, but may do so at its discretion should it become necessary to render an enhanced user experience, and then subject so such prevailing laws as may be applicable to ensure that such personal information remains protected. The user’s IP address will not be linked to any personal information provided by the user unless the user has registered on the Bonitas website. The Bonitas website is a commercial website and uses standard technology called a “cookie” to collect information regarding the manner in which the site is used by all users. See section 3 Cookies and tracking information.

In order to provide personalized services and access to data, Bonitas will have to track, retain and collect personal information, and to share such information in a controlled manner to authorised persons, such as healthcare professionals to enable the user to access such personalized information and services as contemplated herein.

Bonitas collects personal information from users in various circumstances, including:

a. they register with Bonitas for a Bonitas account,

b. when certain Bonitas services are used, including any mobile apps or other digital platforms which necessitate such information being utilized;

c. when the user registers to attend a seminar or participate in an online survey,

d. when a user asks to be included in an email or other mailing lists, or when users submit an entry for a competition or other promotions,

e. when users submit personal information to Bonitas for any other reason.

Access to certain Bonitas web pages, or the usage of certain apps, requires a login name and password. The use of these web pages and the information or programs downloadable from those sites, may be governed by a written agreement between your employer and Bonitas. Notwithstanding the aforegoing, the Protected Information which is gathered pursuant to your use of the Bonitas website or mobile apps or other digital platforms, may be retained by Bonitas to verify compliance with the agreement, log software licenses granted to track software downloads from those pages, or track the usage of other application available on those pages, or for any other purpose to enable Bonitas to enable you to access or share such Protected Information as may be necessary and for Bonitas or its authorised service providers to be able to render the, subject to such rights that an individual may have under law to request the deletion of such information.

2. Notice

You consent thereto that Protected Information may be collected where necessary, provided that Bonitas will not transfer Protected Information to a third party without the user’s consent, or in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 below. By sharing your Protected Information on this website, you consent that the Protected Information may be shared where such sharing is lawful and under those provisions contained in Section 6 below.

Bonitas has provided the user with an opportunity to “opt out” of receiving direct marketing or market research information. This means that the user has deemed to have provided consent to collect and use the user’s information in accordance with this Policy unless the user has taken affirmative action to indicate that you do not consent thereto by utilizing the provided opt-out channel. Should a user cease using any digital channel, including the mobile app, information already collected shall be retained by Bonitas.

3. Cookies and tracking

A cookie is a small data file that allows certain websites to write to the user’s hard drive when visited. A cookie file can contain information such as a user IP that the site uses to track the pages visited, but the only personal information a cookie can contain is information supplied by the user. A cookie cannot read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by the other sites. Some parts of Bonitas’ website use cookies to track user traffic patterns. This is done in order to determine the usefulness of our website information to our users and see how effective our navigational structure is in helping users reach that information.

If you prefer not to receive cookies and store these while browsing our website, you can set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies and refuse the cookie when your browser alerts you to its presence. The user can also refuse all cookies by turning them off in the browser, although the user may not be able to take full advantage of Bonitas’ website, if done. In certain circumstances, it will become impossible for the user to access certain information or request certain services without the utilization of cookies and you agree to this limitation should you block the utilization of cookies in respect of your utilization of this website.

4. How we use the information collected

Bonitas uses information for several general purposes: to fulfil your requests for certain products and services, to personalize your experience on our website, to keep you up to date on the latest product announcements, updates, special offers or other information we think user’s would like to hear about either from Bonitas or business partners of Bonitas and to better understand the needs of the user and provide users with better services, to allow the user to access their own records, and to generally access and utilize such personalized services and interactions as may be available on the website, the mobile app or other digital platforms from time to time. We may also use information to send or to have our business partners send direct marketing information or contact users for market research. Should you not wish to have your data shared with third parties, you are required to stipulate this by utilizing the appropriate opt-out channel.

Insofar as Protected Information is concerned, such information shall only be shared with authorised service providers insofar as required to render services to the user, and if these comprise of health records, then only between those healthcare professionals as may be authorised by the user from time to time.

