Choosing a medical aid can be difficult with so many different options available, but knowing the top five medical aids in South Africa might make the job somewhat easier. Everyone requires medical assistance at some point in their lives and the costs are usually very high. Even a hefty savings account could be too little to cover a serious medical emergency and should you develop a chronic illness, the medication would be a regular cost which you might not be able to afford. If you have children you definitely want to look after their health in the best possible way. Applying for medical aid is a responsible choice in a world where accidents happen indiscriminately. There are many medical aid schemes available and each has different processes, ways of doing things and options for the client. The best medical aid for YOU is really dependent on your specific needs and the needs of your family, but a list of those considering the top medical aids in the country could be helpful to narrow the list down. According to a survey by independent rating company Global Credit Rating, the top five medical aids in terms of their ability to pay claims are: Discovery Health Medical Scheme Fedhealth Bonitas Medical Aid Fund Oxygen Spectramed Discovery Health Medical Scheme is arguably the biggest and most well-known medical aid and it has the extra benefits of the Vitality Club, which allows the user discounts on gym membership, healthy food and fees on certain sporting… Read More

Medical aids with no waiting period in South Africa are quite difficult schemes to come across. Applying for a scheme with a short waiting period is probably easier. However there are some clauses that qualify scheme holders to get immediate access to their medical aid benefits. What is a medical aid waiting period? A medical aid waiting period is an amount of time in which a beneficiary has to pay the normal monthly contribution. But cannot yet make a claim for any of the scheme’s benefits. Medical aids can enforce this waiting period by law. There are two main types of waiting period: Firstly a general waiting period that lasts up to three months. During this time, neither you nor your dependents may claim from the medical aid. Aside from the prescribed minimum benefits. When choosing a medical aid scheme look for one that includes these benefits. Secondly a condition-specific waiting period lasting up to twelve months. If a member has pre-existing medical conditions, the beneficiary is not entitled to medical aid benefits. For a condition for care, treatment, advice or diagnosis that was received or recommended within a period of 12 months. Ending on the date the beneficiary made the application for membership to the medical aid scheme. So this condition applies to both you and your dependents. This may also interest you: Hospital Plans that Give you Cash Back When can a waiting period for medical aids be applied? In accordance with the Medical Aid Schemes Act of… Read More

Life Health Care Hospitals are run by Life Health Care, a leading private hospital group in South Africa. The group specializes in acute hospital care. The hospital network is comprised of one of southern Africa’s widest geographical spread of acute care hospitals. The portfolio includes 63 hospitals; 56 of which are majority owned by Life Health Care. The company holds minority ownership in the 7 other hospitals.   Where are Life Health Care hospitals situated? Life Health Care offers a range of healthcare services throughout the country, with hospitals in 7 of the 9 South African provinces. Life Health Care facilities can be found in the most populated metropolitan areas, including Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and East London. The range of facilities operated by Life Health Care includes multi-disciplinary hospitals with the latest technology, stand-alone facilities and community hospitals. Each facility is adapted to meet the local needs and demands in various regions countrywide.   The Life Health Care Hospitals provide services to the medically insured market. The acute care hospital network includes general hospitals of various sizes with high care units, intensive care units, emergency units, operating theatres, cardiac units and maternity units. There are a number of other specialized facilities that also provide either outpatient or inpatient services, such as: Acute rehabilitation Mental healthcare services Chronic renal dialysis Radiation and chemotherapy oncology   Healthcare services Life Esidimeni is a healthcare service that provides long term chronic and acute hospitalization services to state patients. The… Read More

Your health is one of the most important things you have, so using a medical aid scheme from Medihelp can ensure that both you and your family are covered in case you need expensive (but vital) medical treatment. As one of South Africa’s largest medical aids, Medihelp is able to provide a number of coverage options to suit your medical needs and your budget, ranging from a fully comprehensive plan to a hospital plan. With over 106,000 members, Medihelp is South Africa’s 3rd largest medical scheme. Medihelp offers an electronic claims system (on which 84% off all claims are received), helping the company to process claims efficiently and quickly. There are 7 benefit options provided through Medihelp, aiming to provide varied medical coverage to different income groups. These options are; Unify, Necess, Dimension Prime 1, Dimension Prime 2, Dimension Prime 3, Dimension Elite, and Medihelp Plus. Here are some further details about each option so that you can choose the medical aid scheme from Medihelp that is best suited to your circumstances.   Necesse From R744 per month (if you earn under R7500 per month), Necesse is Medihelp’s most affordable medical aid scheme. Most of the healthcare services or provided by network doctors or providers that have been previously specified by Medihelp. The network Necesse option is operated by a service network of optometrists, GPs, pharmacists, specialists, dentists and hospitals. Necesse includes cover for medical emergencies and a hospital plan (subject to an overall limit of R800,000 annually per family).… Read More

Various medical schools in South Africa offer both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for a number of medical disciplines; medical school doesn’t only refer to becoming a doctor, and these institutions offer qualifications for nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dentists, anaesthetists and a range of medical professions. CMSA stands for The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. This institution acts as a custodian of South Africa’s quality medical care and has 28 constituent medical and dentistry colleges. CMSA was founded in 1954 by professionals in the medical industry and in 1955, CMSA was registered as a non profit-making company. CMSA is unique in the way it contains all dental and medical specialities within a single representative framework.   Of all the various medical schools in South Africa, there are 6 universities that are recognised as the best among the rest: The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town (UCT): This is the oldest of South Africa’s medical schools. UCT offers both postgraduate and undergraduate courses for a variety of healthcare disciplines. UCT’s Department of Medicine also is a leader in medical research and education. The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Limpopo. This school developed as the University of the North and former Medical University of Southern Africa merged into one institution. The Faculty of Health Sciences’ School of Medicine has departments that are accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria: This faculty has both… Read More

