Medical Aid Cover for HIV Positive People and AIDS Patients
Medical aid cover is open to a person who has been diagnosed as HIV positive and in most instances, there is no additional cost for the benefits. Most medical aids in South Africa do have strict exclusion policies where any pre-existing chronic condition will not be covered in the first year of joining the medical aid – the same may apply for HIV/AIDS. However, after this exclusion period, you will enjoy the full benefits of medical aid cover with special programs for HIV/AIDS patients ensuring that you get the best care.
Exclusion Period for HIV/AIDS
Any exclusion period that is applied to a chronic condition ultimately serves to help you in the long run. Medical aids work by pooling all the contributions of the members and paying for medical services for those members who need it. By applying this exclusion period, your medical aid can ensure that new members do not exhaust the benefits immediately and then leave the scheme. This practice would affect all members of the medical aid.
By instituting an exclusion period, a medical aid can ensure that the member is committed to proper medical cover and the scheme can collect funds and distribute it without having those who have not previously contributed draining the scheme’s resources. This policy is not discriminatory against people living with HIV/AIDS – it applies to all chronic conditions even other life-threatening illnesses. Refer to Medical Aid Scheme Exclusions for more information.
Cheap Medical Aid Cover for HIV/AIDS
The cost of the cover is always a consideration. Most of us would like to save a penny where we can and purchase cheap medical aid cover. However, as a person living with HIV/AIDS, you should bear in mind that your needs are greater, irrespective of how well you feel or how young you are. Comprehensive cover is always a better option and if you are HIV positive, it should be an important consideration. You may need medical services more often than others of your age and the cost of private health care can quickly break your budget.
With a comprehensive health care plan you can rest assured that your medical needs are covered within a certain limit every year. If you add up the hospital benefit alone, the cost of your monthly contributions are negligible. You may never use the full extent of these services but should you need it, it is always comforting to know that your medical aid has you covered. Compare medical aids, both the monthly contributions and benefits, before you join a medical aid. Most schemes offer the same benefits and have a range of plans in place for every budget.
HIV/AIDS Medical Aid Programs
Many medical aids provide special programs that cater for the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. By testing regularly and joining this program once you find out that you are HIV positive, you can ensure that you are getting the maximum benefit from your medical aid cover. These programs do not only focus on your treatment should you fall ill.
It also offers as a wellness program where you will be constantly monitored and have access to specialist advice to ensure that you keep your CD4 count as high as possible for a prolonged period of time. This involves specialist advice on lifestyle, nutrition, regular CD4 count tests and related medical services. The moment your CD4 count drops to a level where ARV’s (antiretroviral drugs) are needed, your medical aid can get the process going to ensure that you are covered for these medicines on a monthly basis. With most HIV/AIDS programs, the constant monitoring will ensure that if any AIDS-defining illnesses are spotted, your medical aid will start paying for ARV’s even if your CD4 has not dropped to the qualifying level.