Joining a Medical Aid in South Africa – Waiting Periods

Medical aid schemes in South Africa may impose certain waiting periods on new members and/or their dependants when joining a medical aid.

Generally speaking, when joining a medical aid waiting periods depend on the amount of time an applicant has been a member of a South African medical scheme at the time of joining a new scheme. In addition, when joining a medical aid the new scheme will tend to assess the health risk profile of the applicant.

What does the Medical Schemes Act say about joining a medical aid?

According to the Medical Schemes Act, medical aid schemes are entitled to impose a 3 months general waiting period and / or a 12 months condition specific waiting period(s) for any pre-existing medical condition(s) before joining a medical aid. The Act makes specific provision for the imposition of waiting periods (and late joiner penalties). This is done to protect the current membership pool of medical schemes from selective abuse. In other words, schemes are offered some protection from people only joining a medical aid when they require medical attention.

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Funding model of medical schemes – joining a medical aid

The medical schemes funding model is based on the model of cross-subsidisation. Generally, younger / healthier members contribute for a reasonable period whilst not claiming anything major. During this period they subsidise the higher claims of generally older / more sickly members. Over a period of time, the younger members will get older and will in turn benefit from younger and healthier members who contribute to the risk pool. Selective abuse of medical scheme funds, where large claims are made shortly after joining a scheme and then cancelling membership, will result in increased contributions for all members.

Waiting periods are not always imposed when joining a medical scheme. It is done at the scheme’s discretion. There are two kinds of waiting periods, i.e.:

General waiting period of up to three months

During this period, members have to pay their normal monthly contributions, but are not entitled to claim any benefits whatsoever, except in certain instances with claims relating to PMBs.

Condition-specific waiting period of up to 12 months when joining a medical aid

During this period, members have to pay their normal monthly contributions. Any pre-existing health condition(s) will be excluded and all associated medical costs during the first 12 months will be for the member’s own pocket.

The table below provides a summary of the provisions applicable to waiting periods as per the Medical Schemes Act:

Category	3-Months General Waiting Period	12-Months Conditions Specific Waiting Period
New applicants who are currently members of another registered SA medical scheme for more than 2 years, and / or who have not cancelled their   membership for more than 90 days   preceding the date of application	Yes	–
New applicants who are members of a registered SA medical scheme for   less than 2 years	–	Yes
New applicants, or applicants who are not members of a registered SA   medical scheme for at least 90 days preceding the date of application	Yes	Yes
Change of benefit options	–	–
Child dependants born during the period of membership	–	–

 In closing

Medical schemes have a legal duty to maintain a financially sound position at all time. This can only be achieved by balancing the risk profile of members. As this is very difficult given the large unknowns at play, medical schemes are entitled to use the very few tools given to them by the Medical Schemes Act. Waiting periods are not automatically applied, but they may be depending on the health risk profile that is presented to the medical scheme.