If you are self-conscious about your teeth then finance for cosmetic dentistry in South Africa may be an option. For you to get the perfect set of pearly whites. Borrowing money for dental implants is one common solution for people who don't have the money up front. What is Cosmetic Dentistry? Cosmetic dentistry is a specialized branch of dentistry that focuses on enhancing the appearance of a person's teeth, gums, and smile. While it primarily aims to improve aesthetic aspects, such as color, shape, size, alignment, and overall smile appearance, it can also contribute to the functionality of teeth in some cases. Cosmetic dentistry encompasses a range of procedures designed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of teeth and gums, contributing to a more confident smile. With advancements in technology these procedures have become more accessible and effective. Making cosmetic dentistry a popular choice for many individuals seeking to improve their dental appearance. The Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry in South Africa Any kind cosmetic dentistry is an expensive procedure. So often available only to a wealthy few without dental payment plans. Unfortunately most medical aids do not support claims for you to get the celebrity smile of Matt Damon. Or put forth a mouthful Halle Berry would be proud of. However there are a number of private lenders who will offer medical payment plans for cosmetic procedures. As dental procedures go, the most common cosmetic processes are: Veneers to improve your smile Tooth Implants Tooth Extracting for problem teeth Dentures Restorative… Read More

If you are a member of a Medical Aid Scheme, then you need to know your medical aid rights and responsibilities. Medical Aid in South Africa is seen as a luxury due to the fact that we unfortunately have to pay exorbitant rates  for our monthly premiums and as a result we have a deteriation in our public health care as the medical practitioners want to work for the hospitals etc that are covered by the Medical Aids. This means that they are generally working for private institutions which are too expensive for the general public to afford. As a result, in order to receive the best medical care, people are being forced to join medical aid schemes. What is unfortunate is that many people are unaware of their rights when they join medical aids and as a result get taken advantage of. So in order to give you a general understanding of what your rights are, carry on reading this article. Your rights: You cannot be unfairly discriminated against because of your age, sex, race, gender, marital status, ethnic or social origin, sexual orientation, disability, or state of health. Your dependants have the right to be covered by your scheme. This means that your spouse, any children under 21 years old who are dependent on you, or children over 21 who are disabled, and basically any family member that you are liable for their car and support, can be covered by your medical aid scheme. In addition to this,… Read More

The Absa Medical Aid Scheme is for businesses who are looking for a medical aid scheme for their employees. This medical aid aims to help improve employee wellness and productivity. And help the business focus on what is best, the running of the business. They claim to understand that many businesses have difficulty with absenteeism. Which has a direct impact on the productivity of a business, especially if it is a small business with few staff members. This may also interest you: Hospital Plans that Give you Cash Back You need to make a plan to keep your employees well and out of hospital. It is for this reason that Absa has come up with a range of services. To help the management of businesses effectively bring about workplace productivity. Through adequate health care and wellness for their employees. This may be what your company needs to move you in to the next phase and help you be the best in the market. If you are wondering exactly how the Absa Medical Aid Scheme will help you become more productive here is some of the services that this scheme offers. Absenteeism management solutions This service will not only monitor the amount of absenteeism that a business has, but they will analyse why this is occurring. And will provide your organisation with planning and training on how to deal with this. This includes training management to review sick notes. As well as get the absent staff back up to speed with… Read More

GEMS – Government Medical Health Scheme was developed in order to provide medical assistance to public service employees by government.  Their aim is to show public service employees that the government understands their individual needs and realised that many of them could not afford private health cover. This is mainly due to the fact that the government realised that they needed to develop a medical system that showed that they really care about their public service employees and that they can provide them with the medical safety that we all want. Their vision is “to provide all public service employees with equitable access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare benefits.” If you are a public service employee and have never heard of GEMS – Government Medical Health Scheme then I definitely think that you should take a look at their website. Not only does this website provide you with a history of the organisation, but also displays their vision, mission and core values so that you can be reminded that you are in good hands with them. For all prospective members, if you visit www.gems.gov.za, you will able to view or print out a copy of their latest marketing brochure in any language you like. This will help you find the right medical aid solution for you and your family’s needs.  If you still find yourself wondering why you should join, why would you not want to join a medical scheme that understands the exact needs of someone in your industry… Read More

Medical Aid schemes for people with HIV and Aids are vital in order to ensure that if you have either of these conditions, that you can get the treatment in order to live a long and healthy life. Although many people think that you cannot become a part of a medical aid scheme due to the fact that they have HIV or Aids, this is in fact not the case. What many people get confused with is that the medical aid providers have an exclusion policy for pre-existing chronic diseases which means that in the first year of membership, you will not be covered for chronic illnesses which include thyroid problems such as Hyper or Hypothyroidism, Arthritis, as well as HIV and Aids.  However, this does not mean that you cannot enjoy the full benefits after the exclusion period is up. If you are now wondering why medical aids have these exclusion periods, then you should ask a representative from whichever medical service provider you are joining to explain them in full to you. One source claims that the reason why medical aids do this is because they pool all of their funds in order to provide care for those who need it most at any given time (www.vitacare.co.za). In addition to this, it allows them to safe guard themselves against members who may use up all of their benefits in one year and then leave the medical aid scheme. For those of you who are looking for medical aid… Read More