A Summary of Medical Indemnity in South Africa

The Indemnity trade in South Africa is a continually escalating commerce, with fresh assurance
corporations materializing incessantly, other businesses have at this time leaped in to proffer cover
for instance supermarkets. Amid all the dissimilar kinds of cover that an individual can get, for
example auto, home, life, and numerous others, let’s look at health cover in South Africa.

A bigger proportion of the South African populace is disadvantaged or finds themselves in the lesser
earnings group with a smaller proportion of the inhabitants in the intermediate to superior earnings
grade. As a consequence numerous citizens must depend on the municipal health care scheme.

As cited earlier there are a lot of insurance companies proffering health assurance and remedial aid
plans in South Africa and it is vital to look about for one that matches your requirements. What is
more it’s imperative that you understand the small print, as a lot health indemnity givers will avoid
trying to resolve a application, but this is the same across the world and is not just limited to South
Africa.

South Africa is also witnessing a step up in attention from overseas assurance corporations,
proffering standard insurance for every one and what’s more some exclusive plans for emigrants.
These unique plans can comprise conveying the dead via airplane back to their native land. The fee
of intercontinental indemnity cover can differ rather a lot.

The outlook of the medical care scheme in South Africa is unsure, and the leadership has planned a
new nationwide medical cover which will grant free of charge remedial care for each and every one,
though some cynics state that the administrations grand medical care strategy is unlikely to work.
The leadership expects to instigate the scheme in 2012, beginning with bucolic regions and after that
steadily spread to the remainder of the nation in the next fourteen years. A cynic declared that for it
to perform it would require as a minimum 10 million income tax payers which is double what there
are currently as South Africa has the least amount per percentage of population in the world.

South Africa appears to have a lot of work to do to get ahead of the medical assurance trade and the
medical industry in its entirety is calculated to help every one who requires medical assistance. If the
critics are correct then the exclusive medical indemnity division will keep growing for now.

Why You Should Consider Medical Aid

The expense of medical care in South Africa is incredibly pricey. The typical resident that has
an insurance plan, generally continues to have to struggle simply to meet even the lowest
of payments. The benefit of instead opting for a medical aid program is that patients can get
assistance with the cost of their medical treatment, but without as much expense as an insurance
policy would incur. Statistics show that only 20 percent of South Africa’s 50 million people have a
healthcare plan and this is usually because of the strain that the insurance premiums can put on
the household budget. Unless a member of your family has an ongoing illness it can be tempting
to decide not to lay out the expense. However, at medical-aid.co.za we can help you to find
affordable health care to suit your budget.

There are many benefits to having a health care plan in place including giving you the chance to
choose where you are treated and offers the ability to make routine dental and optical exams
rather than have to wait in a queue at a walk in clinic. The biggest benefit comes form the peace
of mind that when you need medical care, you can get it without having to panic about the
cost as great deal of your treatment is covered by your medical aid scheme. Some aspects of
healthcare are covered by the risk benefit portion of your medical aid cover as this is designed
to ensure that your general health is good thus reducing the likelihood of you requiring more
expensive treatment. A lot of people are unaware of this and as a result do not take advantage of
the benefits. It is important to check with your medical aid provider exactly what you are entitled
to. Many providers will cover childhood vaccinations, flu shots, pap smears, mammograms and
screening tests for cholesterol, blood sugar, HIV/AIDS and prostrate issues.

Medical aid programs do require a monthly premium to be paid, but the advantages are well
worth the outlay and much they are typically much more affordable than standard health
insurance. We aim to help you find the best medical aid program for you at the most affordable
cost by allowing you to compare the best deals from South Africa’s top providers.

Learn More About Medical Aid in South Africa

Medical aid programs in South Africa alert people to the risks of relying on South Africa’s healthcare system so that they can consider alternative plans which will help them to access better quality health care. South Africa’s health system has to deal with a huge number of patients, which means doctors don’t have enough time to give their patients the individual attention they require. This can lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment, which clearly isn’t good for those individuals who went into hospital in the belief that they would get better by doing so.

