Medical aid can be pricey but that shouldn’t stop you from accessing great quality private healthcare. We’ve got the best solution for you …

It often feels as though our monthly bills keep growing and before you know it, there is far too much month left at the end of your money. Finding ways to cut back on costs can be difficult, especially when that means you have to compromise on the quality of a service you need.

It’s a great thing that your healthcare is not included in that.

You can still access top-quality private healthcare without having to pay for medical aid. The monthly costs of medical aid can be quite high and not everyone is in the position to afford it but everyone needs great healthcare.

So, what’s the magical solution then? Health insurance, of course.

What is health insurance?

Health insurance is an affordable type of medical cover. It gives you access to private healthcare and covers you financially for many medical expenses.

Health insurance will assist you to pay for hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription medications and important day-to-day care.

Various health insurance providers have a few policies you can choose from. Each policy offers different coverage at a different monthly premium. A health insurance policy will explicitly outline what you are covered for and how much. There are no surprises.

The amazing thing about health insurance is that it can also work as a gap cover. This will help cover any shortfall from your medical aid so that your medical expenses are adequately covered.

What is medical aid?

Medical aid is also a type of medical insurance but it differs from health insurance. Similar to health insurance, medical aid provides its members with coverage for healthcare costs which include hospitalisation, treatments and medication.

The costs of these medical treatments are covered in accordance with the rules stipulated in the medical scheme and the type of medical aid plan the member has.

The main difference between health insurance and medical aid is that health insurance has set limits on your claims.

Medical aid, on the other hand, cannot place exact limits or amounts on their claim payouts. But with health insurance you know exactly how much coverage you have and for what.

The difference between the two

As we mentioned above, medical aids provide in-hospital and specialist cover that pays for treatments stipulated by a medical scheme tariff. Medical aids are also required by law to pay for procedures that fall under the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs). This results in higher monthly premiums.

Health insurance providers usually cover more selective treatments for a specific amount. You know exactly what is covered and what the limit is. Health insurance is known for covering the small things but it’s also great for the big things – if you have the right insurance provider.

Health insurance also offers some great extras that medical aid might not, like death and funeral cover. Of course, this is dependent on your insurance provider.

Private healthcare in South Africa

We, unfortunately, don’t have access to adequate government-provided healthcare in our country. This has little to do with the quality of our doctors and nurses and more to do with overcrowding, lack of governmental funding and poor infrastructure.

This means that private healthcare is seen more as a necessity rather than a luxury. As much as private healthcare is a necessity, it comes at a really high cost.

We are so fortunate to have exceptional hospitals and medical facilities across our country but the majority of these facilities are private and completely independent from the government. If you don’t have some type of medical cover, you have almost zero chance of accessing private healthcare.

Health insurance is a great way to guarantee access to private healthcare in South Africa. Private healthcare doesn’t only mean private hospitals but refers to doctors, specialists and a few checkups and screenings.

Health insurance covers you for the cost of private healthcare, meaning you can claim back for any private doctor’s visits or emergency hospital services, depending on your specific plan.

Health insurance with Oneplan

We believe health insurance and private healthcare should be accessible to everyone, no matter what. That’s why we offer 4 different health insurance plans (check out our website for up to date pricing and plan features) that vary in coverage and cost.

Our plans consist of the following:

• Core plan from R420 per month
• Blue plan from R830 per month
• Professional plan from R1115 per month
• Executive plan from R1465 per month

Each plan has been carefully structured to provide you with comprehensive coverage while still keeping your budget in mind. Private healthcare isn’t a luxury, you should be able to prioritise your health without fixating on your budget. Give us a call.

Yours in affordable health insurance,

Oneplan