Prescribed minimum benefits are list of conditions and treatments that a medical aid has to cover for every member on its scheme, irrespective of the individual plan or availability of funds for that year. Basically prescribed minimum benefits are an assurance that every member will have medical aid cover when they need it the most. It comprises any medical emergency, diagnosis and treatment for some 270 medical conditions and full treatment and management of 25 chronic conditions. This required benefit is now part of the Medical Schemes Act and a medical aid may therefore not refuse to pay for at least minimum services for these conditions.
Joining a medical aid is always recommended especially if you have a family as the rising costs of private health care is not affordable for most South Africans. Medical aid cover will provide you with a sense of security and should any medical emergency arise, you can rest assured that your comprehensive cover will allow you the best medical services in South Africa. More importantly, it will spare you an experience in a South African state hospital which seems to be another important contributing factor for newcomers to medical aid services.
Recent deaths in the United States and Canada due to the H1N1 flu has once again raised concern about the swine flu virus. South Africa has been unscathed by the H1N1 flu outbreak and the local health authorities have assured South Africans that the country is prepared for any spread of swine flu among the population. However the recent deaths and new infections in first world countries indicates that H1N1 flu is spreading although it had drastically slowed in recent weeks. With travellers from Asia and Africa arriving in South Africa daily, countries with a less vigilant national health body may not be detecting or reporting cases of H1N1 flu among their citizens.
