Medical Aid for Young Adults in South Africa (2024)

Medical Aid for Young Adults in South Africa (2024)

Four Young Adults Hug

As a young adult, having medical aid coverage can take a load off your shoulders. However, often young adults only decide to get medical aid after an emergency. Most of the time, this is too late and they are left with high medical costs, which can lead to years of debt.

It is important for young adults to have a medical aid plan that covers doctor consultations, hospitalisations, surgery, and therapy. Trying to find the best medical insurance quotes and plans can be overwhelming because there are so many to choose from. To help make the decision easier, this article will highlight the best medical aid for young adults.

Medical Kit

 

Get a Medical Aid for Young Adults Quote Quickly


Discover the wonders of Episodic Medical!

If you’re under 65, they’ll provide you with a medical aid quote that’s custom-tailored to your lifestyle, health needs, and budget, ensuring a perfect fit.

Get a Quote!

What Should Medical Aid Schemes for Young Adults Cover?

In South Africa, there are certain medical expenses that all medical aid plans have to cover. As stated by the Medical Scheme Act, 13 of 1998, all medical schemes cover Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB).

However, there are two important medical expenses that you should look for when selecting a medical aid as a young adult. These are day-to-day coverage and hospital coverage. Day-to-day coverage is for everyday medical expenses. This usually includes visits to the general practitioner, prescribed medication, and even dentist or optometrist visits with certain plans. Hospital coverage is for primary treatments, doctor, or specialist visits.

As a young adult in South Africa, it is important to remember that all South African citizens 35 years old or older without medical aid will be obligated to pay a late joiner fee. Which is another reason young adults should choose a medical aid plan sooner than later.

Medical Doctor Stethoscope

Best Medical Aid Plans for Young Adults

In South Africa, there are a lot of medical aid companies that have different medical aid plans to choose from. Important factors you should look at when comparing medical aids are the coverage they offer and how affordable they are. Here are the best young adult medical aid schemes:

1.   Discovery

Discovery’s KeyCare Series includes three plans that offer great coverage and benefits while remaining affordable medical aid for young adults. The three plans in this series include Plus, Core, and Start, which start from R968 per month.

All plans in this series cover:

  • Day-to-day cover
  • Non-emergency casualty visits
  • Chronic medication prescriptions
  • Full cover hospital network
  • Partial cover hospital network
  • Cancer cover
  • Chronic dialysis
  • The specified list of procedures in a day surgery (Biopsies, breast procedures, eye procedures, urological, and more)

Dentist consult

However, certain treatments in the KeyCare Series will only be covered when visiting doctors and facilities included in Discovery’s network. This means that you will have to visit particular doctors at specific hospitals to cover the treatment through this medical aid plan.

2.   Momentum

Momentum’s Ingwe option is a relatively cheap medical aid for young adults, making it a popular option and a great student medical aid plan. The entry-level plan starts from a little under R500 per month and offers basic coverage for medical needs. Making this option the cheapest medical aid in South Africa for young adults. There are two Ingwe plan options: Ingwe Primary Care and Ingwe Active Care.

Medication

All Ingwe plans cover:

  • Day-to-day cover (General practitioners, eye care, dentistry, mental health)
  • Specialist visits (Maximum of 2 specialist visits a year)
  • Hospitalisations (High and intensive care)
  • Chronic benefits (Covers 26 conditions)

While both Ingwe options cover the above mentioned treatments, each plan also has terms & conditions that affect coverage cost. Such as the number of consecutive hospital days or specific medical procedures. It is important to note that Momentum will only cover treatments and producers done by the doctors and at the facilities included in the Ingwe Primary Care Network and Ingwe Active Care Network.

Brain Model

3.   Fedhealth

While Fedhealth’s FlexiFED1 is an entry-level hospital plan, it covers all basic medical expenses from R1393 per month. This is a good option for young adults who prefer managing their payments as Fedhealth offers different payment plans. These payment plans include a fixed plan for individuals who prefer to pay a set amount each month. While individuals who prefer to control how much they pay each month may like the flexible payment plan.

