5 Best Dental Gap Cover ( 🇿🇦 2025*)
The 5 Best Dental Gap Covers in South Africa revealed.
💙 We tested them side by side and verified their gap cover plans.
💙 This is a complete guide to the best dental gap cover in South Africa.
👉 In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:
- ✅ What is a Dental Gap Cover?
- ✅ Why do you need a Dental Gap Cover?
- ✅ Can you get dental insurance only?
- ✅ Which dental gap covers implants?
- ✅ Which dental gap covers has no waiting period?
💙 So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the best dental gap cover in South Africa, this guide is for you.
👉 Let’s dive right in…
Best Dental Gap Cover (2025)
| 🩺 Gap Cover | ✔️ Best for Dental Cover? | ⚕️ Plan Offered | 👉 Sign Up |
| 1. Zestlife | Yes | Core dentistry coverage | 👉 Apply Now |
| 2. Discovery Health | Yes | Discovery Gap Comprehensive | 👉 Apply Now |
| 3. Liberty Health | Yes | Liberty Optimum Gap Cover | 👉 Apply Now |
| 4. Sirago Gap Cover | Yes | Gap Cover | 👉 Apply Now |
| 5. Stratum | Yes | Stratum Gap Cover | 👉 Apply Now |
Best Dental Gap Cover Summary
- Zestlife – Overall, Best Dental Gap Cover in South Africa
- Discovery Health – Top Value-Based Healthcare Provider
- Liberty Health – Best Menu of Long-Term Healthcare Options
- Sirago Gap Lite Cover – Best Provider of Necessary Health Insurance
- Stratum Benefits – Top Customer Support Services for Gap Cover
Overview
💙 If you need help paying for routine dental care, but your health insurance doesn’t cover it, consider Dentistry Gap Cover. Every day, unexpected, and health-related dental care costs are covered, up to the policy maximum.
💙 Here, we explore the 5 best dental gap cover options available to South Africans in 2025.
How dental gap cover works
💙 Gap cover is not meant to replace medical aid. When a doctor’s fees exceed the medical aid rate and the medical aid plan only covers the medical aid rate (either the Risk or hospital benefit), the gap cover will kick in to make up the difference.
💙 Gap insurance won’t kick in if medical aid doesn’t contribute to or cover the full cost of a service.
💙 Your dental visit and any approved medical procedures will be covered by your medical aid, with coverage rates varying depending on the type of medical aid plan you chose.
💙 Gap cover protects you from financial hardship in the event that your doctor’s fees exceed the amount your medical aid plan will pay (either the risk co-payment or the medical aid benefit).
1. Zestlife
👉 Zestlife Gap Cover covers the medical expense shortages that occur when medical aids do not cover the fees charged by doctors and specialists for in-hospital and some out-of-hospital procedures.
👉 The gap between what medical aids cover and what private practitioners charge frequently amounts to tens of thousands of Rands in deficits, for which the patient becomes accountable.
👉 Hospital patients should concentrate on getting healthy rather than worrying about how to manage unanticipated medical price deficits not covered by medical aids. Zestlife Gap Cover covers these unexpected medical bills, allowing patients to focus on getting back on their feet.
Zestlife Gap Cover Options
➡️ Zestlife Universal Gap Cover provides the most complete medical bill shortfall coverage, as well as significant financial protection against a variety of health risks. This option is available as single or family coverage.
➡️ Zestlife Essential Gap Cover provides low-cost coverage for the most common medical expense shortfalls, as well as supplementary financial protection for specific health risks. This option is available as single or family coverage.
➡️ Zestlife Optimal Gap Cover provides excellent levels of coverage at an affordable price to meet the demands of people under the age of 35.
👉 Zestlife Gap Cover options are available to primary members and dependents of all registered medical aids in South Africa. There is no maximum entrance age, and coverage continues indefinitely.
👉 You can supplement your Zestlife Gap Cover insurance with their Extended Cancer Cover. If you or any of your policy dependents are diagnosed with cancer for the first time, Zestlife will pay you the Extended Cancer Cover benefit of R100 000 or R200 000 to cover any unforeseen costs that may emerge as a result of the diagnosis.
Benefits of Zestlife Gap Cover
➡️ There is no maximum entrance age or expiry date.
➡️ Adult dependant coverage is provided automatically.
➡️ There is no blanket waiting time when coverage begins.
➡️ Coverage for in-hospital and over 50 out-of-hospital procedures is extensive.
➡️ Co-payment cover for hospital submissions and scans.
➡️ Coverage for travel outside of South Africa.
➡️ Exclusions are limited
➡️ Quick and efficient claim resolution.
Zestlife provides multiple Dental Coverage choices.
