Medical Aid vs Hospital Plan vs Medical Insurance: Which one is the right choice for you?

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Medical Aid, a Hospital Plan or Medical Insurance, are some of your medical cover options.

Should I get Medical Aid, a Hospital Plan or Medical Insurance, you ask? Get Medical Insurance outlines the best medical cover options in South Africa.

Medical Aid

Medical Aid is the most extensive and most expensive form of medical cover in South Africa. Medical Aid gives you cover for medical care in exchange for a monthly premium.

Medical Aids have to give Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) for various conditions. These benefits include various treatments and a detailed list of in-hospital procedures. 

Hospital Plan 

A Hospital Plan is a medical plan that gives you cover for in-hospital medical expenses.  

Hospital Plans provide limited cover. A Hospital Plan only covers your hospital stay from an accident or medical emergency. Unlike Medical Aids or Medical Insurance, Hospital Plans don’t give you day-to-day benefits. Instead, a Hospital Plan covers hospital admissions and in-hospital doctors bills.

Medical Insurance 

Medical Insurance is an affordable form of medical cover for South Africans. Medical Insurance gives people who are price conscious access to private healthcare.

Unlike Medical Aid, Medical Insurance doesn’t have Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs). Medical Insurance mainly covers day-to-day benefits. Medical Insurance focuses more on things like:

  • General Practitioner (GP) visits.
  • Virtual doctor consultations.
  • Pharmacy based nurse visits.
  • Dentistry.
  • Optometry.
  • Chronic medication.
  • And more.

What is the right cover for me? 

Ultimately, the right medical cover for you will depend on your individual circumstance.

Many South Africans can’t afford the price of Medical Aid. Instead of relying on the public healthcare system, people often turn to coverage. This way, they can still access private healthcare at an affordable price.

Our Medical Insurance policies cover the cost of various day-to-day medical expenses. Our Accident Cover covers injuries or death resulting from an accident. Heart attacks and strokes are also covered by Accident Cover. You can combine both Medical Insurance and Accident Cover to give you the cover you need.

Contact us here for a free quote.