The FlexiFED1 plan covers:

  • Unlimited Network General Practitioner coverage
  • Unlimited Network Specialist coverage
  • Unlimited network hospitalisations
  • Unlimited maternity cover (With network General Practitioners and Specialists)
  • Chronic benefits
  • Screening benefits (Once a year free flu vacation, HIV test, and more)

Patient Medical Treatment

This plan is a good option for young adults who do not have a lot of medical expenses and just need basic medical coverage. Because once the plan reaches a certain level, a Threshold Benefit will kick in, limiting the amount of coverage that this plan offers.

4.   Bonitas

Bonitas’ Boncap plan is a great option for young adults just starting out. This income-based medical aid plan caters to how much each individual earns each month. Starting from R1 274 per month for individuals who earn between R0 to R9 430 per month.

Eye Test

The Boncap plan covers:

  • General practitioner visits (Unlimited network consultations)
  • General practitioner referred acute medicine, blood tests, and x-rays
  • Over the counter medicine
  • Maternity care
  • Network specialist consultations
  • Optometry
  • Primary dentistry (Consultations, emergency consultations, x-rays, and more)

Doctor Xray

A great feature of the Boncap plan is that it covers a few treatments done by out-of-network doctors. While there are a limited number of these in this program, it is worth considering because the most basic level plans don’t usually cover this. Another feature worth noting about this plan is that it covers unlimited virtual general practitioner consultations.

Final Thoughts on Medical Aids for Young Adults

As a young adult, the last thing you want to go through is a medical emergency without medical aid cover. This could leave you in a challenging financial situation. Fortunately, South Africa has many good medical aid providers that have affordable plans to choose from.

All of these plans offer PMB, and most programs offer additional coverage and benefits. This means that any chosen plan will provide you with the comfort of knowing that you will at least receive a basic level of medical coverage. Which can make all the difference in certain situations.

This means you will no longer have to worry about any medical emergency giving you peace of mind. Don’t wait any longer and begin getting in touch with these providers for medical aid quotes today.

One response to “Medical Aid for Young Adults in South Africa (2024)”

  1. Nicole Durgiah Avatar
    Nicole Durgiah

    Need a quote for a 21 year old

Four Young Adults Hug

As a young adult, having medical aid coverage can take a load off your shoulders. However, often young adults only decide to get medical aid after an emergency. Most of the time, this is too late and they are left with high medical costs, which can lead to years of debt.

It is important for young adults to have a medical aid plan that covers doctor consultations, hospitalisations, surgery, and therapy. Trying to find the best medical insurance quotes and plans can be overwhelming because there are so many to choose from. To help make the decision easier, this article will highlight the best medical aid for young adults.

Medical Kit

 

Get a Medical Aid for Young Adults Quote Quickly


Discover the wonders of Episodic Medical!

If you’re under 65, they’ll provide you with a medical aid quote that’s custom-tailored to your lifestyle, health needs, and budget, ensuring a perfect fit.

Get a Quote!

What Should Medical Aid Schemes for Young Adults Cover?

In South Africa, there are certain medical expenses that all medical aid plans have to cover. As stated by the Medical Scheme Act, 13 of 1998, all medical schemes cover Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB).

However, there are two important medical expenses that you should look for when selecting a medical aid as a young adult. These are day-to-day coverage and hospital coverage. Day-to-day coverage is for everyday medical expenses. This usually includes visits to the general practitioner, prescribed medication, and even dentist or optometrist visits with certain plans. Hospital coverage is for primary treatments, doctor, or specialist visits.

As a young adult in South Africa, it is important to remember that all South African citizens 35 years old or older without medical aid will be obligated to pay a late joiner fee. Which is another reason young adults should choose a medical aid plan sooner than later.

Medical Doctor Stethoscope

Best Medical Aid Plans for Young Adults

In South Africa, there are a lot of medical aid companies that have different medical aid plans to choose from. Important factors you should look at when comparing medical aids are the coverage they offer and how affordable they are. Here are the best young adult medical aid schemes:

1.   Discovery

Discovery’s KeyCare Series includes three plans that offer great coverage and benefits while remaining affordable medical aid for young adults. The three plans in this series include Plus, Core, and Start, which start from R968 per month.

