While pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting experience, it can also be financially stressful because of the medical costs. Pregnant women will require routine checkups as well as screenings with their doctors for prenatal care.

These visits can be expensive – especially when they are not covered by medical aid. This is why all soon to be mothers should consider joining a medical aid plan that is inclusive of maternity benefits.

Whether you are thinking of starting a family or not, the sooner you join a medical aid plan, the better. Finding medical insurance quotes can be stressful, fortunately South Africa has good maternity medical aid providers to choose from.

To help make this decision easier, here is everything you need to know about medical aid for pregnancy. From what maternity medical aid plans should cover as well as the best maternity medical aid plans.

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Which Maternity Benefits Medical Aid Plans Should Cover

All medical aid schemes cover Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) as stated by the Medical Schemes Act of 1998. But unfortunately, not all medical aid plans will include maternity benefits. Especially when looking at the more basic plans, they will not usually cover maternity medical costs.

This is why selecting a medical aid plan or a maternity hospital plan that includes the most important maternity benefits is important. These benefits include antenatal consultations, ultrasound scans, and the baby’s delivery.

Antenatal Consultations

Antenatal consultations are regular checkups with a general practitioner or a gynaecologist throughout the pregnancy. These are done to ensure the mother and the unborn baby are in good health. Usually, there are around 8 to 12 antenatal consultations during pregnancy. If a medical aid plan does not cover a portion of these appointments, the medical costs can become very high.

Ultrasound Scans

Ultrasound scans are also an important assessment to ensure the health of the mother and the baby. Ultrasounds will provide information about the baby’s growth, heart health, and position in the womb. Ultrasounds can also become expensive when not covered by a medical aid scheme.

Baby’s Delivery

The baby’s delivery can become expensive as well. Whether it is natural childbirth or a c-section, the cost of childbirth alone is very high. Certain medical aid plans may not cover the costs of any complications the mother or baby may experience during delivery. While most private hospitals may give you an extension between 60 to 90 days to pay these costs, it can still be a big financial strain. This is why it is important to ensure that the medical aid plan includes the baby’s delivery as a part of their maternity benefits.

Best Medical Aid Plans for Pregnancy

In South Africa, there are several different medical aid plans to choose from – but it is important to remember that not all include maternity benefits. So when considering which medical aid plan you should choose, make sure to select one that provides coverage of maternity benefits and will suit your prenatal care needs.

1.   Discovery

Discovery’s Executive, Comprehensive, Priority, and Saver plan all offer coverage of certain maternity benefits. While all plans offer maternity coverage, these benefits will vary depending on the medical aid plan. Discovery’s most comprehensive plan, which covers almost all maternity needs, is the Executive plan.

The Executive plan starts from R7 688 per month and will include the following maternity benefits:

• Antenatal consultations (Up to 12 consultations with a general practitioner, gynecologist, and midwife)
• Blood tests
• Prenatal screening
• Ultrasound scans (Covered up to 2 2D ultrasound scans)
• Prenatal and postnatal care
• Essential Registered devices
• Other healthcare services (including flu vaccination during pregnancy)
• General Practitioner and specialist care after birth
• Medicines and supplements
• Home deliveries with a midwife (including water births)
• Hospitalisation for delivery

Discovery maternity benefits are included in all plans, but these benefits will not be in effect until they are activated. To activate Discovery’s maternity benefits, you can visit their website or the Discovery app.

2.   Fedhealth

Fedhealth’s maternity coverage plans include flexiFED2, flexiFED3, flexiFED4, maxima EXC, and maxima PLUS. The plans with the most comprehensive maternity benefits are the flexiFED4, maxima EXC, and maxima PLUS.

The flexiFED4 starts from R2 806 per month, maxima EXC starts from R6 816, and maxima PLUS starts from R10 772. These plans include the following maternity benefits:

• Antenatal consultations (12 consultations with a midwife or a network general practitioner and gynaecologist)
• 2 Antenatal scans
• Doula benefit (R1 300 cover for a Doula)
• Fedhealth baby program (Education, support, baby medical advice line, and Fedhealth baby bag)
• Postnatal midwifery benefit
• Private ward cover

While flexiFED4, maxima EXC, and maxima PLUS may offer the same maternity benefits, they do vary with the other benefits and coverage they provide. So make sure to select the Fedhealth scheme that will best cover your medical needs.

3.   Bonitas

Bonitas has different medical aid plans that cover pregnancy medical costs and provide access to certain maternity benefits. These plans include Hospital plans, Savings plans, and Traditional plans. The hospital plans include the Hospital Standard, BonEssential, and BonEssential Select.

These start from R2 592 per month and include a range of the following maternity benefits:

• 6 Antenatal consultations
• 2 sessions of 2D Ultrasound scans
• Amniocentesis
• 4 Postnatal consultations (1 consultation can be used with a location specialist)

The Savings plans include BonFit Select, BonSave, BonComplete, BonClassic, and BonComprehensive. While all these plans offer maternity benefits, the Saving Plan that provides the most maternity benefits is the BonComprehensive plan which starts from R8 217 per month. This plan includes the following benefits:

• 1 Amniocentesis
• Antenatal classes up to R1 330
• 12 Antenatal consultations
• 4 Postnatal consultations (1 consultation can be used with a location specialist)
• 2D Ultrasound scans
• Access to a private ward

All Bonitas’ Traditional Plans include maternity benefits, but the plan covering the most benefits is the Standard plan. This medical aid plan starts from R4 230 per month and has all the maternity benefits of the BonComprehensive plan, excluding access to a private ward.

Final Thoughts on Medical Aid for Pregnant Women

Ensuring that you have sufficient medical aid coverage during pregnancy can make all the difference. The costs that come throughout the 9 months of pregnancy can be very high, and without any coverage, it may leave you in a troubling financial situation.

Luckily, South Africa has great medical aid providers, allowing you to choose the plan that best suits you. The two most important maternity benefits your medical aid plans should cover are antenatal consultations and ultrasound scans.

Once you have medical aid coverage during your pregnancy, you will no longer have to worry about the medical costs and can simply enjoy this special time of your life. So don’t wait any longer and select a medical aid that will give you the cover you need.