Medical aid programs in South Africa are provided by organizations that have grown out of a sense of frustration with the national healthcare provision which is available in South Africa. With millions of South Africans trying to access healthcare services, there is a great deal of pressure on resources. Many South Africans find that they have to wait a long time for treatment and that the treatment they do receive is rushed and not performed to a high enough standard. The organizations which provide medical aid South Africa are aware of these problems and want to draw people’s attention to the limitations of South Africa’s healthcare system. South Africa’s healthcare system is huge and unwieldy which makes it difficult for hospitals to control the finances they are given and to divert funds to where they need to go and, in the end, it is patients who lose out. Although the national system can give some assistance to those suffering from common conditions and ailments, those with more challenging problems may not be able to get the treatment they require.

As far as medical aid is concerned, it doesn’t help that the economy is in a weakened state, since it means that the government collects less revenue from taxes and is not as able to spend money on healthcare provision. Thus, hospitals have less money to spend on equipment and on staff, which ultimately affects the standard of treatment patients receive and the range of options open to them. It certainly doesn’t help that equipment and medication are so expensive, as this just makes it even more difficult for hospitals to continue providing satisfactory care. The majority of people are having to rely on medical insurance for private healthcare, but this can become costly, especially if you have a long term illness. Medical aid is a great alternative. Since those providing medical aid are non-profit organizations rather than profit orientated businesses, they will offer a fair system in which every member of the program pays an equal monthly fee. This differs to insurance, where monthly policies are determined by how much risk of illness each individual poses. This is not good for those with long term illness such as cancer or AIDS.

Choosing The Right Medical Aid Provider

Choosing The Right Medical Aid Provider South Africa has one of the highest HIV infection rates world-wide and because of this, medical aid is not considered as a luxury, but rather a necessity it is not just another form of health insurance. Medical aid schemes, like some other forms of health insurance, rely on a large membership base of young healthy people to support the healthcare needs of a small number of older, sicklier members, but unlike insurance, everyone in a medical aid scheme pays the same amount. That means people such as HIV patients who would probably be deemed uninsurable are able to get access to affordable healthcare. But how do you know which medical aid is right for you?

Every medical aid plan out there has different coverage. Some of them will pay more for doctor visits and the hospital than others. Some of them have co-pays and deductibles you are responsible for. There are plans that cover pregnancy and those that won’t. There are also those coverage plans that are limited in terms of the doctors that you can use as providers. You have to look through such coverage to find what is a good plan for your needs. We can help you with sorting through all of the different options which are available to you. We can get comparative quotes from a election of the top medical aid providers in South Africa and help you to identify the medical aid scheme which is best suited to your needs. We can also help guide you through the process including helping you to understand how gap cover can protect you from unexpected medical expenses. It is important to know that the medical aid provider you choose covers the things that are important to you. For example, if you plan on having a family soon, then coverage for pregnancy is very important.

There are also differences in how the various different medical aid providers handle payments for treatment. Some of the medical aid schemes will pay the providers directly and you will only be responsible to pay your deductible or co-pay. Then the provider will bill the rest to the medical aid program. With others though you have to pay the entire bill first out of your own pocket. Then you have to submit a claim for and get reimbursed. It can take up to 30 days for you to get that money back. We can help you to choose which of these is right for you. Why not get your free, no obligation comparison from medical-aid.co.za.

Is Medical Aid just another Type of Medical Insurance?

Is Medical Aid Just Another Type of Medical Insurance?

The majority of developed and developing nations have private health care options largely funded by medical insurance.In most of these nations, medical insurance is the only chance consumers have of being able to afford private health care, but this is a bone of contention among many people. At the end of the day, insurance companies are profit driven. They have no reservations about cutting corners to keep costs to a minimum, and often they avoid risks making certain groups of people practically uninsurable.