💙 Costs associated with a wide variety of dental procedures are covered by these plans. The actual costs of dentistry, dental emergencies, dental injuries, dental illnesses, and dental specialties are covered, in whole or in part, by generous specified cover amounts.
💙 Affordable dental care is made possible by the plan’s “core dentistry coverage.” To help with the actual costs of dentistry, including emergency, accidental, and illness-related dental treatment costs, this option pays reduced stated cover amounts.
👉 Discover the 5 Best Value Medical Aids under R1500
2. Discovery Health
💙 Discovery Gap Cover provides a financial safety net by covering shortfalls on approved in-hospital specialist claims, specific out-of-hospital costs related to an approved hospital admission, and co-payments on approved cancer-related claims.
💙 It offers two options to address different needs, resulting in comprehensive protection against unexpected medical expenses that exceed what the medical aid covers.
Dowload Discovery Gap Cover here
Discovery Health Dental Gap Cover
💙 Your specialist’s bill at the hospital can be higher than what your health insurance would pay for. All authorised in-hospital claims made by specialists will have any resulting tariff gaps covered by this Discovery Health Gap Cover.
💙 If you have already used your plan’s hospital benefit to pay for a claim with your dentist’s office, you may be eligible for payment under this benefit as well.
💙 With Discovery Gap Comprehensive, you’re covered for up to 500% of the medical scheme rate while in the hospital, while Discovery Gap Core only covers up to 250%.
Co-payment Coverage
✅ The gap cover includes provisions for co-payments specifically related to oncology treatments. These include co-payments applied once the medical aid limits are exceeded, ensuring that patients can continue receiving essential treatments without the additional financial burden of co-payments.
Comprehensive Cancer Support
✔️ For those who opt for the Discovery Gap Comprehensive option, additional benefits include the Travel Benefit Extender, which covers shortfalls on approved emergency medical claims incurred while traveling internationally.
✔️ Also, the Scopes and Scans Benefit Extender provides coverage for co-payments and deductibles associated with MRI and CT scans conducted out-of-hospital, and for in-hospital endoscopies.
What is the monthly premium for the Discovery Health gap cover plans?
💰 Discovery Health’s gap cover plans start at R157 per month, depending on the plan and coverage elements.
What Is the Waiting Period for the Discovery Health Gap Cover Benefits?
👉 When registering for Discovery Health Gap Cover, the following waiting periods apply:
- ✔️ General Waiting Period: A three-month period during which no claims can be filed, with the exception of those linked to accidents.
- ✔️ Condition-Specific Waiting Period: A 12-month waiting period for claims involving pre-existing conditions. This includes any medical conditions for which advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was received within the 12 months preceding the start date of the policy.
- ✔️ Pregnancy Waiting Period: If the pregnancy occurred before the coverage began, the 12-month pre-existing condition waiting period applies.
How to Claim for Discovery Health Gap Cover Benefits
👉 To file a claim for Discovery Health Gap Cover benefits, follow these steps:
- ✅ You can scan and upload your claim documentation using the Discovery Health app or website.
- ✅ Download the Discovery Health app from the App Store or Google Play, log in, go to “My cover,” then “Claims,” and pick “Scan claim documents”.
- ✅ Log into the Discovery Health website, go to the claims section, and upload your scanned documents.
- ✅ Scan and submit your claim documentation to [email protected]. Send claims with updated or additional information to [email protected].
- ✅ Alternatively, send your claim paperwork to PO Box 784262, Sandton, 2146.
- ✅ To track the status of your claims, use the Claims Search tool on the Discovery Health website, call 0860 99 88 77, or SMS ‘Claim’ to 31347.
Discovery Health Contact Details
✅ General Inquiries:
Phone: 0860 99 88 77
Email: [email protected]
✅ Hospital Authorisations:
Phone: 0860 99 88 77
International: +27 11 529 6900
✅ Physical Address :
1 Discovery Place
Sandton
2196
3. Liberty Health
Overview
💙 Liberty Health was founded in 2008 and is a leading provider of health insurance to over 400 000 people in 27 African countries.
💙 Liberty Health’s breadth of knowledge and expertise stems from their experience offering comprehensive, flexible health care solutions to multinational corporations, corporations, SMEs, and individuals in South Africa and throughout Africa.
💙 The interests of the corporation include health insurance products as well as health administration technology systems and services.
💙 Liberty provides a complete suite of long-term insurance products and services to address the evolving financial, investment, and lifestyle risk requirements of both the retail and corporate markets. Liberty Health Gap Cover is one of those products.
