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Liberty Optimal Gap Cover (🇿🇦 2025)

Overall, Liberty Optimal Gap Cover is a trustworthy short-term insurance product designed to provide extra protection for those with medical aid. The Liberty Optimal Gap Cover Plans start from R253 ZAR. Liberty has a trust score of 4.1.

🔎 Provider	🥇 Liberty Optimal Gap Cover
🟥 Years in Operation	66 years
🟧 Underwriters	Guardrisk Life Limited (FSP 76)
🟨 Market Share in South Africa	>25%
🟩 Gap Cover Waiting Period	12 months
🟦 Do Exclusions Apply	Yes
🟪 Average Monthly Premium	R253
🟥 Oncology Benefit	None
🟧 In-Hospital Benefit	✅ Yes
🟨 Out-of-Hospital Cover	✅ Yes

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover – 7 Key Point Quick Overview

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover Overview

The Liberty Optimal Gap Cover is one of three plans that starts from R239 per month. Liberty’s Optimal Gap Cover has benefits for the premium waiver, trauma counseling, accidental death and permanent disability, internal prostheses and artificial joints, and more.

Liberty Gap Cover has three plans to choose from:

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover Premiums

🅰️ Individual Cover	🅱️ Premium
<35 Years	R253 monthly

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover Benefits and Cover Comprehensive Breakdown

🅰️ Shortfall Cover	🅱️ Cover Information
🟧 Overall Annual Cover Limit	Overall Annual Cover Limit – R230 000 per insured per year
🟨 In-hospital cover for shortfalls in terms of doctors and specialist charges exceeding medical aid tariff	Covers up to 400% of the medical aid tariff.
🟩 Shortfalls on ±50 out-patient procedures (includes PET, MRI, and PET scans)	Covers up to 400% of the medical aid tariff.
🟦 General Co-payments imposed by the medical aid for hospital admission, CT, PET, and MRI scans, and certain medical aid procedures	General Co-payments imposed by the medical aid for hospital admission, CT, PET, and MRI scans, and certain medical aid procedures
🟪 Non-network Co-payments	Covers up to R16,000 for one claim per policy per year.
🟥 MRI, PET, and CT scans exceeding medical aid sub-limits	Covers up to R3,700 per insured per policy per year.
🟧 Covers after-hours emergency treatment in a casualty facility for children under 11	Covers up to R2,800 per policy per year.
🟨 Robotic Medical Procedures – covers shortfalls from using robotic machines for in-hospital treatment.	Covers up to R37,600 per policy per year.
🟩 Accidental Dentistry	Covers up to R25,700 for accidental tooth fractures and up to R3,700 per fractured tooth.
🟦 Accidental Death and Permanent Disability Cover	Covers up to R50,000 for unexpected costs if the main policyholder accidentally dies or is completely and permanently disabled.
🟪 Trauma Counselling Cover	Covers up to R30,300 per policy per year or R900 per session within 6 months of the traumatic event.
🟥 Medical Aid and Gap Cover Waiver	Covers up to R122,400 after the policyholder accidentally dies or is permanently disabled.

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover Exclusions and Waiting Periods

Liberty Optimal Exclusions

💙Exclusions on the Essential Gap Cover plan include, but are not limited to, the following, with the full list available here:

✅ Nuclear weapons, as well as ionizing and nuclear radiation
✅ Suicide, attempted suicide, or intentional self-injury
✅ Any illness or injury caused by the consumption of alcohol
✅ Illegal behavior or violations of the Republic of South Africa laws
✅ Medical practitioners’ daily expenses
✅ Breast and dental implants.
✅ Medical emergency transportation

Dental procedures performed as an out-patient will be excluded.

Liberty Optimal Waiting Periods

✅ Cover begins immediately on the policy’s start date, with no waiting periods.
✅ Medical conditions within 12 months before the policy’s start date are not eligible for benefits.
✅ Pregnancy before the policy’s start date is considered a pre-existing condition, with a 12-month exclusion period for pregnancy or birth-related claims.

If the policyholder had previous cover under a similar policy, the pre-existing condition waiting period applies only to the unexpired part of the previous policy period. However, the full 12-month exclusion period applies to benefits not provided under the previous policy.

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Liberty Optimal Gap Cover vs Other Gap Cover Plans

🔎 Provider	🥇 Liberty Optimal Gap Cover	🥈 Linksave Gap 500 Plus	🥉 GapCover® Combined
🟥 Years in Operation	66 years	9 years	N/A
🟧 Underwriters	Guardrisk Life Limited (FSP 76)	Renasa Insurance Company Limited	Western National Insurance Company Limited
🟨 Market Share in South Africa	>25%	<1%	<1%
🟩 Gap Cover Waiting Period	12 months	3 – 12 months	3 – 12 months
🟦 Do Exclusions Apply	Yes	Yes	Yes
🟪 Average Monthly Premium	R253	R512	R318
🟥 Oncology Benefit	None	None	None
🟧 In-Hospital Benefit	✅ Yes	None	None
🟨 Out-of-Hospital Cover	✅ Yes	None	None
🟩 Maternity Benefit	None	None	None
🟦 Scopes and Scans	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	None
🟪 Co-payment Cover	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
🟥 Emergency Room	None	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
🟧 Accidental Cover	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	None
🟨 Trauma Counseling	✅ Yes	None	None
🟩 Premium Waiver	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	None
🟦 Non-DSP Co-Payment	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	None
🟪 Prostheses	✅ Yes	None	None
🟥 Travel Cover Extender	None	None	None
🟧 Accidental Death/ Permanent Disability	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	None

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Our Verdict on Liberty Optimal Gap Cover

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover provides a comprehensive array of benefits and cover options to meet various healthcare requirements.

With its in-hospital and out-of-hospital cover, non-network co-payment cover, and benefits for MRI, PET, and CT scans, the plan offers valuable financial protection against medical expense shortfalls. In addition, cover for accidental dental care, trauma counseling, accidental death, and permanent disability offers additional peace of mind.

Although the plan might not include certain benefits, such as oncology cover, casualty room, or maternity benefits, its affordable premiums and extensive shortfall cover make it an attractive option for those searching for dependable gap cover.

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main benefits of Liberty Optimal Gap Cover?

The main benefits of Liberty Optimal Gap Cover include cover for in-hospital and out-of-hospital shortfalls, non-network co-payments, accidental dentistry, trauma counseling, and accidental death and permanent disability.

How much does Liberty Optimal Gap Cover cost?

The premiums for Liberty Optimal Gap Cover start from R253 per month for individuals.

What is the overall annual cover limit for Liberty Optimal Gap Cover?

Liberty Optimal Gap Cover’s overall annual cover limit is R192,000 per insured per year.

Does Liberty Optimal Gap Cover provide cover for in-hospital shortfalls?

Yes, Liberty Optimal Gap Cover provides cover for in-hospital shortfalls that exceed the medical aid tariff, up to 400% of the medical aid tariff.

Does Liberty Optimal Gap Cover cover non-network co-payments?

Yes, Liberty Optimal Gap Cover includes cover for non-network co-payments, offering financial support for treatments received from non-network healthcare providers.

Adriaan Schoeman

Adriaan holds an MBA and specializes in medical aid research. With his commitment to perfection, he ensures the accuracy of all data presented on medicalaid.com every three months. When he is not conducting research, Adriaan can be found indulging in his passion for trout fishing amidst nature.