5. Protection of your personal information

Your Bonitas account information is password-protected for your privacy and security. Bonitas safeguards the security of the data received, whether it is by physical, electronic and managerial procedures.

In certain areas of the website, Bonitas uses industry standard SSL-encryption to enhance the security of data transmission. Similar precautions are taken in respect of mobile apps and other digital platforms where appropriate. While striving to protect Protected Information, Bonitas cannot guarantee the security of the information transmitted to Bonitas and users are urged to take every precaution to protect all data transmitted to or accessed from Bonitas.

Bonitas will accept no liability for any unauthorised interception of any information, including without limitation, where the user’s IT infrastructure or device has been compromised in any way, or where the user provides sensitive login information or passwords to third parties, or otherwise where the unauthorised interception has occurred due to the fault or negligence of the user.

6. Sharing of information

Protected Information of users that is collected on the website may be shared with companies and/or person affiliated, associated and in business with Bonitas, irrespective of their location in the world, except for personal information which is protected under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI), which may only be shared or disclosed as may be permitted under POPI.

All data stored within Bonitas, is stored within controlled servers where access is limited. Personal information may be stored and processed in South Africa or any other country where Bonitas, its partners, affiliates or agents are located, provided that those other countries have legislation protecting the personal information at least the same level as contemplated by POPI.

Bonitas may send Protected Information to other companies or people under any of the following circumstances:

a. when consent has been obtained to share the information;

b. when Bonitas is required to provide information to the user in respect of products or service requested by the user;

c. when Bonitas is required to send the information to service providers who work on behalf of Bonitas to provide a product or service to the user or where the user seeks to access its benefit entitlements (we will only provide the information if the service provider needs to deliver the service and the information shall only be shared for such particular purpose and on the strict understanding that they are prohibited from using the information for any other purpose);

d. when Bonitas is requested to keep the user up to date on the latest announcements, updates, special offers or other information we think you would like to hear about either from us or our business partners (unless you have opted out of these types of communication);

e. personal information will be disclosed if it is required by law to do so;

f. to enable us to enforce our Terms and Conditions of Use;

g. in urgent circumstances in order to protect personal safety, public safety or where the integrity of our website may be compromised.

7. Children and privacy

The Bonitas digital platforms are not intended for use by children under the age of 13 years. Bonitas does not knowingly solicit personal information from children under the age of 13 years or knowingly send requests for personal information.

Where a child dependent utilizes the website, the mobile app or any other digital channel, and it is not apparent that the child is under the age of 13, then Bonitas will in good faith process, utilize, store and share the information unless otherwise notified, or it subsequently becomes apparent that the child is under the age of 13. Bonitas shall not have the obligation to verify the veracity of any information submitted to it

8. Third party websites

Bonitas’ website contains web links to other websites. Bonitas does not share Protected Information with those websites and is not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage all users to learn about the privacy policy of third party companies prior to following such links.

Should the user leave the Bonitas website, whether through the utilization of such a link or otherwise, Bonitas shall not be held responsible for any harm which the user may suffer by accessing any information outside of the Bonitas website.

Bonitas website may contain links to websites operated by other companies. Some of these third party sites may be co-branded with the Bonitas logo, even though they are not operated or maintained by Bonitas. Although business partners are carefully selected, Bonitas is not responsible for the privacy practices of websites operated by third parties that are linked to the Bonitas website. Once the user has left our website, or any other digital channel maintained by Bonitas, the user should be aware of the applicable privacy policy of the third party website to determine how they handle the information they collect from the user.

9. Changes to this Privacy Policy

Bonitas reserves the right to amend this policy and the terms and conditions from time to time. Any material changes in the way we use or protect the Protected Information will be noted on the website, or otherwise communicated to the user as may be reasonably expedient, and the user will have the option of reviewing such amendment prior to proceeding to use this website, the mobile app or any other affected digital platform.

Last updated: 23 June 2022

This version of the Policy replaces and supersedes all other Privacy Policies that have been previously issued.