Joining a medical aid is a simple process. You can either go through an accredited broker who acts as an intermediary between you and the medical aid or you can contact the medical scheme directly and request application forms. Most medical aids now have online platforms where you can enter your details and the scheme will contact you with quotes and email you the application form.
Medical aid cover is somewhat of an essential insurance if you want to access quality health care services. Even if you are young and healthy, you may fall ill at any time, be a victim of crime or have an accident. When you need health care, you want the best medical services available and despite the government’s best efforts to provide quality care, the public health system is overburdened and understaffed. The possibility of a labour strike or budget cuts may mean that you are at the mercy of those with wage disputes or a lack of resources. A medical aid is the way to ensure that you have access to quality health care at any time.
Being a member of a medical aid does not mean that you can access medical services from any provider without having to pay any cash fees. At times there is a misconception by medical aid members that a doctor or other medical service provider is forced to treat you and accept payment directly from the medical aid.
Any medical service provider in South Africa, whether a general practitioner, medical specialist, and auxilliary therapists like physiotherapists, psychologists, chiropractors and so on have the right to request cash payments for their services.
The termination of a pregnancy is the right of every expectant mother in South Africa. However, many women experience difficulty in getting the appropriate advice on the costs and facilities associated with an abortion. There are many private abortion clinics in South Africa and while government hospitals should also offer this service, the strained public health care system does not always give priority to abortions. Medical aids may cover the cost of an abortion, however, some medical aids limit the number of times the procedure may be conducted or may not cover the procedure at all.
Pregnancy is one of the times when a person reassesses their medical aid cover as the costs associated with childbirth can be expensive. Considering the high costs of private health care, it is only natural for mothers to be concerned about the extent of cover for their pregnancy and childbirth, as well as cover for any complications that may arise, especially those that can affect the baby. Proper cover is essential and ideally you should have comprehensive medical aid cover before you fall pregnant (refer to Medical Aid for Pregnant Women).
Many medical aids now offer a medical savings option on some plans which fund day-to-day medical expenses but can also be used to supplement any in-hospital costs that are not covered by your medical aid. Unlike the predefined day-to-day limits or insured out-of-hospital benefit, a medical savings account does not expire at the end of the year and can be carried over to the next year of cover.
