
5 Best Hospital Plans for Babies (πΏπ¦ 2025*)
TheΒ 5 Best Hospital Plans for Babies in South Africa revealed.
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We tested them side by side and verified their hospital plans.
This is a complete guide to the best hospital plans for babies in South Africa.
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In this in-depth guide youβll learn:
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- π What is a Hospital Plan?
- π Which hospital plans are for children only?
- π What is the difference between medical aids and hospital plans?
- π How to compare hospital plans against each other?
- π What is the best way to sign up for hospital plans for babies for the first time?Β
- π How do you choose the best hospital plans when you have more than one baby?
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So if youβre ready to go βall inβ with the best hospital plans for babies in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Letβs dive right inβ¦
Best Hospital Plans for Babies (2025)
π©Ί Medical Aid | βοΈ Offers Hospital Plans for Babies? | βοΈ Plan Offered | π Sign Up |
1. Bonitas | β Yes | BonEssential | π Apply Now |
2. Discovery Health | β Yes | Discovery KeyCare Plan | π Apply Now |
3. Affinity Health | β Yes | Junior Day-to-Day Option | π Apply Now |
4. FedHealth | β Yes | flexiFED 2 | π Apply Now |
5. Medihelp | β Yes | MedVital, MedVital Elect | π Apply Now |
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5 Best Hospital Plans for Babies Summary
- Bonitas Medical Scheme – Overall, Best Hospital Plans for Babies in South Africa
- Discovery Health Medical Scheme – Top Cost-Effective Options for Babies
- Β Affinity Health – Unlimited Number of Day-to-Day Coverage Options
- Fedhealth – Best Flexibility Options for Babies
- MediHelp – Top Network Hospitals and Specialists for Babies
Introduction to Hospital Plans for Babies
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π In South Africa, there are many different kinds of medical aid to choose from. People of all ages can get medical care from companies, but you might not know which plan covers the important things your child needs.
Can You Get Medical Aid for Babies Only?
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π Children under the age of 18 are not permitted to be the primary members of a Medical Aid plan in South Africa; rather, they must be a dependent on an adult’s plan in order to get coverage for their medical costs.
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π There are several circumstances that warrant an exemption from this regulation. One of these circumstances is when a parent or guardian has passed away and there are sufficient assets remaining in their estate to maintain the child’s participation in the organization.
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π Whether you are a family, or a single mum looking for medical aid for you and your baby, it can be hard to choose the best hospital plan. In South Africa, there are a lot of different medical plans, and each one has its own perks and choices.
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π You might like the best hospital plans under R2000 per month
How to Choose the Best Hospital Plan
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π Think about the benefits offered as well as the amount of money that will need to be paid each month before selecting a hospital plan in South Africa. It is essential that you are aware of the following:
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π’ Complete below form and receive a free, no obligation quote
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Get the Best Medical Aid Quotes from Hippo Advisory Services
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π Join only a health plan that has a “critical mass” of enough other individuals already enrolled. This indicates that it is capable of withstanding a significant number of major medical claims, which is true of all of the plans that we include below.
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π Second, the hospital plans that are listed under the Short-Term Insurance Act and that are often offered by banks provide far fewer benefits than the hospital plans that are provided by Medical Aid Schemes. This is due in part to the fact that they are exempt from meeting the fundamental requirements outlined in the Medical Schemes Act, and in part to the fact that they pay greater commissions than Medical Aid Schemes do.
What should be included in a medical aid for babies?
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Most plans for medical aid cover the same basic things. But when picking a plan for a baby, there are some things to watch out for:
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- π Day to day benefits are essential since babies are prone to catching stomach viruses and colds, both of which are easily treatable with a speedy visit to the paediatrician and some over-the-counter medication.
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- π Hospital Coverage – Considering the high cost of hospital stays, it is important to select a health insurance policy that provides enough coverage for such costs. You might simply only buy a hospital plan if your baby does not have any chronic diseases or if you do not need to go to the doctor very frequently.
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- π Try to find a medical aid plan that also covers other requirements that the baby could have, like vaccinations.
1. Bonitas Medical SchemeΒ
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π Falling in love and creating a family is the greatest feeling on earth, but with this comes new roles such as the care giver to the newborn.
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π Selecting the right medical aid plan is crucial in order for your baby to get the best possible medical attention without putting too much financial pressure.
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π Bonitas Medical Aid also has specific hospital plans for parents and infants with specific in-hospital options for emergencies, births and specific newborns needs.
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π It is the sweetest moment in life to be in love and short time later creating our own family.
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π With this comes new responsibilities For instance, being a care giver to the newborn.
