With so many options, knowing what is right for you and which health-based coverage is best for your needs in SA is not easy. Medical-related coverage protects your wallet against medical expenses by covering the cost of your treatment and does not leave you with substantial out-of-pocket costs. Whether you are searching for a comprehensive cover or something more affordable, it is vital to understand how these schemes compare. The guide below looks at five of the best health insurance providers in South Africa, detailing the main features, benefits, and costs involved with each to ensure you make as informed a choice as possible based on your needs.
Comparing the Best Health Insurance in South Africa
Dis-Chem Health Insurance
Operating under Centriq Insurance, Dis-Chem Health Insurance has been developed to provide a range of medical insurance plans. One of the more entry-level policies, MyHealth Core, has been designed to cover day-to-day medical expenses such as private doctor consultations, medication, dentistry, eye exams, and maternity care. Your starting price would be R469 monthly, which is decent for the cheaper coverage. The MyHealth Plus Plan has unlimited doctor, dentist, and specialist consultations for the slightly higher premium of R649 per month. According to the reports, this insurer has been known to be one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly, thus making it one of the favorites of many South Africans.
With the MyHealth Core plan, the policyholder can consult a private doctor up to four times annually. However, these visits must be to a doctor within the Prime Cure Network. Preauthorization is required before the third and fourth visits for it to be applicable. Specific minor procedures like sutures and wound dressing are also covered under this category if these are included in the procedure guidelines. More flexibility is provided by the MyHealth Plus Plan, which places no restrictions on physician visits. Similar to the Core plan, pre-authorization is required after several visits.
Discovery Health
It operates within the parameters of the Medical Schemes Act and the Council for Medical Schemes. It offers the Discovery Flexicare Medical Insurance Product, covering essential day-to-day medical expenses and some medical procedures. For just R350 as a principal member and an additional R469 for Flexicare Plus, the Flexicare plan remains within reach for many South Africans. The scheme focuses on value-based care, compensating providers based on health outcomes instead of the volume of services provided. This approach ensures that the members will always receive quality healthcare at an affordable cost.
Discovery Health is renowned for providing comprehensive coverage and innovative approaches to healthcare. Several quality care programs and innovations are regularly reviewed through the scheme to ensure members get the safest and most efficient healthcare available in South Africa. There is also access to emergency medical services through Netcare 911, which covers transportation to an appropriate state hospital.
OnePlan Health Insurance
OnePlan Health Insurance is one of the most reasonably priced medical insurance schemes to suit individual and family needs. The policies vary between hospital coverage and comprehensive health insurance, covering dental and routine care. With the OnePlan Professional Plan, you are afforded comprehensive coverage incorporating a network of healthcare providers, day-to-day benefits, and chronic medication benefits. The fact that this firm is committed to technology and innovation is proven by the easily accessible app through which clients can easily manage their policies and file a claim. Affordable and flexible plans make OnePlan one of the best choices when one wants comprehensive insurance coverage at an economical rate.
OnePlan Health Insurance is based on customer-centricity, offering various plans to suit budgets and healthcare needs. The OnePlan Core Plan is set for basic medical needs; the OnePlan Blue and OnePlan Executive Plan will provide an enhanced benefit from OnePlan that covers dental and optical benefits. OnePlan was introduced to conveniently reach the huge network of medical practitioners who provide quality care to the members. In addition, the OnePlan Health App also facilitates the process of submitting claims and managing benefits, thus reducing customer administrative hassle.
Medihelp
Medihelp offers four significant plans to suit your health requirements and budget. Their student plan starts at approximately R 600 monthly and covers the members’ everyday needs and chronic medication. Their comprehensive plan starts at less than R3,000 a month, which entails GP and specialist consultations, treatment by the dentist and optometrist, hospital expenditure, and maternity and baby care. Medihelp’s online platform even offers users health tools, including a health data tracker, sports event registration, and weight-loss programs.
Given the many options they have for affordability and putting their members in better health, Medihelp is a good option for those living in South Africa who would like complete medical coverage. Medihelp is straightforward regarding health insurance and has designed each plan to suit particular needs. Regarding price, the Vital Plan is middle-of-the-road between hospital cover and day-to-day benefits. Fedhealth Members pay for day-to-day costs via a savings account with the Savings Plan. A Comprehensive Plan offers comprehensive coverage, meaning a very wide base of medical services becomes covered.
Fedhealth
Fedhealth is a sound financial health provider and offers innovative risk-based rewards, meaning that members with specific healthy habits can enhance the standard benefits. It has seven packages ranging from R1000-R10,000 a month and four below R2000. Fedhealth’s cheapest covers tests, hospitalization, chronic disease treatment, and maternal care, while the most expensive covers treatment for 68 chronic conditions and pays more.
Great maternity options are also available with FlexiFED 2 and 3, which make Fedhealth quite flexible and custom-made for a person seeking extensive health coverage. Fedhealth goes a step ahead in offering flexibility in upgrading the plans within 30 days of significant life changes. Such flexibility means that the changing lives of members will be met with a change in health insurance needs.
Fedhealth also gives lovely discounts for children and dependents, extending the age limit to 27 years, making it family-friendly. With no limits to the number of network doctor’s appointments and complete coverage for chronic diseases, Fedhealth certainly supports one’s needs.
