Medical treatment is very expensive, especially when the need for it is unforeseen and your savings won’t cover it. Having medical aid cover is therefore necessary to ensure that you have access to the necessary funds to cover you and your family’s medical expenses.

What is a medical aid policy?
Medical aid provision works like insurance. The policy holder pays a monthly premium to the insurer and, should medical cover be required, the insurer will pay for these expenses based on the agreement between the insurer and the insured. The medical aid policy is the contract between these two parties, stating what is covered and who is covered under this agreement.

The advantages of having medical cover
Medical aid can be expensive, but considering the cost of not having medical cover when you most need it, it’s worth it to be prepared, especially for chronic illnesses. Policy holders with a comprehensive medical aid package will be covered for visits to the doctor, dentist, optometrist, and other specialists, as well as for hospitalisation. Those who only opt for a hospital plan (with or without a savings balloon) will need to pay for their own visits to the doctor, etc.

Some medical aid providers offer health incentive packages like free gym membership, reduced airfares, rewards schemes on healthy grocery purchases. Participating in these lifestyle programmes can improve your health and save you a lot of money.

The risks of not being covered
People without medical aid are less likely to seek professional medical attention when they are sick or injured, which could lead to higher medical expenses should their health condition worsen and they are forced to pay for treatment. Uninsured people also don’t go for regular health check-ups and run the risk of developing chronic diseases that go undiscovered until it’s too late for preventative attention.

Medical insurers offer a variety of products, so you will be able to choose the medical cover that best suits your needs and budget.

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