💙 Liberty remains a trusted brand among South Africans, which provides various health and financial products in South Africa at affordable rates. The Liberty essential gap cover provides Up to 300%, (3 times) of the medical aid tariff in shortfall expenses for covered members and an addition of accidental injury fees and out-of-hospital fees for specialists and doctors.
💙 The Optimal plan costs R253 per month per individual.
💙 The Essential Gap cover plan costs R397 per month per individual.
💙 The Liberty Essential Gap Cover is an affordable protection against the common medical expenses that fall in short when your medical aid doesn’t cover the treatments or procedures in full.
💙 This plan provides cover for the shortfall for when going to the hospital, selected procedures outside the hospital, and specified co-payments, making sure that one isn’t burdened with any unforeseen medical accounts.
Liberty Health Gap Cover Options
💙 Liberty Essential Gap Cover provides dependable medical scheme top-up coverage for the most common treatment cost deficits at a competitive price.
💙 Coverage includes a low-cost Medical Expense Shortfall. In a calendar year, the policy provides coverage of up to R230 000 per person insured, as well as several health insurance benefits. The benefits of this gap cover include:
- ✅ In-hospital cover for doctor and specialist charges up to 3 times the medical scheme tariff
- ✅ Out-of-hospital cover for doctor and specialist charges up to 3 times the medical scheme tariff for approximately 50 out-of-hospital treatments.
- ✅ Medical scheme co-payment cover for hospital admissions, scans and certain surgical procedures, and
- ✅ Emergency Room Cover for accidental injury.
👉 Key Benefits of Essential Gap Cover:
1.✅ In-Hospital Cover:
Covers the shortfall in doctors and specialists charges over and above medical aid tariff, which is included in the specific medical tariff, or contribution thereto, whichever is the greatest of these two amounts. The shortfall will be the difference between doctors and specialists charges less medical tariff or your contribution to the charges.
2.✅Out-of-Hospital Procedures:
Covers around 50 defined out-of-hospital procedures to help you be more covered than mere hospital admissions.
3. ✅ Co-Payment Cover:
Covers the co-payment costs for hospital admissions and scans, which will reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
💙 For further details about, or to apply for Essential Gap Cover, visit Liberty’s Gap Cover page or contact the policy administrator, Zestlife, on 021 180 4220 or [email protected].
💙 Invest in Liberty’s Essential Gap Cover to protect you and your loved ones from unexpected medical expenses with peace of mind when you need it most.
Liberty contact Details
✅ Phone: +27 11 558 4871
✅ Email: [email protected]
✅Physical Address:
Liberty Centre, 1 Ameshoff Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
✅ 24-Hour International Medical Emergency Evacuation:
✅Phone: +27 21 657 7740
👉 READ more about Medical Insurance
2. Sirago Gap Cover
Overview
💙 Sirago is dedicated to providing unique Gap Cover products to the South African market. Sirago pursues market opportunities in unique niche products as an underwriting manager.
💙 Sirago’s product creation involves benefit determination based on medical scheme design, premium rating, policy language development, and distribution and marketing strategy.
💙 GENRIC Insurance Company Limited, an authorised Financial Services Provider and registered Short-term Insurer, underwrites Sirago. Their core business is to provide crucial benefits to policyholders who are facing unexpected medical expense gaps that are not fully covered by their medical plans.
💙 Sirago Gap-Plus Cover is a good gap cover for the younger generation since it is designed for young individuals and families. Medical aid shortfalls are covered at up to 250% of the scheme rate.
💙 Benefits include limited co-payment cover for hospital admissions, scans, surgical procedures and the use of non-designated service providers. There’s basic cover for the treatments of PMBs at non-DSPs and procedures conducted in day hospitals or doctors’ rooms.
💙 It includes a cancer-boost benefit, new-born baby benefit, and emergency room and preventative care cover.
💙 The current monthly premiums for Sirago Gap Only are R289 for individuals of 64 years of age and younger. The current monthly premiums for Sirago Gap-Lite are R369 for, and R419 for families if all are under 64.
Sirago Gap Cover Options
- ✅ The Sirago Plus Gap Cover was created for today’s busy households. To compensate for gaps in medical coverage, the scheme will pay up to R183,000 per year, or 250% of the scheme subscription.
- ✅ Hospital stays, imaging tests, surgical procedures, and visits to doctors who aren’t in your network may be eligible for financial assistance. Out-of-network PMB treatments, such as those received at day hospitals or doctors’ offices, are partially covered.
- ✅ Doctor visits and maternity care are among the benefits available to new parents and infants.
