What is a Hospital Plan?
A hospital plan covers you for any medical procedures that are performed in a private hospital, such as if you’re in an accident and need an emergency operation.
Cheap Hospital Plans In South Africa
Best low-cost hospital plan
Bonitas BonEssential Select is an entry-level hospital plan operating on the provider network. Unlimited procedures and treatments conducted at network hospitals are paid for in full.
The limited cover is provided for expenses relating to mental health, physical rehabilitation, blood tests, scans, and kidney dialysis. Procedure-specific co-payments apply.
Members have access to basic maternity, child-care, and preventative-care benefits. A benefit booster, available under the wellness benefit, can be used to cover certain day-to-day expenses.
Best hospital plan with savings
Discovery Health’s Classic Delta Saver option is the best of both worlds. It offers extensive in-hospital cover coupled with a medical savings account (MSA).
Healthcare services conducted in-hospital are covered in full at Delta network facilities. Consultations with network specialists are included. Non-network healthcare providers are covered at 200% of the scheme rate.
A quarter of the monthly contribution is allocated to the member’s savings account. Once the funds in the MSA are depleted, an extender benefit kicks in to cover day-to-day claims.
In addition to an annual oncology benefit, there’s a cover for 27 Chronic Disease List (CDL) conditions. Chronic medicines, listed on the scheme formulary, are paid in full.
Best hospital plan for seniors
Momentum Health’s Incentive option is a hybrid medical aid plan tailored for the elderly.
It offers extensive in-hospital benefits, and chronic cover for 26 CDL conditions, and 10% of contributions are held as savings to cover day-to-day medical expenses.
Generous oncology benefits, as well as cover for medical rehabilitation, private nursing, step-down facilities, and hospice, are included in the major medical benefits.
Access to health-management programs, preventative-care benefits, and early-detection tests are enabled through the health platform benefit.
Members who elect to use hospitals, doctors, and pharmacies on the Momentum Health-associated network are eligible for a discount on their monthly contributions.
Best family-friendly hospital plan
FlexiFed 2 is a low-cost customizable hospital plan by Fedhealth. It’s targeted at starter families and offers generous maternity and childhood benefits.
Limited day-to-day benefits cover a range of health-related costs, from infant audiology tests, postnatal midwife consultations, and specialized radiology to seven days of take-home medication post-event.
A variety of tests, healthcare assessments, and vaccinations are covered by a screening benefit. Included for the first time in 2022 is the HPV vaccine for girls aged between nine and 14 years.
By choosing to use network hospitals, or pay a co-payment for elective surgeries, members can reduce their monthly contributions.
Best hospital plan for private healthcare
Discovery Health’s Classic Core option offers unlimited benefits, paid in full, at any private hospital in South Africa.
Network specialists are covered. Providers outside of the network are covered at 200% of the scheme rate. Approved chronic medicines dispensed by a designated pharmacist are covered.
As a pure hospital plan, members of the Classic Core plan have limited access to day-to-day cover. Nominal maternity benefits and cover for evacuation services and preventative screening tests fall into this category.
The cover is available for 27 conditions on the Chronic Disease List. An advanced illness benefit provides unlimited coverage for palliative care at home.
Best hospital plan for young, single individuals
The Aspire Prime option by Health Squared is an affordable, integrated solution for healthy, young people.
Members have unlimited access to healthcare at private network hospitals, paid at 100% of the scheme rate. Maternity and antenatal care benefits are part of the package.
In addition to full coverage for 29 chronic conditions, limited day-to-day benefits include GP, physiotherapy, and psychology consultations at network providers.
What is the waiting period for a hospital plan in South Africa?
This means that for the first 3 months of paying your premiums, you cannot claim for medical services. You are fully covered after this 3 month general waiting period passes.
There is also a second waiting period known as the pre-existing condition waiting period. It lasts for the first 12 months of your cover.