Since the British Scientist, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, slowly but surely, it changed the way we now perform almost all of our everyday tasks. Few people now own a fountain pen or write letters, thanks to email. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, many were already doing much of their shopping over the internet. Searching for medical aid quotes online is just one more example of how the digital age is transforming our lives forever.
Critics of the internet are quick to point out the dangers of identity theft and card fraud and potential threats to children who frequent chat rooms. However, the internet also offers several valuable benefits. Of these, greater freedom of choice is perhaps one of the most significant. If you spot a suit or a handbag that appeals to you, it is a simple matter to identify half a dozen retailers and compare their prices, delivery charge and returns policy for the same items. When seeking medical aid quotes online, you have the same opportunity to compare similar offerings from several different providers.
Just a decade or so ago, if you wanted this information, you would have had to browse the yellow pages and contact those in your area by phone. After providing a string of personal details, each of the companies you contacted would promise to forward the premium price and details of their proposed cover by post within a day or two. Why wait when it is possible to receive several medical aid quotes online in just a fraction of the time you might have spent on the phone alone?
While it is undoubtedly far quicker to Google a list of service providers and follow the links to their websites, than taking the yellow pages route, there is an even faster option. As more and more companies began offering their services in cyberspace and have grown their traffic, others recognised a new and innovative business opportunity. Enter the comparison site. Besides enabling visitors to obtain multiple online medical aid quotes in a single location, similar sites allow one to compare everything from car insurance policies and broadband prices to airfares and hotel accommodation.
Regardless of how you may have obtained them, once you have your quotations, your next step is to compare them. At this point, you need to be sure you are comparing “apples with apples”. It would be best if you did not select the option with the lowest price. Instead, choose the one that offers the best value for money. An accurate comparison of medical aid quotes,whether obtained online or otherwise, will require a careful appraisal of the core benefits and any exclusions that might adversely affect you or your dependants, and not just the premium price.
Several companies offer incentives to attract new members. However, if your goal is to get the best healthcare cover you can afford, try not to be influenced by so-called “freebies” that have no direct bearing on those core benefits. Based on dependability, the extent and value of the benefits and affordability, the only online medical aid quote you may need could well be Medshield’s.
