Certain medical aids only cater for professionals and are therefore restricted schemes. This means it is not open to the general public and there are certain criteria that an applicant has to meet in order to qualify for membership. With medical aids for professionals, the criteria almost always involves having a recognized degree from a reputable tertiary institution. Some of these medical aids will accept a graduate from any field, while others are restricted only to professionals working in certain sectors of industry.
Most medical aids cover newborn babies immediately upon birth at no additional cost for 30 days. Some medical aids may extend this to up to 60 days after the birth. Cover is dependent on at least one parent being a medical aid member and with the hospital birth certificate clearly indicating the parent’s details. However, delaying to register your baby on your medical aid can lead to a host of complications and additional costs.
Having medical aid cover does not mean that you are protected all year round for private healthcare irrespective of the cost. All medical aids cap the out-of-hospital benefits although many schemes offer unlimited benefits for hospitalisation and emergency services.
There is no medical aid that offers unlimited benefits for your day-to-day medical expenses. With a medical aid, like any financial product, you get what you pay for and if you are prepared to spend a little more, you can rest assured of unlimited in-hospital cover but within certain restrictions as well.
Medical aids will not cover certain procedures, particularly cosmetic surgery and weight loss procedures. Other non-essential medical services like infertility procedures and LASIK may not be covered in full by medical aids, with many schemes now covering any part of the costs. A medical loan may be your only option should you not have the cash in hand to pay for these procedures.
The costs associated with treating cancer can be staggering. Without medical aid cover or the financial means to pay for your treatments in cash, you will have to settle for treatment at a public hospital. Public service strikes, understaffed facilities and overworked state employees are some of the considerations one has to deal with if undergoing cancer treatment at a state hospital.
Continue reading
Although a medical aid is an essential insurance cover these days, at times it can be unaffordable and you may have no other choice but to consider a cheaper option. If you want to keep your medical aid but cut the costs then you will have to switch over to a lower plan or even change your medical aid provider entirely.
Not paying your monthly contributions or giving up your medical aid altogether should never be considered unless you can really not afford the cover. However, before switching to a cheaper plan, it is important to make yourself familiar with all the changes that may affect the extent of your health cover.
