Medical Aid in South Africa

In South Africa, A medical aid is a form of insurance where you pay a monthly amount – called a contribution or premium – in return for financial cover for medical treatment you may need.

 

What does medical aid pay for in South Africa?

In South Africa, medical schemes, helps you to pay for your required healthcare needs, such as medical expenses related to doctor’s visits, nursing, surgery, dental work, optometry, medicine and hospital accommodation when needed.

 

 What is medical aid in South Africa?

Medical aid in South Africa provides financial cover for medical expenses for members who pay a monthly contribution for this cover. These contributions are paid to medical aid schemes (including Discovery Health Medical Scheme) and are pooled and safeguarded.

 

What is difference between medical insurance and medical aid?

Medical aids have to provide full cover for a list of treatments and conditions. In contrast, medical insurance can specify its benefits and pays out a defined amount towards them. Medical insurance plans usually focus on daily health care, such as doctors’ visits and short-term medication.

 

Why do I need medical aid?

It financially protects you if you suddenly have to pay large, unexpected medical cost. You can look after your family and focus on early treatments as opposed to waiting until someone is really sick. You have the choice of going to a private hospital over a crowded public hospital.

 

Can I get medical aid if I’m not working?

Fortunately hospital plans either in the form of a medical aid or hospital cash back plan do not discriminate based on your employment status. In other words any person can have a hospital plan even if they are unemployed.

 

What are the disadvantages of medical aid?

It is expensive and contributions increase every year. If you live in a rural area, you might not have easy access to private health care facilities. There are sometimes co-payments that need to be made for certain medical services or procedures.

 

Which is better hospital plan or medical aid?

A hospital plan is more affordable than a comprehensive medical aid, so it may be a good option for lower-income or healthier individuals who want access to private healthcare.

 

Which is the best medical aid in SA?

The following are the best 5 Medical Aids in South Africa.

• Discovery Health. Members: 1.14 million Beneficiaries: 2.46 million.

 

• Bonitas Medical Fund. Members: 273,285 Beneficiaries: 602,415

 

• Momentum Health. Members:100,936 Beneficiaries:200, 062

 

• Members: 84,860, Beneficiaries: 103,105.

 

• Members: 72,945, Beneficiaries: 146,816.

 

Does medical aid cover pregnancy in South Africa?

In South Africa, be well informed that, at the moment of birth, your baby is covered by medical aid. The only proviso is you must register baby with the scheme within a specified period, which is usually 30 days.