Over the years, public healthcare has steadily deteriorated. Most people would prefer to avoid public hospitals in South Africa and the reputation they have garnered in the last decade. State hospitals and medical institutions in South Africa simply no longer have the capacity to meet demand, and the overburdened system is buckling under the pressure. Given a choice, almost everyone would opt for a stay at a private medical care facility, but unfortunately, medical aids are an expense not many households in the country can afford. This is why cost-effective hospital plans are an increasingly popular and attractive option.
What are Hospital Plans?
Most people understand that medical aid coverage is risk-based insurance for which members pay a monthly premium. This coverage comes with certain benefits and will only pay out in specific circumstances. Medical aids, however, cover both day-to-day expenses as well as healthcare centre costs, along with benefits extending into general wellness and dental care.
Hospital plans in South Africa, for the most part, only cover expenses racked up during a stay at a health centre, while day-to-day medical bills are covered out of pocket. This is a product offered by many medical aids and even insurance providers and is an excellent option for anyone of limited means who is still relatively young and healthy. If you, for example, don’t often need to see the doctor or dentist, consider yourself fit, and don’t struggle with any chronic or life-threatening conditions, then researching hospital plans is a suitable option for you.
What Do Medical Aids in South Africa Offer?
When choosing hospital plans under medical aids, you can rest assured these products fall under the Medical Schemes Act, which means that your in-hospital stays and Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) will be covered. There are also some plans that add a few day-to-day cover benefits that may include co-payments and partially covering doctor or dental visits.
Here at Medshield, we have carefully developed each plan to accommodate a range of health and lifestyle needs. Our MediCore option is one of our plans that is geared towards individuals requiring unlimited hospital cover and coverage for all prescribed minimum benefits. This is a fantastic option for anyone who wishes to prepare for any major medical emergencies, without paying an arm and a leg. The option offers unlimited in-hospital cover through any of the Medshield Network facilities. Some procedures while hospitalised are paid at a Medshield Private Tariff of 200%. This solution is purely a hospital plan and does not include day-to-day benefits, which saves money for those who are healthy and capable of managing the rest of their medical expenses.
Here at Medshield, it is our mission to provide transparency, integrity, dependability, and innovative coverage solutions for South African citizens from all walks of life. We not only provide access to high-quality healthcare, but we ensure that our premiums are competitively priced and able to cater to a variety of healthcare needs. If you would like to choose the right plan for you and your family, be sure to use our online needs analysis and contributions calculator tool.
