Finding Cheap Hospital Plans in South Africa
Given the soaring costs of medical treatment in South Africa, having a hospital plan, or some form of medical cover, is very important. Whether you’re a single adult just getting started in your job or have a family, medical cover is more a necessity than a luxury. The last thing you need is a medical emergency or illness happening when you’re least prepared, forcing you to deplete your savings, or hold a fundraising. Finding cheap hospital plans is the answer.
If you are on a tight budget, you don’t need to go for a costly comprehensive medical aid package. You can subscribe to a hospital plan instead and save thousands of Rand every month while still providing yourself a good level of cover for in-hospital treatment.
What Your Hospital Plan Will Cover
A hospital plan, in its basic form, will only cover treatment for when you, or any of the beneficiaries in your plan, is hospitalised. This means you won’t have to pay ward fees, theatre fees, and the procedure costs and consultation fees of the specialist treating you.It will also include the cost of the medicines administered to you in the course of your hospitalisation.
What your hospital plan will not include is day-to-day benefits, including purchase of medicines over the counter at pharmacies. If you need to see your GP or a specialist for treatment or go for physiotherapy sessions, you will need to pay for these from your pocket.
Or have some other form of medical cover that specifically caters to outpatient treatment. Some hospital plans will have the option to cover day-to-day treatment, but this will usually be restricted to specific healthcare providers. And even then, you may be required to provide a co-payment when you go for treatment.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Hospital Plan
Here are some tips you should take into consideration while choosing a hospital plan provider:
- Do you have a condition that requires frequent out-of-hospital treatment? You may end up making contributions for a plan but still have to spend a lot from your pocket in this case. You may end up spending more than if you took a comprehensive medical cover.
- If you’re on a tight budget, you can opt for hospital plans with income-based contributions. Though you may have to seek treatment at designated facilities, these plans mostly include options for outpatient care.
- Some plans allow you to get both in and out of hospital care with affordable premiums but will limit you to government healthcare providers.
- Besides the cost involved, consider you and your family’s present and future medical needs. If you’re just settling down, for instance, you will want to choose a plan with good maternity benefits, even if it costs a little extra.
Finding Cheap Hospital Plans in South Africa
Considering the many hospital plan providers, choosing a plan can be a bit confusing. To help you along, here are three of the cheaper plans in the country for gainfully employed South Africans with families: Genesis Private Choice, Bestmed Beat 1 (network option) and Bonitas BonEssential Select.
Get your competitive health insurance quote on this page. Contact us by completing and submitting the form on this page. We will help you sign up. Don’t get caught without cover. Act now!
All info was correct at time of publishing