👉 Sirago Gap Cover has eight plans to choose from:
➡️ Sirago Exact Cover with Gap and Co-Pay
Sirago Gap Cover Contact Details:
- ✅ Telephone: 010 599 1163
- ✅ Fax: 086 555 2682
- ✅ Email Addresses:
General inquiries: [email protected]
Applications: [email protected]
Policy changes: [email protected]
Payments: [email protected]
Claims: [email protected]
- ✅ Physical Address:
Registered Office: Irene Link Precinct, 7 Impala Avenue, Centurion, 0157
Current Operational Address: Floor 2, Fauchard Clinic & Centre, Corner Jan Smuts & Jan Hofmeyer Ave, Florida Park, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 1709
Operational Address from 1 September 2024: Building 3, 2nd Floor, Quadrum Office Park, Constantia Boulevard, Constantia Kloof, Johannesburg
5. Stratum Benefits
👉 Zestlife Gap Cover covers the medical expense shortages that occur when medical aids do not cover the fees charged by doctors and specialists for in-hospital and some out-of-hospital procedures.
👉 The gap between what medical aids cover and what private practitioners charge frequently amounts to tens of thousands of Rands in deficits, for which the patient becomes accountable.
👉 Hospital patients should concentrate on getting healthy rather than worrying about how to manage unanticipated medical price deficits not covered by medical aids. Zestlife Gap Cover covers these unexpected medical bills, allowing patients to focus on getting back on their feet.
Stratum Dental Gap Cover
💙 Stratum’s Gap Cover plans were developed to work in tandem with any medical insurance policy in South Africa and are governed by the Commission for Medical Schemes.
💙 When it comes to medical events like medical procedures, dental-related procedures, specialised radiology, pathology, physiotherapy, and more, Stratum supplements your medical aid plan’s rate by an extra 300% or 500% to cover the most commonly experienced medical expense shortfalls on healthcare and service providers’ accounts.
💙 Almost any medical emergency is covered by Stratum. Stratum is here for you from the time you’re a young single in need of the most fundamental coverage all the way through the time you’re an elderly individual in need of the most extensive coverage possible.
💙 Health insurance is a primary healthcare option that can be used by those who do not have access to medical aid or who wish to supplement their current coverage for things like regular doctor visits, acute and chronic medicines, and dental and vision care.
👉 READ more about the 5 Best Gap Cover Options for Under R1000 in South Africa
Zestlife Gap Cover Options
➡️ Zestlife Universal Gap Cover provides the most complete medical bill shortfall coverage, as well as significant financial protection against a variety of health risks. This option is available as single or family coverage.
➡️ Zestlife Essential Gap Cover provides low-cost coverage for the most common medical expense shortfalls, as well as supplementary financial protection for specific health risks. This option is available as single or family coverage.
➡️ Zestlife Optimal Gap Cover provides excellent levels of coverage at an affordable price to meet the demands of people under the age of 35.
👉 Zestlife Gap Cover options are available to primary members and dependents of all registered medical aids in South Africa. There is no maximum entrance age, and coverage continues indefinitely.
👉 You can supplement your Zestlife Gap Cover insurance with their Extended Cancer Cover. If you or any of your policy dependents are diagnosed with cancer for the first time, Zestlife will pay you the Extended Cancer Cover benefit of R100 000 or R200 000 to cover any unforeseen costs that may emerge as a result of the diagnosis.
Benefits of Zestlife Gap Cover
➡️ There is no maximum entrance age or expiry date.
➡️ Adult dependant coverage is provided automatically.
➡️ There is no blanket waiting time when coverage begins.
➡️ Coverage for in-hospital and over 50 out-of-hospital procedures is extensive.
➡️ Co-payment cover for hospital submissions and scans.
➡️ Coverage for travel outside of South Africa.
➡️ Exclusions are limited
➡️ Quick and efficient claim resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dental gap cover?
If you need help paying for routine dental care, but your health insurance doesn’t cover it, consider Dentistry Gap Cover. Everyday, unexpected, and health-related dental care costs are covered, up to the policy maximum.
Can I use dental gap cover instead of medical aid?
Gap cover is not meant to replace medical aid. When a doctor’s fees exceed the medical aid rate and the medical aid plan only covers the medical aid rate (either the Risk or hospital benefit), the gap cover will kick in to make up the difference.
Why should I use dental gap cover?
Gap cover protects you from financial hardship in the event that your doctor’s fees exceed the amount your medical aid plan will pay (either the risk co-payment or the medical aid benefit).
What will dental gap cover give me?
Your dental visit and any approved medical procedures will be covered by your medical aid, with coverage rates varying depending on the type of medical aid plan you chose.
Who offers gap cover in South Africa?
The five medical aid schemes listed in this article provide some of the best dental gap cover in South Africa. The include:
- Discovery Health
- Liberty Health
- Sirago Gap Lite Cover
- Stratum Benefits
- Zestlife