Although many do not realise it, South Africa is among the leading lights of private health care funding. This is thanks to private medical aid programs. It is often mistakenly assumed that medical aid is just another version of medical insurance, but there is actually much more to them. The biggest difference is that medical aids are operated only by non-profit organizations. Medical aid is considered to be far superior to medical insurance and it has been an integral part in developing what is fast becoming one of the best private health care systems in the world. Private hospital groups in South Africa are even beginning to extend services to the Middle East and North America!

With medical aid, everyone pays the same monthly premium for the plan they have chosen. It does not matter how healthy you are. This is a major difference between medical aid and medical insurance. Insurance companies will raise premiums on those with long term illness and may even refuse cover to someone with a pre- existing health concern. Considering one of the major health issues in South Africa is HIV and AIDS this is fantastic, because even those who are HIV positive or are suffering from full blown AIDS can join a medical aid plan without having to pay more.

There are many other differences and benefits when comparing medical aid to medical insurance, but even based solely on this factor medical aid is much more stable than insurance! There are lots of different providers and schemes available in South Africa, so at medical-aid.co.za we aim to help you t find the est deal to meet your needs. We can help find affordable medical aid for you and your family.

Medical aid schemes in South Africa

Choosing between all the medical aid schemes in South Africa is not as easy as picking other types of cover. After all, in the grand scheme of things if you choose the wrong home or car cover, the worst that can happen is that you will lose your house or car. That may seem awful, but you can recover from it. Choose one of the wrong medical aid schemes in South Africa and your health can be seriously compromised, your financial stability destroyed and you will not be able to start again.

There are many different types of medical aid schemes in South Africa and each cover offers a different level of protection. Each tier of protection also has different premium rates and a different focus as far as what the medical aid schemes in South Africa provides benefits for. Some medical aid schemes in South Africa are good for young singles who are just starting out and other are better for families. It is a good idea to review your potential medical needs every few years to try and determine if you need to change your coverage. Even if you find yourself in a situation where you need additional benefits that are not provided by your cover, most companies that offer medical aids in South Africa also offer gap cover to increase your cover as needed.

There are so many companies that offer medical aid schemes in South Africa that you have a great range of products to choose from. Think realistically about what your potential health needs will be, talk to family and friends about their experiences with providers and make an informed decision. Also, be sure to call the company you may want to enrol with as most have set periods during the year when they will consider new applications.

Bonitas medical aid options

Bonitas medical aid options include a range of cover combinations to provide affordable and adequate health plans to people from all walks of life. They have five categories of aid: Bo comprehensive, Bonsave, Standard, Primary and Boncap. Young people just starting out often choose Boncap. Boncap is a Bonitas medical aid options discount product that provides for preventative care and helps to alleviate the cost of day to day care which includes medication and doctor’s visits. Members can use a savings account setup with Bonitas to put money toward unexpected health crisis or, they can opt to purchase a gap cover if the need arises to cover the gaps in the Boncap aid.

Bonsave is the one of the Bonitas medical aid options developed for young professionals who need preventative care, day to day benefits but do not need to manage chronic conditions. The standard and Bo comprehensive plans are the best choices for people managing chronic ailments or requiring frequent hospital services.

Bonitas medical aid options also include mid and full comprehensive plans. This is ideal for families and seniors as they are the section of the population that is most in need of chronic and regular care. Bonitas medical aid options have different levels of hospital coverage. The premium amount increases the more cover you acquire in a plan but again, if you can wisely use (and afford) acquiring a gap cover when you are in need or even purchasing a limited increase aid plan to temporarily raise the amount of benefits on your plan – you can get your health care needs met.

Before you chose a plan, consider all the possible Bonitas medical aid options carefully. You can afford decent health cover if you wisely combine some of the Bonitas medical aid options with additional gap cover plans. Whatever your budget or need, Bonitas has medical plan options that will work for you.