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π To make sure that your baby gets the best medical attention possible without having to pay so much, proper selection of the right medical aid plan is very important.
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π Bonitas Medical Aid also has specific hospital plans for parents and infants with specific in-hospital options for emergencies, births and specific newborns needs.
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BonEssential
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πΒ BonEssential is one of the cheapest hospital only plans offered Bonitas that cover full and private hospital care in cases of births and emergency.
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πΒ Key Features for Parents with Babies:
- βοΈΒ Hospital Cover for Delivery: Natural births and Caesarean section deliveries are fully covered for birth in network hospitals.
- βοΈΒ Newborn Care: Having a hospital that your baby will be admitted into soon after delivery that has NICU should he or she need it.
- βοΈΒ Specialist Services: Providing cover during delivery for obstetricians, pediatricians and anesthetists.
- βοΈΒ Emergency Medical Transport: Netcare 911 emergency medical service response to urgent transport services.
- βοΈ Best for: Affordable hospital cover without day to day medical benefits for its seeking parents. The segment of the population ready to self-finance basic and regular healthcare expenses.
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BonEssential Select
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π BonEssential Select plan is almost like the BonEssential, however, the premium is lower for it, but to get the same listed hospitals that give you the listed hospital benefits, you need to have a BonEssential Select plan that is affiliated to that hospital.
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πKey Features for Babies:
- βοΈ Childbirth and Postnatal Care: Overall inpatient benefit within a selected hospital list.
- βοΈ Lower Premiums: Saving more money as compared to high priced specialty milk formula.
- βοΈ Neonatal Care: All NICU stays covered provided the babyβs stay has been pre-approved.
- βοΈ Best for: Action preserving employers β parents who are willing to restrict themselves to a specific network of hospitals in order to cut on premiums.
- π Those who are seeking better price offerings without compromising the right to visit a hospital.
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BonClassic
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π This policy provides both the hospital and the day to day cover which is useful for families with babies that possibly may require both a simple surgery and normal basic medical check-up respectively.
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π Key Features for Families:
- βοΈ Hospital Cover for Delivery and Newborn Care: Antenatal and postnatal care in private hospitals to include fully paid services for childbirth and any needs that a newborn might require.
- βοΈ Specialist Services: A wide range of coverage for mothers and baby doctors.
- βοΈ Best for: Families who want maximum protection particularly on everyday expenses. Parents who expect their baby to be a high cost consumer of health care services.
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Additional Benefits for Babies Across Bonitas Plans
π Regardless of the chosen plan, Bonitas Medical Aid provides benefits designed to support the health of infants:
- βοΈ Preventative Care: Vaccinations, health screenings, and baby wellness checks.
- βοΈ PMB Conditions: Full coverage for conditions categorized under Prescribed Minimum Benefits.
- βοΈ Emergency Services: 24/7 access to Netcare 911 for medical emergencies.
2. Discovery Health Medical Scheme
π Discovery Health Medical Scheme members have comprehensive maternity and post-birth benefits with access to 24/7 support, advice and guidance through the My Pregnancy and My Baby programmes on the Discovery Health app and website.
π You have cover for healthcare services for you and your baby for up to two years after birth, up to the Discovery Health Rate (DHR) and from the date of activation of the Maternity Benefit.
π Cover from the Maternity Benefit does not affect your day-to-day benefits and depends on the plan you choose. Once you have used up your maternity benefits, we pay for out-of-hospital healthcare expenses for you and your baby from your available dayto-day benefits. If you do not have day-to-day benefits, or if you have run out of funds, you will have to pay for these costs.
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The early childhood benefits under the Maternity Benefit can be activated when:
β’ β You create your pregnancy or baby profile on the My Pregnancy or My Baby programmes on www.discovery.co.za or on the Discovery Health app
β’ β You call us on 0860 99 88 77 and follow the voice prompts
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You register your baby onto the Scheme.
Please refer to the Maternity benefits available for your plan type section for more details.
Suitable Discovery health series for baby cover
Discoveryβs Smart Series is the best cost-effective option that cover the most important medical care for your baby.
πThe Smart Series offers Classic and Essential plans, both offering similar benefits but to different extents.
π You and your baby will get unlimited GP visits and private hospital cover from providers in Discoveryβs network.
πCover is also available for over-the-counter medicine.
π Discovery has aΒ programme called Vitality Baby, with which you can earn points and get rewards.
Other suitable options include:
Keycare Core
The Keycare Core is an inexpensive hospital plan with unlimited hospital cover paid at 100% medical aid rate but only available from a limited list of private hospitals. It has a chronic medication benefit as well as emergency evacuation.
