Become a Medical Aid Member – What You Need to Know
When it comes to healthcare in South Africa, not many topics are more polarising. However, when people have to figure out if they’re for or against medical aid, it seems to come down to the fact that many people choose medical aid to steer clear of South Africa’s dismal state hospitals. Here we will talk about what you need to know about becoming a medical aid member.
It is important, when choosing a medical aid, to take some of the negatives and positives of each one. So that you can become a medical aid member of one that you feel comfortable with. Not everyone is familiar with how medical aids work. And Independent, Medical Aid Specialists, have made it easy for you to understand all the aspects of medical aid coverage.
You’ll find out about comprehensive plans and about hospital plans. And also about the limited day-to-day cover and how GP Network plans work among others.
The beauty about IHS – Independent Medical Aid Specialists – is that they have done all the hard work for you in finding good medical aid cover. And they present you with the one that suits you.
Does Fedhealth suit YOUR Particular Needs as a Medical Aid Member?
You may be wondering which medical aid is a good choice, as in a recent survey, medical specialists recommended Fedhealth as an excellent, first choice. To help you choose the best medical aid for your personal and unique situation, IHS has put together comparisons of what they consider some of the best medical aid providers that South Africa has.
Some of these leading schemes are among others, Momentum, Discovery Health, Resolution Health, Medihelp, Bonitas and Medshield.
If you want to get further help about these medical aids and at no extra charge, you can call IHS on 021 712-8866.
Many South Africans are lucky enough to become a medical aid member through their employment. They become medical aid members who pay just a portion for medical because they know they will never be able to pay out of pocket for private health care.
The bottom line as to why people become a medical aid member is because they know too well the catastrophic nature of an illness or an injury without medical aid. They know what the alternative is – possible death because of the terrible conditions in some state hospitals.
Other people join medical aids simply because whether they are expensive or not, they believe good medical insurance goes hand in hand with looking after yourself.
There are Penalties for Late-Joiners
Medical scheme membership is mainly income-related. And many low-income groups can’t join a medical aid unless it is through their employers. Therefore, when people leave their jobs, many have to relinquish their medical aid.
Some young, healthy people don’t join a medical aid scheme because they are reluctant to pay huge premiums each month for something they never use. They look for membership much later on in life. That is when the medical aid protects their existing members by imposing later-joiner penalties. And also waiting periods to those who only join a medical scheme much later on. These late joiner penalties are designed to encourage more South Africans to join when they’re still young.
There is far more to medical aid than meets the eye.
- Does medical aid cover start immediately?
- Can anyone become a member of these medical schemes?
- What are these prescribed minimum benefits we hear so much about?
- What is a co-payment, and should you avoid it.
- does it cost you to use a medical aid broker?
- What if your doctor says he is out of medical aid… now what?
Don’t make the wrong choice because you couldn’t get answers to your medical aid questions. Let the experts help you with your decision so you can make a wise, informed choice.
All info was correct at time of publishing