29 April 2022
The cost of medical aid in South Africa is at an all-time high with many members battling to pay their premiums. This is where medical insurance comes in and offers a potential solution to reduce the financial burden experienced by many.
However, there is a stark difference in benefits offered and level of cover when deciding between the two. This is not as clear to the consumer as one would hope for.
So, let’s get into it…
The most important difference between Medical Aid and Medical Insurance is that Medical Aid’s are obligated to provide cover for the diagnosis and treatment of PMB’s.
What are PMB’s?
Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) are a set of predefined conditions that form part of South Africa’s Medical Schemes Act. With PMBs, anyone who is part of a medical scheme can receive treatment for 270 hospital-based and 25 chronic conditions. The price of these will be covered in full.
These conditions are usually your most life-threatening conditions. Examples are heart disease, cancer, childbirth, hypertension and diabetes– click here to view the list of PMB conditions.
So, you may be asking the question – what cover do I get on Medical Insurance then?
Medical Insurance mainly offers benefits for daily health care needs such as GP visits, scripted medication, dentist visits and optometry with the option to add on hospital cover.
The hospital cover offered by Medical Insurance companies is not extensive. It is usually limited to accidental and emergency cover only. They only cover certain procedures at a fixed rate per day spent in hospital.
The Medical Insurance companies are not obligated to cover any conditions in full no matter the severity thereof. They are only obliged to pay the set rand value as per the policy chosen. This usually results in many members experiencing major out-of-pocket expenses when hospitalised.
Whilst Medical Insurance may offer South Africans financial relief in comparison to Medical Aid, the differences in benefits need to be analysed and given careful consideration before a decision is made.
The information contained in this communication, including attachments, is not to be construed as advice in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act of 2002 (“FAIS”) as the writer is neither an appointed representative of Zestlife, nor a licensed financial services provider as contemplated in FAIS. Please consult your Financial Adviser or Zestlife should you require advice of a financial nature and/or intermediary services.
Author - Megan McCallum
Megan McCallum, Head: Health Product Business Development & Management
Megan manages several teams and distribution channels as a vital part of Zestlife’s Health Division. Her primary focus is on ensuring that the insurance products offered, align with clients' needs in the dynamic financial services landscape.
“The healthcare funding landscape in South Africa has many challenges including client’s affordability, education in a complex industry and the ability to decipher the best funding programmes tailored to an individual’s needs”, she says.