One plan medical aid

Ideally, the best kind of health cover comes under one plan of medical aid only. But having everything you could possibly need under one plan of medical aid can be out of reach for many people because of the subscription expense. Medical scheme companies are aware of this and work to offer their members different options to resolve their medical aid needs. They offer one plan medical aid products that have different tiers of cover and cost, and then they offer stop gap products to fill any additional cover needs that may arise.

A one plan medical aid can mean anything from fully comprehensive insurance that provides for unlimited hospitalization, private ward options, chronic care medication and wellness initiatives or, the one plan medical aid could be more budget conscious and offer only the cover that the member is going to need at this stage in their life. Young singles do not have the need for fully comprehensive insurance that families with children and senior do. It is easier for a young person to acquire a cheap one plan medical aid and not worry too much about it. For some seniors, maintaining a comprehensive one plan medical aid is also easily done. But for most families and retired persons, the affordable one plan medical aid is going to be one that offers only a mid or low level amount of cover. In a way, they are taking a gamble with their health needs. To reduce the risk of that gamble, medical aid companies offer gap plans to fill out areas of coverage with specific additional benefits.

Unfortunately, having to acquire a gap plan undermines the original intention of having one plan for medical aid. Now, you must deal with managing the claims and paperwork of two plans and costs might run higher when the two subscriptions are combined.

Hospital plans

Hospital plans are not something you can wait to get. While you may be in good health, there is no surety against illness or accident that could land you or one of your families in the hospital. Don’t forget that you could wind up with hospital costs without illness or accident too. Trying to afford a stay on a maternity ward without any hospital plans helping can make a rough start for any child. While it may seem like an expense you can do without, avoiding cover can wind up costing you a great deal. Hospital expenses can run into the thousands very quickly and the cost of health care in South Africa has risen dramatically over the past few decades and shows no sign of slowing down. Since most salaries have not kept pace with that rise, finding adequate and affordable hospital plans can seem like impossibility.

If you take the time to look around a compare the hospital plans offered by the medical aid companies you will find one that is affordable for you. The key to finding affordable health plans is to remember that your health needs will change as your life changes. Someone who is young and in good health can get away with one of the discounted hospital plans that has a high threshold limit. The threshold limit is the amount you agree to pay out of pocket first before the medical aid scheme will pay the rest. The higher the limit, the lower the premium cost. If you begin a family, what you need in a hospital plan will change as there are more day to day care costs involved. You will want to have better hospital plans in place in case your child needs any of the surgeries common to children such as having their tonsils removed or an appendectomy. Likewise, in old age, we all need the most comprehensive hospital plans we can afford as we are more likely to require treatment.

Transmed medical aid

Transmed medical aid is a closed medical aid company that offers cover to employees, subsidiaries and former subsidiaries of the Transnet group. They offer a wide array of tiered care plan and have some special initiatives that keep members choosing Transmed medical aid as their cover provider.

In addition to the standard offerings of core, budget, basic and full comprehensive plans, Transmed medical aid has placed an emphasis on plans designed for Elder and managed care. Transmed medical aid knows that with chronic conditions that are the result of natural aging or the presence of chronic disease, part of providing cover is about providing benefits that emphasize wellness. Transmed medical aid Elder care programmes focus on making sure that people over 60 still have control over their health treatments and their lives. The benefits are not just about medication and hospital care, but about offering discount and educational programmes to keep elders active and healthy. The same is true with managed care. Transmed programmes provide not just for day to day cover, but also, wellness care and caregiver support.

Transmed medical aid offers more in managed care too as they have separated out the specific forms of managed care needs to better allow a focus to be placed upon them. With Transmed medical aid you can get on a specific programme for managed care for disease, maternity or oncology. By separating out these three areas, the benefits can be more specifically tailored to each type of managed care need. Transmed medical aid also has an additional benefit that can be accessed to allow for an extension for International travel to make sure you are not left without cover just because you may have left the country. Their global network and agreements with other providers will make sure that you have access to all the health options you may need on your travels.