All plans in this series cover:

  • Day-to-day cover
  • Non-emergency casualty visits
  • Chronic medication prescriptions
  • Full cover hospital network
  • Partial cover hospital network
  • Cancer cover
  • Chronic dialysis
  • The specified list of procedures in a day surgery (Biopsies, breast procedures, eye procedures, urological, and more)

Dentist consult

However, certain treatments in the KeyCare Series will only be covered when visiting doctors and facilities included in Discovery’s network. This means that you will have to visit particular doctors at specific hospitals to cover the treatment through this medical aid plan.

2.   Momentum

Momentum’s Ingwe option is a relatively cheap medical aid for young adults, making it a popular option and a great student medical aid plan. The entry-level plan starts from a little under R500 per month and offers basic coverage for medical needs. Making this option the cheapest medical aid in South Africa for young adults. There are two Ingwe plan options: Ingwe Primary Care and Ingwe Active Care.

Medication

All Ingwe plans cover:

  • Day-to-day cover (General practitioners, eye care, dentistry, mental health)
  • Specialist visits (Maximum of 2 specialist visits a year)
  • Hospitalisations (High and intensive care)
  • Chronic benefits (Covers 26 conditions)

While both Ingwe options cover the above mentioned treatments, each plan also has terms & conditions that affect coverage cost. Such as the number of consecutive hospital days or specific medical procedures. It is important to note that Momentum will only cover treatments and producers done by the doctors and at the facilities included in the Ingwe Primary Care Network and Ingwe Active Care Network.

Brain Model

3.   Fedhealth

While Fedhealth’s FlexiFED1 is an entry-level hospital plan, it covers all basic medical expenses from R1393 per month. This is a good option for young adults who prefer managing their payments as Fedhealth offers different payment plans. These payment plans include a fixed plan for individuals who prefer to pay a set amount each month. While individuals who prefer to control how much they pay each month may like the flexible payment plan.

The FlexiFED1 plan covers:

  • Unlimited Network General Practitioner coverage
  • Unlimited Network Specialist coverage
  • Unlimited network hospitalisations
  • Unlimited maternity cover (With network General Practitioners and Specialists)
  • Chronic benefits
  • Screening benefits (Once a year free flu vacation, HIV test, and more)

Patient Medical Treatment

This plan is a good option for young adults who do not have a lot of medical expenses and just need basic medical coverage. Because once the plan reaches a certain level, a Threshold Benefit will kick in, limiting the amount of coverage that this plan offers.

4.   Bonitas

Bonitas’ Boncap plan is a great option for young adults just starting out. This income-based medical aid plan caters to how much each individual earns each month. Starting from R1 274 per month for individuals who earn between R0 to R9 430 per month.

Eye Test

The Boncap plan covers:

  • General practitioner visits (Unlimited network consultations)
  • General practitioner referred acute medicine, blood tests, and x-rays
  • Over the counter medicine
  • Maternity care
  • Network specialist consultations
  • Optometry
  • Primary dentistry (Consultations, emergency consultations, x-rays, and more)

Doctor Xray

A great feature of the Boncap plan is that it covers a few treatments done by out-of-network doctors. While there are a limited number of these in this program, it is worth considering because the most basic level plans don’t usually cover this. Another feature worth noting about this plan is that it covers unlimited virtual general practitioner consultations.

Final Thoughts on Medical Aids for Young Adults

As a young adult, the last thing you want to go through is a medical emergency without medical aid cover. This could leave you in a challenging financial situation. Fortunately, South Africa has many good medical aid providers that have affordable plans to choose from.

All of these plans offer PMB, and most programs offer additional coverage and benefits. This means that any chosen plan will provide you with the comfort of knowing that you will at least receive a basic level of medical coverage. Which can make all the difference in certain situations.

This means you will no longer have to worry about any medical emergency giving you peace of mind. Don’t wait any longer and begin getting in touch with these providers for medical aid quotes today.

One response to “Medical Aid for Young Adults in South Africa (2024)”

  1. Nicole Durgiah Avatar
    Nicole Durgiah

    Need a quote for a 21 year old

Get A Quote