Discovery Keycare Plus
π The Discovery KeyCare Plus is an inexpensive hospital plan with unlimited hospital cover paid at 100% medical aid rate but is only available from a limited list of private hospitals. This is a network option, which means that you get unlimited primary care doctorβs consultations, medicines and basic dentistry is unlimited from a network of practitioners.
π Read more about health insurance for children
3. Affinity Health – Affinity Junior
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π One of the few firms in South Africa that focuses completely on delivering medical aid to children is Affinity Health. You have the option to cover only your baby under their Affinity Junior option, which provides you with the choice between a day-to-day plan, a hospital plan, or a combination plan.
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π The Junior Day-to-Day option provides coverage for an unlimited number of radiological and pathological tests in addition to an unlimited number of medical visits, and your primary care physician (GP) may suggest that you select this option.
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π This option has a monthly cost of around R809 for the day to day cover and R1 228 for hospital cover.
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π The Junior Hospital plan has a monthly fee of around R1228 for the first kid, with an extra R480 required for each subsequent child after that. It grants you access to private hospitals and covers the fees associated with ordinary hospital stays as well as the costs associated with medical treatments.
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Key Benefits covered by the Hospital Cover:
- β Covers hospitalisation due to accident, illness, serios illness and major trauma.
- β Emergency Casualty Room Treatment and 24-Hour Emergency Services.
- β Diagnostic Procedures.
- β Maternity Cover.
- β Hospital Home Care.
- β You gain access to private hospitals.
4. Fedhealth
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β Fedhealth offers a great baby programme designed to provide the best advice, support andpersonalised care during every stage of pregnancy and beyond.
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β Compiled by experts with mothers and babies in mind, Fedhealth Baby is there to make the life-changing experience of being a parent all the more special and rewarding, and a little less daunting.
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β It features amazing giveaways, discounts, education and support. Best of allβ¦ itβs FREE!
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Fedhealth has three option plans that are designed for families with a baby.
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π The FlexiFED 2 plan is aimed at those who plan to have a first baby, while the FlexiFED 3 plan is for families with young children.
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π These plans offer the same benefits but FlexiFED 3 has more money in the MediVault, which gives members access to emergency funds for unexpected medical expenses.
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π These plans both allow for unlimited GP visits and pay hospital treatment costs for a family at Fedhealthβs network doctors. Childrenβs immunisations are covered from birth up to 12 years old.
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π There is also cover for chronic medication and emergency evacuation cover by ambulance and helicopter.
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How to join Fedhealth Baby
Call Fedhealth Baby on 011 704 0071, Monday to Friday between 09h00 and 16h00 (excluding public holidays) or send an email to [email protected] to register for the programme.
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ππΏ Read more about the
Best Medical Aids for Covering Glasses & Optometry in South Africa
5. Medihelp Medical Scheme
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πΒ MedihelpΒ is a leading medical aid provider in South Africa. They offer a wide range of plans to cater to diverse healthcare needs in South Africa. With a strong reputation for reliability and quality service, Medihelp has been serving South Africans for over 118 years.
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π Medihelp offers a variety of plans, including hospital plans, comprehensive plans, and specialized plans for specific needs like maternity or chronic conditions.
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π Many plans include savings accounts that allow members to accumulate funds for out-of-hospital expenses.
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π Medihelp has a vast network of healthcare providers across South Africa, ensuring easy access to medical services.
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π Medihelp provides online platforms and mobile apps for convenient claim submissions, benefit inquiries, and managing your membership.
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π In addition to medical coverage, Medihelp offers additional benefits like discounted gym memberships, wellness programs, and travel insurance.
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π Following options are available:
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β‘οΈ π MedVital Elect
β‘οΈ π MedVital
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can babies get hospital plans from medical aid companies in South Africa?
No, children cannot get hospital plans on their own. At the moment, South African medical aids will only cover children as dependents. A person must be at least 18 years old to have their own medical aid plan. Affinity Health, however, offers an insurance plan for children.
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Which is better for babies, a medical aid or hospital plan?
A medical aid has more benefits because it pays for medical costs in and out of hospital while a hospital plan does not cover other costs than those incurred in hospital.
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Can you get a hospital plan while already pregnant with your baby?
Yes, you can get a hospital plan while pregnant, but you will not get cover for pregnancy and childbirth costs. The baby will be covered from birth though.
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What does a hospital plan for babies typically cover?
A hospital plan for infants often pays for hospitalization expenses, such as diagnostic tests, treatments, and overnight stays.
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How do I add my baby on my hospital plan?
Contact your medical aid to add your baby on your hospital plan, then follow their application instructions.