General
What is the most affordable medical aid?
Affordable medical aid plans in South Africa are usually hospital plans. Hospital plans cover hospital stays and major medical events such as emergencies, accidents, and serious illness, with limited benefits for day-to-day healthcare services.
Medihelp’s hospital plans are MedVital, MedVital Elect, and our medical aid plan for students, MedMove! Student. The right choice depends on your health needs and budget.
What does a medical aid do?
A medical aid covers the cost of healthcare services at private healthcare facilities, like hospitals and private doctors, and other healthcare providers. The amount that is covered for the hospital stay, the visit to a medical professional, and the treatment depends on the plan you choose.
How do I qualify for medical aid?
Anyone in South Africa can join a medical aid scheme. Before applying, consider your health needs and budget, and compare the plans available from different medical schemes. Once you've chosen a plan, you can apply directly through the scheme or with the assistance of a financial adviser.
To apply, simply complete an application form –
Medihelp’s online application form is quick and easy, and we’ll let you know if we
need any supporting documents. We’ll confirm your membership details, contribution amount, and cover start
date.
Keep in mind that some benefits (e.g. services, treatment, medication etc.) may have a waiting period. This depends on your existing health conditions, your age when you join, and whether you’ve been on medical aid before.
What is medical aid in South Africa?
A medical aid is something you pay every month to help cover your medical costs when you get sick, injured, or need healthcare.
Instead of paying large doctor or hospital bills on your own, the medical aid helps pay some or most of those costs for you.
Who pays for one’s medical aid?
The main (or principal) member is the person who holds the medical aid membership and whose name appears on the membership account. This person is usually responsible for paying the monthly medical aid contribution.
Contributions may be paid directly by the principal member, through their employer, or by a third-party payer such as a family member or sponsor.
How much does medical aid cost in South Africa?
The monthly amount or contribution that you pay for your medical aid varies depending on your plan, the number of dependants (other people or children on your plan), and underwriting. Basic hospital plans are more affordable, while comprehensive plans cost more but offer wider cover.
Can I get medical aid without a job?
Yes, you can join a medical aid in South Africa even if you’re unemployed or self-employed. You will need to pay the full monthly cost yourself. Medihelp is open to everyone – students, individuals, corporates, and families.
Is medical aid worth it?
Yes. Medical aid in South Africa helps protect you and your family from high private healthcare costs and unexpected bills. Depending on your plan, you can access private hospitals, doctors, and specialists, often with shorter waiting times than in the public healthcare sector. Even a basic plan can help cover unexpected medical expenses and provide peace of mind for you and your family.
What happens if I don’t pay my medical aid for a month?
If you miss a medical aid payment, your cover will be suspended or cancelled, depending on the scheme’s rules. You could also lose access to benefits.
Contact your medical aid as soon as possible to arrange payment and avoid interrupted cover.
What is the best medical aid in South Africa?
The best medical aid in South Africa fits the needs, budget, and lifestyle of you and your family. A good plan should offer the right balance of cover, affordability, and access to quality healthcare providers.
If personal, human care is important to you, Medihelp was named the Best Medical Aid Call Centre in 2024/2025 by the CE™ Index, showing its strong focus on helping members.
What should I look for when choosing a medical aid?
To choose the best medical aid in South Africa, think about:
- What you can afford
- Your healthcare needs
- Which doctors and hospitals you can use
- Extra benefits and services
- The overall value and level of service
Also check for limits and what’s included, like everyday benefits and cover for chronic conditions.
Do students need medical aid?
Having medical aid while you study is a smart move. It helps protect you from medical costs and gives you access to private healthcare and preventive care. Medihelp’s MedMove! Student plan offers cover to support you when you need it most.
How does a medical aid work in South Africa?
Members of medical aid in South Africa pay a monthly fee into a shared fund. When you need medical care, the scheme helps pay for it based on your plan, with certain limits and rules.
Do I need a medical aid adviser?
Working with a medical aid adviser is not compulsory, but they can help you compare plans, understand benefits, and choose cover that suits your needs, helping you avoid costly mistakes.
Should I get medical aid when I’m healthy?
Yes, medical aid helps protect you from unexpected medical costs and gives you access to private healthcare, even if you're healthy. Being healthy now doesn’t mean you won’t need care later – for example, in a car accident or other emergency.
Medical aid also includes preventive benefits, like screenings and health check-ups, which can help catch serious or chronic conditions early, before they become costly to treat. It can also make it easier to upgrade your plan in future and helps you avoid waiting periods or penalties as you get older.
What is the best medical aid for young adults?
The best medical aid for young adults is usually an affordable plan that covers hospital stays with some everyday benefits for healthcare depending on your needs. MedAdd and MedAdd Elect are popular medical aid plans for young couples.
Are there corporate medical aid plans in South Africa?
Yes, corporate medical aid plans are offered through employers. They often include lower monthly costs (if your employer subsidises your medical aid) and benefits designed to suit employees’ needs. Medihelp’s MedReach is a comprehensive plan specifically designed for the corporate market.
What is the impact of NHI on my medical aid?
National Health Insurance (NHI) will not affect your medical aid for now. The NHI aims to eventually provide universal healthcare in South Africa. The NHI Act was signed into law in May 2024, but full implementation is still many years away and no effective dates have been set. When fully implemented, medical aids will still be able to cover services that fall outside the NHI’s scope. Here are our 10 key notes on the NHI.
What is the difference between an open medical scheme and a restricted scheme?
An open medical scheme is available to anyone who wants to join, while a restricted scheme is limited to specific groups, such as employees of a company or members of an organisation. Medihelp is an open medical scheme, offering medical aid to everybody in South Africa.
What is a self administered medical scheme?
A self administered medical scheme manages its own day-to-day operations, such as member services, claims processing, and scheme administration, rather than outsourcing these functions to a separate administrator.
Some medical schemes appoint an external administrator to perform these services on their behalf, while self administered schemes manage them internally. The aim in both cases is to ensure that members receive efficient service and access to their healthcare benefits.
Medihelp is one of South Africa's largest self administered medical schemes.