Buy online
Plan ahead for 2025’s healthcare costs today! You will need healthcare in 2025, whether it's a checkup at the GP or dentist, an emergency such as a broken bone or car accident, or managing a chronic condition. To help you decide how to cover your 2025 healthcare costs, we’ve looked at all the options available and how to choose the best one for you and your family.
How you can fund medical costs in 2025
Medical care, even something like a monthly prescription, can cost tens of thousands of rands each year. There are several options available to ensure you can pay for the care you and your family need.
Use free public healthcare services
Public healthcare clinics and hospitals offer free care, though there may be a small access fee or co-payment, which is typically based on your earnings. While you may have heard or read about the poor state of public clinics and hospitals, there are public healthcare facilities that provide good care and service. However, you might encounter medication shortages and longer waiting times for treatments.
Take out medical aid and gap cover
Medical aid covers a main member and dependants for care at private healthcare facilities. Medical aid may be offered through your employer, or you can choose to join one of 16 open medical aid schemes, such as Bestmed, Bonitas, Discovery, Fedhealth, and Momentum. Gap cover is available to medical aid members and provides additional cover for where medical aid does not cover costs in full. Many medical aids and insurance companies offer gap cover.
Medical aid can be a complicated product as each scheme offers various options, ranging from hospital-only cover (hospital plans) to comprehensive plans covering most medical costs. The more cover you choose, the higher your monthly contributions. For instance, a basic hospital plan for a family of four costs around R5,600, while a comprehensive medical aid plan for the same family could exceed R10,000. Expect prices in 2025 to be at least 7% higher than in 2024! Gap cover typically costs between R100 and R300 per month.
You can save on medical aid costs by opting for a network option, which covers treatment and care at select providers only. Additionally, all medical aids must cover minimum treatment costs for Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), which include chronic conditions like hypertension and asthma.
Take out a health insurance policy that covers primary healthcare
Primary healthcare insurance policies cover non-hospital care, such as GP visits, dentist check-ups, and prescription medication up to a limit, for example, three GP visits per year. For a family of four, these policies can cost between R1,000 and R2,000 a month, depending on the option chosen. Some primary healthcare policies also offer accident or hospital cover up to a certain limit, such as R400,000 per year for hospitalisation. This can cost an additional R100 to R700 per month. While primary healthcare policies are more affordable than medical aids, they are not as comprehensive and do not cover PMBs. Providers include Dis-Chem, Discovery, and Unity Health.
Use a savings account
Just as you save for emergencies, such as new car tyres, you can save for medical costs. There's no set guideline for how much to save, as the cost of a major accident or illness can run into hundreds of thousands of rands. Many South Africans choose a cheaper medical aid option that only covers in-hospital care and fund day-to-day expenses like GP visits and medication from their savings.
Ideas on how to fund select healthcare costs
- Emergency cover (e.g. Netcare Plus) covers treatment for emergencies at a private hospital and costs R315 per person per month.
- Hospital cash back insurance policies (e.g. FNB, Clientele) pays a set amount per day spent in hospital, usually starting from day two or three, up to R3,000 per day.
- Prepaid vouchers (e.g. Netcare, Discovery) cover GP, dentist, and optometry visits, starting from R345 for a virtual GP consult to R1,850 for an eye exam plus bifocals.
- Prepaid procedures (e.g. Netcare) cover certain hospital procedures, including anaesthetist fees, from R12,100 for grommets to R48,800 for an umbilical hernia repair. A nine-month payment plan is available.
- Virtual GP consults at pharmacies like Clicks and Dis-Chem cost around R300.
5 Tips to help you choose the cover you need
Affordability is a key factor in deciding how to fund your medical costs, but it's not the only one. Consider all the potential medical expenses you may incur, how you would pay for emergency treatment if you opt out of public facilities, and the benefits offered, such as vaccinations and maternity care.
Review your previous medical costs for non-emergencies
This gives you an idea of what you could spend in 2025. If your non-emergency costs are high, such as regular medication, determine whether it's cheaper to pay out of pocket or join a medical aid that covers medication. Just ensure the medical aid covers the medication you need!
Choose a network option only if it’s convenient
You'll save on monthly contributions if you choose a network option, where you must use certain providers that have agreements with your medical aid or healthcare insurer. The savings are substantial unless you're far from a network provider and must travel long distances for care.
Understand definitions and exclusions
Emergency cover can be vital, but what exactly is considered an emergency? When taking out a primary healthcare policy, hospital cash back insurance, or emergency cover, check what is included and what isn't. These policies can offer good value, but they often come with many exclusions. This is the time to read all the fine print!
Use all available benefits
Even primary healthcare policies and some hospital cash back insurance plans offer benefits, such as maternity care. Make sure you’re aware of all the available benefits in your chosen option and use them!
Get expert help from a financial adviser
Independant financial advisers are familiar with medical aid plans and insurance policies and can explain the details of each plan. They also know which schemes and companies offer good service. Their advice can be invaluable in helping you choose the right option.
Take care of your health
Two of the best ways to take care of your health are to maintain a healthy lifestyle (eat well, exercise) and plan how to fund future medical expenses. Ask about anything you don’t understand in a medical aid or healthcare plan and how to cancel the plan if necessary. Take your time to make an informed decision, and remember, you can join medical aids or take out policies at any time, not just at the start of the year.