Compare Medical
Schemes
Anyone setting out to compare medical schemes in South Africa and the many plans that they
offer will quickly find themselves in a web of confusion and uncertainty.
The benefits and the terms and conditions of each plan differ and it is extremely difficult to
compare apples with apples.
When you compare schemes, you will discover that quotations are not provided in a standards
format and the language used by the medical aids is often coached in legal terms and technical language, making it
difficult to understand.
When you compare you will also find that each plan also has exclusions and the terms and
conditions are often dependent upon certain criteria being met by the member.
It is no wonder so many people find it difficult to compare and therefore do not know
whether they have the best plan for
their personal needs!
It is nevertheless very important to do everything possible to compare the various plans with
each other before making a decision.
Get a comparative
quote. Complete and submit the form:
Medical aid is expensive and everybody wants to make sure that they are adequately covered when
they become ill or when an accident occurs.
Things to keep in mind when comparing medical schemes
The following pointers may help you to make an informed
decision:
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With a little bit of effort it is possible to obtain quotations
that are in standard format, allowing consumers to compare apples with apples. Quotations are
based upon information supplied by the prospective member. Nothing stops a consumer, however, to
design his own quotation form and to ask the various schemes to quote in the format requested. If
a medical scheme is not prepared to do this, it may perhaps be necessary to ask oneself if they
will be able to provide personalized service once you become a member of the
scheme.
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The internet is a marvellous tool for obtaining quotations from
different schemes without having to provide the same information several times. It may be
worthwhile to search for an independent site, such as those owned by independent medical brokers,
and to ask for quotations. Quotations obtained in this manner are normally provided in tabular
format and it is relatively easy to compare the different products with each
other.
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Choosing a plan is an important matter
and consumers should never feel embarrassed to ask pointed questions or to ask the scheme in
question to clarify uncertainties. It is vital to make sure that the terms and conditions are
fully understood and that they are acceptable. It is even possible to negotiate by showing a
scheme that a competitor is offering similar terms at a better
price.
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It can be useful to ask other members of plans under consideration
about their specific experiences with the scheme in question. Consumer feedback websites also
often provide valuable insights as to what members think about their
schemes.
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Some schemes offer their members rewards if they do not make claims
for a specified period. It is important to find out what these rewards
are.
If in doubt and struggling to compare medical schemes, it
may be useful to ask advice from an independent broker that is not associated with a specific scheme. In choosing a
plan, the needs of the family and the budget should always be kept in mind. It may even be useful to ask a general
practitioner to conduct a risk analysis. © Medical Aid Plan
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your medical aid quote by email Click Here
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