GapAssist Universal
About this plan
Comprehensive gap cover providing up to 500% medical scheme tariff cover for specialist shortfalls, approved co-payments, enhanced cancer benefits, non-network co-payment cover, prosthesis benefits, casualty cover, and selected out-of-hospital procedures for enhanced financial protection.
Monthly premium
From
R591
per month
What's covered
Hospital cover
Savings account
Day-to-day
Chronic cover
Dental
Optical
Maternity
Mental health
Waiting periods
- General
- 3 months
- Pre-existing conditions
- 12 months
GapAssist Universal

Standard Bank GapAssist Universal (πΏπ¦ 2025*)
π Overall, Standard Bank GapAssist Universal is a trustworthy short-term insurance product designed to provide extra protection for those who already have medical aid. The Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Plan starts from R537Β ZAR. Standard Bank GapAssist has a trust score of 4.4.
| π Provider | π₯ Standard Bank GapAssist Universal |
| π₯ Years in Operation | 61 years (Standard Bank) |
| π§ Underwriters | Standard Insurance Limited |
| π¨ Market Share in South Africa | <10% |
| π© Gap Cover Waiting Period | 12 Months |
| π¦ Do Exclusions Apply | β Yes |
| πͺ Average Monthly Premium | R537 |
| π₯ Oncology Benefit | β Yes |
| π§ In-Hospital Benefit | β Yes |
| π¨ Out-of-Hospital Cover | β Yes |

Standard Bank GapAssist Universal - 7 Key Point Quick Overview
- β Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Overview
- β Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Premiums
- β Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Benefits and Cover Breakdown
- β Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Exclusions and Waiting Periods
- β Standard Bank GapAssist Universal vs Other Gap Cover Plans
- β Our Verdict on Standard Bank GapAssist Universal
- β Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Frequently Asked Questions
Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Overview
π The Standard Bank GapAssist Universal is one of three plans that starts from R537 per month. Standard Bankβs GapAssist Universal has benefits for in and out-of-hospital treatment, co-payments, casualty and emergency room, scopes and scans, and more. π Standard Bank Gap Cover offers 24/7 medical emergency assistance. ππΏ Standard Bank GapAssist Gap Cover has three plans to choose from: β Standard Bank GapAssist Universal β Standard Bank GapAssist Optimal β Standard Bank GapAssist EssentialStandard Bank GapAssist Universal Premiums
| π₯ Cover for Individuals | π₯ Monthly Contribution |
| π§ <35 Years | π§ R537 per month |
| π¨ <55 Years | π¨ R537 per month |
| π© 55 β 64 Years | π© R700 per month |
| π¦ >65 Years | π¦ R838 per month |
| πͺ Cover for Families | πͺ Monthly Contribution |
| π₯ Where all insured are <65 Years | π₯ R700 per month |
| π§ Where one or more insured are >65 Years | π§ R838 per month |

Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Benefits and Cover Breakdown
| π °οΈ Section A β Medical Expense Shortfall Cover | π ±οΈ Section B β Health Insurance Benefits |
| π§ In-hospital and out-of-hospital cover up to 500% of medical aid tariff. | π§ Enhanced cancer cover up to R30,000 for unexpected costs during initial cancer diagnosis for Stage 2 diagnoses (regional) and Stage 1 prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 8 or higher. |
| π¨ General co-payments for hospital admission, CT, PET, and MRI scans are covered. | π¨ This benefit is intended to cover co-payments imposed by medical aid for in-hospital treatment and on the over 50 out-of-hospital procedures we cover. Dentistry (in-hospital) and cancer treatment (not medicine) co-payments are covered. Penalty co-payments charged by medical aids are not covered. No cover is provided for the penalties imposed for example, not obtaining a general practitioner referral prior to consulting with a specialist; not obtaining a pre-authorisation prior to a procedure; not following assessment criteria of medical aid back and neck program prior to undergoing spinal surgery. |
| π© Non-network co-payments covered up to R16,000 per policy per year. | π© Accidental death and disability cover up to R50,000 for members under 65. |
| π¦ Casualty and emergency room treatments covered up to R25,400 per policy annually. | π¦ This benefit provides up to R900 per session with an overall maximum benefit of R30 300 for counselling treatment that commences within 6 months of the traumatic event and is payable for a single treatment period of up to 6 months. |
| πͺ Internal prostheses and artificial joints are covered up to R44,000 per policy per year. | πͺ This benefit provides an amount of 12 times the combined medical aid and gap cover premiums, up to a maximum of R122 400. The benefit ceases at age 65. |

Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Exclusions and Waiting Periods
Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Exclusions
ππΏ Standard Bankβs GapAssist Universal Plan exclusions include, but are not limited to, the following, with the full list available here:- β Cosmetic surgery, except when necessary due to illness or injury.
- β Penalty co-payments for non-compliance with medical aid rules.
- β Medication, materials, and external prosthetics.
- β Cancer treatment or planned procedures received outside South Africa.
- β Treatment for accidents or illnesses while abroad for more than 90 consecutive days.
- β Pre- and post-hospitalization doctor and specialist charges.
- β Treatment for obesity or related conditions.
- β Diagnosis or treatment of sleeping disorders.
- β Treatment costs for services provided by allied health care professionals.
- β Nuclear weapons or radiation.
- β Suicide, self-injury, or non-prescribed drug use.
- β Illness or injury caused by alcohol or illegal behavior.
- β Participation in war, terrorism, or civil disturbances.
- β Aviation accidents or racing activities.
Standard Bank GapAssist Universal Waiting Periods
ππΏ The following can be said about Standard Bank GapAssist Universalβs waiting periods:- β No general or condition-specific waiting periods are imposed after the policy starts.
- β Medical conditions existing or diagnosed within 12 months before the policy start date will not be eligible for benefits for the first 12 months.
- β Pregnancy before the policy start date is considered a pre-existing condition, and pregnancy and birth-related claims are excluded for the first 12 months.
- β If the policyholder had prior coverage under a similar Medical Expense Shortfall Policy, the waiting period for pre-existing conditions only applies to the remaining duration from the previous policy.
Standard Bank GapAssist Universal vs Other Gap Cover Plans
| π Provider | π₯ Standard Bank GapAssist Universal | π₯ CompliMed Gap Cover | π₯ Kaelo Gap |
| π₯ Years in Operation | 61 years (Standard Bank) | 20 years | 19 years |
| π§ Underwriters | Standard Insurance Limited | Turnberry Management Risk Solutions (Pty) Ltd | Centriq Insurance Company Limited |
| π¨ Market Share in South Africa | <10% | <5% | <1% |
| π© Gap Cover Waiting Period | 12 Months | 3 β 12 months | 12 months |
| π¦ Do Exclusions Apply | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| πͺ Average Monthly Premium | R537 | R496 | R364 |
| π₯ Oncology Benefit | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π§ In-Hospital Benefit | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π¨ Out-of-Hospital Cover | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π© Maternity Benefit | None | None | None |
| π¦ Scopes and Scans | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| πͺ Co-payment Cover | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π₯ Emergency Room | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π§ Accidental Cover | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π¨ Trauma Counseling | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π© Premium Waiver | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| π¦ Non-DSP Co-Payment | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| πͺ Prostheses | β Yes | None | β Yes |
| π₯ Travel Cover Extender | None | β Yes | β Yes |
| π§ Accidental Death/ Permanent Disability | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
