Elite500
About this plan
Comprehensive option offering 500% specialist tariff shortfall cover, extensive in- and out-of-hospital benefits, private ward benefits, specialist consultations and enhanced cancer, maternity and rehabilitation benefits.
Monthly premium
From
R529
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
Elite500
Stratum Benefits Elite (🇿🇦 2025*)
💙 Overall, Stratum Benefits Elite is a trustworthy short-term insurance product designed to provide extra protection for those with medical aid. The Stratum Benefits Elite Plan starts from R481 ZAR. Stratum Benefits has a trust score of 4.5.| 🔎 Provider | 🥇 Stratum Benefits Elite |
| 🟥 Years in Operation | 24 years |
| 🟧 Underwriters | Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited (FSP 75) |
| 🟨 Market Share in South Africa | >5% |
| 🟩 Gap Cover Waiting Period | 3 Months |
| 🟦 Do Exclusions Apply | ✅ Yes |
| 🟪 Average Monthly Premium | R481 |
| 🟥 Oncology Benefit | ✅ Yes |
| 🟧 In-Hospital Benefit | ✅ Yes |
| 🟨 Out-of-Hospital Cover | ✅ Yes |
Stratum Benefits Elite - 7 Key Point Quick Overview
- ✅ Stratum Benefits Elite Overview
- ✅ Stratum Benefits Elite Premiums
- ✅ Stratum Benefits Elite Benefits and Cover Breakdown
- ✅ Stratum Benefits Elite Exclusions and Waiting Periods
- ✅ Stratum Benefits Elite vs Other Gap Cover Plans
- ✅ Our Verdict on Stratum Benefits Elite
- ✅ Stratum Benefits Elite Frequently Asked Questions
Stratum Benefits Elite Overview
💙 The Stratum Benefits Elite is one of eleven plans that starts from R481 per month. Stratum Benefits’ Base has benefits for maternity, sub-limits, radiology, cancer, MRI and other scans, physical rehabilitation, outpatient specialist consults, casualties, and more. 👉🏿 Stratum Benefits Gap Cover has 5 plans to choose from: ✅️ Stratum Benefits Elite 500 ✅️ Stratum Benefits Compact 300 ✅️ Stratum Benefits Access Optimiser ✅️ Stratum Benefits Access Co pay Plus 300 ✅️Stratum Benefits Meridian 400| 🟥 Membership Type | 🟥 Monthly Contribution |
| 🟧 Individuals <64 years | 🟧 R481 |
| 🟨 If the entire family is <64 years | 🟨 R591 |
| 🟩 If you are 65 years or older | 🟩 R780 |
| 🟦 If you or a dependent is >65 years | 🟦 R954 |
Stratum Benefits Elite Benefits and Cover Breakdown
| 🟥 Gap Benefit | Covers in and out-of-hospital expenses up to 500% with an annual limit of R210 580 per insured person. |
| 🟧 Co-Payment Benefit | Includes cover for admission and procedure co-payments, penalty co-payments (up to R15,000 per year), and robotic surgery co-payments (up to R10,000 per year). |
| 🟨 Dental Cover | Dental procedures, such as dental implants and wisdom teeth extractions: Limited to R 50 000 per policy per year. Also covers co-payments for admissions and procedures up to R210 580 per insured person per year. |
| 🟩 Maternity Cover | Includes cover for pre-natal consultations, childbirth shortfalls, post-natal consultation shortfalls, preventative procedures, childhood immunizations, birth control, and private room shortfalls. |
| 🟦 Sub-Limit Benefit | Covers specific medical procedures such as colonoscopies, enterostomies, gastroscopies (up to R6,500 per event), internal prosthetic devices (up to R40,000 per event), and renal dialysis treatments (up to R30,000 per event). internal prosthetic device up to R 10 000 per insured person per event. |
| 🟪 Radiology Cover | Covers sub-limit benefits for MRI, CT, and PET scans (up to R5,000 per event) and a top-up benefit for the same scans (up to R5,000 per year). |
| 🟥 Cancer Benefit | Covers breast reconstruction (up to R30,000 per lifetime), cancer treatment shortfalls (up to R210 580), and cancer treatment top-ups (up to R210 580 per year). |
| 🟧 Physical Rehab | Provides cover up to R10,000 per insured person per year. |
| 🟨 Out-Patient Specialist Consultation Benefit | Covers up to R1,300 per consultation, limited to 3 consultations per policy per year. |
| 🟩 Casualty Benefit – Accidents and Illness | Reimburses shortfalls or total costs for casualty events up to R15,000 per policy per year. |
| 🟦 Trauma Counselling | Provides cover up to R10,000 per policy per year. |
| 🟪 Preventative Care | Covers various tests and immunizations up to R1,800 per policy per year. |
| 🟥 Private Room Benefits | Covers up to R3,500 per policy per year. |
| 🟧 Accidental Death and Disability | Provides cover for the policyholder, spouse (up to R25,000 per insured person), and dependents (up to R5,000 per insured person) with a limit of 1 event per insured person per year. |
| 🟨 First-Time Cancer Diagnosis | Covers up to R30,000 per insured person in their lifetime. |
| 🟩 Medical Aid Contribution Waiver | Covers up to R4,500 per month for six months. |
| 🟦 Stratum Benefits Premium Waiver | Pays the premiums if the policyholder or the premium payer dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled. Employer-paid premiums must be included in the total salary package. |
| 🟪 Lifestyle Benefits | Offers access to e-learning options through Boston Online Home Education for high school students in grades 8 to 12. |
| 🟥 International Travel Insurance | Covers the entire family for acute illness and injury during pleasure trips outside South African borders, with a maximum of 31 days per trip and one per policy per year. |
Stratum Benefits Elite Exclusions and Waiting Periods
Elite Exclusions
💙 Suppose you claim within the first 10 months of cover for certain medical events/procedures (such as adenoidectomy, cardiovascular procedures, cataract removal, dentistry, etc.). In that case, Stratum Benefits will only cover 20% of the claim amount.Elite Waiting Periods
💙 Waiting periods apply from the policy start date, policy option upgrades, and for new members added after the initial policy start date. There is a three-month general waiting period for all claims except accidental events. 💙 Additionally, there is a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, including investigations, procedures, surgeries, and treatments related to illnesses or medical conditions diagnosed within 12 months of starting the policy with Stratum Benefits.
Stratum Benefits Elite vs Other Gap Cover Plans
| 🔎 Provider | 🥇 Stratum Benefits Elite | 🥈 Cura Administrators Gap Advanced Plus | 🥉 Sirago Gap Assist |
| 🟥 Years in Operation | 24 years | 26 years | 30 years |
| 🟧 Underwriters | Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited (FSP 75) | GENRIC Insurance Company Limited | GENRIC Insurance Company Limited (FSP: 43638) |
| 🟨 Market Share in South Africa | >5% | <5% | >10% |
| 🟩 Gap Cover Waiting Period | 3 Months | 3 – 12 months | From 3 months (up to 12) |
| 🟦 Do Exclusions Apply | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟪 Average Monthly Premium | R481 | R480 | R401 |
| 🟥 Oncology Benefit | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟧 In-Hospital Benefit | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟨 Out-of-Hospital Cover | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟩 Maternity Benefit | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟦 Scopes and Scans | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | None |
| 🟪 Co-payment Cover | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟥 Emergency Room | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟧 Accidental Cover | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟨 Trauma Counseling | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | None |
| 🟩 Premium Waiver | None | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟦 Non-DSP Co-Payment | None | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟪 Prostheses | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🟥 Travel Cover Extender | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | None |
| 🟧 Accidental Death/ Permanent Disability | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | None |
