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Medical Schemes in South Africa
There are dozens of medical schemes in South Africa for people of all ages and incomes. You
can buy a top of the range Discovery Medical Aid product or simply opt for the cheapest medical aid
available.
If you do not want to join a medical scheme (perhaps you already belong to one through the
company that employs you) then you can always just get a Clientele Hospital plan, or one of the many
similar, inexpensive auxiliary products featured in this website. Don't forget to look at gap cover so you
can avoid out of pocket payments in the event of hospitalization or other expensive medical
events.
There are nearly one hundred firms offering affordable medical aid in South
Africa. Use the search box on this website, as well as the navigation bars and info boxes, to find the
cheapest medical aid for your requirements.
COMPLETE THIS FORM TO REQUEST A MEDICAL
AID QUOTE
Choosing Medical Schemes
When choosing a medical scheme, it is advisable to get quotes from the top medical aids as
well as the lesser known ones to discover which ones offer the best value for money.
Remember that you are not obliged to join medical schemes using a broker. It is possible to
get the cheapest medical aid by dealing with the medical scheme company directly.
There are several ways to make sure you find the cheapest medical aid that is also the most
appropriate for your requirements. Here are a few tips:
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Start soon. The earlier you
join a medical scheme the cheaper it will be in the long run. This is because the younger members of
medical schemes subsidize the older members. By paying premiums early in your life you lock in lower
premiums later on
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Buy only what you need. The
temptation is to go for a comprehensive Discovery Medical Aid product or another top of the range
product. When you look closely at the benefits, however, you may find that you are paying too much. For
instance, Discovery Health offers a Coastal Core medical scheme for South Africans who live near the
coast. If you live in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth or Durban, or anywhere between, then you can save money
by opting for this kind of plan.
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Mix and match. Often cheap
medical schemes are sufficient for the average
person’s needs if they supplement their medical aid with a hospital plan and gap cover. A word of
warning: a hospital plan may seem to offer generous benefits, but hospitalization in South Africa is
extremely expensive, so do not be taken in by the numbers.
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Ignore the glitter. Some
medical schemes in South Africa offer all kinds of bells and whistles, such as cheap flights and
reduced gym fees. Try to look past these gifts and get down to the nitty-gritty of what your costs and
benefits really entail.
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Know your rights. When you
sign up, your medical scheme must supply you with the paperwork regarding the Prescribed Minimum
Benefits which, by law, all medical aid firms are obliged to provide. This includes all the costs
relating to 27 chronic conditions.
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Know your obligations.
Every medical aid scheme has a different set of rules as to how you should conduct your membership and
submit a claim. Follow these rules to the letter to avoid a dispute with your medical scheme.
© Medical Aid
Plan
Here’s wishing you and your family
prosperity and good health!
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