The vast number of people who have died or became seriously ill due to the Covid-19 pandemic has served as a stark reminder of how much we should value our health. Those who knows that maintaining one’s health can often be a costly proposition. If not for hospital plans, many more in South Africa would likely have failed to survive their battle with the Coronavirus.

Apart from raising awareness of our health, the pandemic also underlined the importance of private healthcare. The equivalent public services were already battling to cope with unmanageable patient volumes and a lack of adequate funding. The added burden of caring for pandemic victims has only intensified their struggle. Lack of vital PPE has led to increased mortality rates both among patients and healthcare staff. 

The concept of hospital plans in South Africa was an attempt by medical aid funds to make private treatment more affordable to individuals and families with a limited income. The new option would not provide the fully comprehensive, year-round cover, like previous medical aid products, but a curtailed version. Because, invariably, treatments that require hospitalisation generate the biggest bills, this new offering would only assist the member with healthcare expenses incurred whilst undergoing treatment as an inpatient. For the remainder of the membership year, all other medical expenses would remain the member’s responsibility.

Long- and short-term insurers offer hospital cash plans, which differ significantly from those available from South Africa’s medical aid funds. That crucial difference lies in that extra four-letter word, “cash”. While medical aid plan-holders can hope to claim all or, at least, the bulk of their medical costs, those with a cash plan will only receive a fixed sum of cash for each day spent in a ward. The sum received is governed purely by the premium paid and will be nowhere near enough to cover the policyholder’s medical costs.  

Visit our partners,shoes – leaders in fashionable footwear!

By contrast, purchasing a medical aid’s hospital plans in South Africa can be an excellent investment. This type of product is the most economical option for anyone who enjoys good general health but cannot afford more comprehensive cover.

If you’re looking for affordable hospital plans in South Africa, you could enjoy some valuable added core benefits, including selected out-of-hospital cover, when you sign up with Medshield.