Try our new AI Assistant

...

5 Best Gap Covers for Cancer (🇿🇦 2025*)

This is our guide on the 5 best gap covers for cancer. Navigating the financial complexities of cancer treatment can be daunting, especially when faced with significant out-of-pocket expenses. While medical aids provide substantial coverage, they often fall short of covering the entire cost of treatment. This is where gap cover becomes indispensable. In this guide you will learn:

✅ Why gap cover for cancer matters
✅ The 5 best gap covers for cancer
✅ Frequently asked questions

💙 Gap cover bridges the gap between what medical aids pay and the actual costs incurred, ensuring that patients have access to the best possible care without financial strain. This guide explores the five best gap cover options for cancer, revealing their unique benefits and features to help you make an informed decision.

Why gap cover for cancer matters?

☑️ Gap cover is an essential financial safety net for individuals facing the high costs of cancer treatment. Cancer is one of the most expensive diseases to treat, with costs associated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and various other therapies quickly adding up.

☑️ While medical aid schemes provide substantial coverage for cancer treatment, there are often significant shortfalls in what they cover versus the actual costs incurred. This is where gap cover becomes critical, ensuring that patients do not have to bear the brunt of these financial burdens alone.

☑️ One of the primary reasons gap cover is vital for cancer treatment is that it covers the difference between what medical aids pay and the actual costs of treatment. Medical aids often have limits and sub-limits on what they will cover for cancer treatment, and once these limits are reached, patients are left to pay out of pocket.

☑️ Gap cover steps in to cover these shortfalls, including the costs of specialists, oncologists, and advanced treatments that are not fully covered by medical aids. This additional coverage can mean the difference between receiving the best possible care and having to opt for less effective treatments due to financial constraints.

☑️ Also, cancer treatment often involves various unexpected expenses that can add up quickly. From diagnostic tests and scans to post-surgery care and rehabilitation, the costs can be overwhelming.

☑️ Gap cover provides a buffer against these unexpected expenses, giving patients and their families peace of mind during a difficult and stressful time. It means that they can focus on recovery and treatment without the added worry of financial strain.

☑️ Gap cover is also necessary for maintaining access to cutting-edge treatments and technologies. Cancer treatment is a rapidly evolving field, with new therapies and technologies emerging regularly.

☑️ However, these innovative treatments are often costly and may not be fully covered by standard medical aid plans. Gap cover helps bridge this gap, allowing patients to access the latest and most effective treatments available without incurring prohibitive costs.

💙 In conclusion, gap cover is an indispensable component of cancer care. It provides financial relief by covering shortfalls left by medical aid schemes, supports access to advanced and necessary treatments, and alleviates the stress of unforeseen medical expenses. For anyone facing the daunting prospect of cancer treatment, having reliable gap cover can make a significant difference in their healthcare journey.

⚠️ Read our in-depth guide on the best Gap Cover plans under R500 per month.

The 5 best gap covers for cancer

👉 Read on to discover our top picks for the 5 best gap covers that offer cancer benefits.

Momentum Gap Cover

👉 Download Momentum Gap Cover brochure here

💙 Momentum Gap Cover is a supplementary insurance product designed to cover the shortfalls between what your medical aid pays and the actual costs incurred during in-hospital and certain out-of-hospital treatments.

💙 It means that policyholders are not left with hefty out-of-pocket expenses by covering additional fees charged by medical practitioners, co-payments, and other unexpected medical costs. Momentum Gap Cover offers a range of plans to suit different needs, providing comprehensive financial protection against medical expense shortfalls.

Cancer Assist Benefit

☑️ Momentum GapCover provides substantial support for individuals diagnosed with cancer through its Cancer Assist Benefit. If a policyholder is diagnosed with stage 2 local and malignant cancer, the benefit pays out R8,000. For those diagnosed with stage 2 regional and malignant cancer, the payout increases to R20,000.

☑️ Then, if the medical aid covers over R200,000 in oncology treatment costs within 12 months of the diagnosis, an additional R15,000 is paid out. This tiered benefit structure means that patients receive financial assistance that meets the severity and treatment costs of their condition, easing the burden during a critical time.

Co-payments on Oncology Treatment

✅ The gap cover includes coverage for co-payments applied by medical aids, specifically the 20% co-payment on oncology treatment after reaching the medical aid limit. This provision ensures that patients are not deterred from accessing necessary cancer treatments due to prohibitive additional costs.

