Medical aid schemes offer their members a number of different policies, depending on the members’ requirements and expected usage of medical aid benefits. Proper healthcare is very expensive, so it’s important that you know exactly what you are covered for. In the event of an emergency, you don’t want any nasty surprises with regard to your expected medical cover, only to find that you have to pay out of your back pocket.

Do your research properly and make sure that the policy or agreement you are signing into does actually cover the conditions for which you are making provision. Are you absolutely sure that your medical aid scheme covers chronic illnesses and all the prescribed medicines to treat those illnesses? If you or a family member is diagnosed with cancer, what oncological cover are you entitled to? Should you develop diabetes, who pays for the lifelong insulin treatments? What are the limitations under psychotherapy and paediatric care?

When choosing cover from medical aid schemes, always ensure that the scheme you decide to go with is financially stable and can provide for all its members, especially for chronic or lifelong illnesses. It’s important to note as well that most medical aid schemes do not provide unlimited out-of-hospital benefits, so read the fine print before you sign the policy documents.

Policyholders can choose to add a savings pocket to their medical aid contributions. Medical aid schemes attribute a certain amount of the members’ premiums towards their annual medical savings account, which can be used for doctor or specialist consultations, or healthcare expenses not covered by their general benefits.

Review your medical aid policy document and if the available cover doesn’t meet your current needs, perhaps it’s time to speak to your provider and revise your policy.

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