✅ By covering these co-payments, Momentum Gap cover ensures continuous and uninterrupted access to vital cancer care without the added financial strain.

Additional Cancer-Related Benefits

✔️ Beyond direct cancer treatment costs, Momentum GapCover also provides a breast reconstruction benefit for the non-affected breast if a policyholder undergoes a mastectomy due to breast cancer. This benefit offers R15,000 per policy per year, addressing the cosmetic and psychological needs following cancer surgery.

What is the monthly premium for the Momentum GapCover plans?

👉 The Momentum Gap Cover plans start from R259 per month and go up in price depending on the coverage you choose.

What Is the Waiting Period for the Momentum Gap Cover Benefits?

✔️ A three-month general waiting period applies, during which no claims are payable except for claims related to accidents.
✔️ A 12-month condition-specific waiting period applies for any pre-existing conditions that required treatment or advice in the 12 months prior to the cover start date.
✔️ A nine-month waiting period applies for maternity benefits.
✔️ No waiting periods apply if the policyholder moves from another gap cover provider to Momentum GapCover, provided there is no break in coverage.

How to Claim for Momentum Gap Cover Benefits

👉 You can submit your claim for Momentum Gap Cover with the following steps:

✅ Obtain a claim form from the Momentum website or by contacting their support.
✅ Complete the claim form with all necessary details.
✅ Attach all required supporting documents, such as medical bills and statements from the medical aid.
✅ Submit the completed claim form and documents via email, fax, or postal mail to Momentum’s claims department.
✅ Ensure the submission is within the stipulated time frame, typically within six months of the treatment date.

Momentum Health Contact Details

Head Office (Centurion)

✅ Address: 268 West Avenue, Centurion, 0157
✅ Phone: +27 12 671 8911
✅ Email: [email protected]
✅ Website: momentum.co.za

⚠️ You might like the article of the Best Gap Cover with No Waiting Period

Discovery Health Gap Cover

💙 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

Cancer Benefits and Conditions

💙 Covers shortfalls of up to R100,000 a year on the Comprehensive option or up to R75,000 a year on the Core option for approved
cancer-related claims once you reach the medical scheme’s oncology threshold.

Extended Cancer Cover

☑️ Discovery Gap Cover extends cancer-related financial protection by covering up to R100,000 annually for shortfalls on approved cancer-related claims once the medical scheme’s oncology threshold is reached. This benefit ensures that patients have access to necessary treatments without facing prohibitive out-of-pocket costs.

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

✅ Phone: 0860 99 88 77
✅ Email: [email protected]
✅ Website: www.discovery.co.za
✅ Physical adress: Head Office: 1 Discovery Place, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa

Bonitas MedGap

💙 Bonitas MedGap, offered by Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited, is a gap cover product designed to protect members from significant medical expense shortfalls during hospitalization and certain out-of-hospital procedures.

💙 It covers the difference between what medical schemes pay and the actual costs incurred for treatments, ensuring that members are not financially burdened by unexpected medical bills. Only active medical scheme members are eligible for MedGap cover, and it does not replace medical scheme membership but rather complements it.

👉 Download Bontas Gap Cover 2025 brochure here

Cancer Benefits and Conditions

💙 Covers the co-payment (including biological drugs and specialized medication) of up to 20% that medical schemes impose on members once they have reached their oncology treatment benefit limit for the year.

Oncology Co-payment Benefit

☑️ Bonitas MedGap includes an Oncology Co-payment Benefit, which covers co-payments up to 20% that medical schemes impose on members once they have reached their oncology treatment benefit limit for the year.

☑️ This benefit means that patients can continue receiving necessary cancer treatments without the added financial stress of significant co-payments. It includes coverage for biological drugs and specialised medications, providing comprehensive support for advanced cancer treatments.

Oncology Extender Benefit

✅ In cases where a medical scheme’s oncology benefit limit has been reached and no further benefits are available, Bonitas MedGap offers an Oncology Extender Benefit.

✅ This benefit covers 20% of the cost of each treatment, including biological drugs and specialized medications, paid by the insured person. This additional coverage helps patients access continued care even after exhausting their medical scheme benefits, ensuring uninterrupted treatment for cancer patients.