5 Best Hospital Plans for Farm Workers
The 5 Best Hospital Plans for Farm Workers in South Africa revealed.
We tested them side by side and verified their hospital plans.
This is a complete guide to the best hospital plans for Farm Workers in South Africa.
In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:
- What is a Hospital Plan?
- How do you find affordable hospital plans in South Africa?
- Which hospital plans offer options for multiple farm workers together?
- How to compare hospital plans against each other?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the best hospital plans for farm workeres in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Best Hospital Plans for Farm Workers (2024)
🩺 Medical Aid | ✔️ Offers Hospital Plans for Farm Workers? | ⚕️ Plan Offered | 👉 Sign Up |
1. The MadeSure AGRI Protector | Yes | Ingwe Student Option | 👉 Apply Now |
2. Discovery Health | Yes | Discovery KeyCare Plan | 👉 Apply Now |
3. Momentum | Yes | Boncap Student | 👉 Apply Now |
4. Episodic Hospital Plan | Yes | flexiFED Savvy | 👉 Apply Now |
5. Fedhealth | Yes | Network Plans | 👉 Apply Now |
5 Best Hospital Plans for Farm Workers Summary
- The MadeSure AGRI Protector – Overall, Best Hospital Plans for Farm Workers in South Africa
- Discovery Medical Scheme – Top Extensive Medical Protection in South Africa
- Momentum Health – Broadest Range of Low-Cost Hospital Plans
- Episodic Hospital Plan – Best Customer Service Hospital Plan
- Fedhealth Medical Scheme – Best Pay-As-You-Go Private Healthcare
Introduction to Hospital Plans
A hospital plan covers any medical treatments done in a private hospital, like if you are in an accident and need an emergency operation. If you need medical care outside of a hospital, like seeing your doctor, going to the dentist, or getting new glasses at the optician, a hospital plan will not pay for it. A medical aid plan, on the other hand, will.
Because of this difference, hospital plans are much less expensive than full medical aid plans, even though they cover less. Here’s more about these two types of health care:
Hospital plans
With a hospital plan, you pay a monthly fee that pays for your treatments and procedures while you are an in-patient in a private hospital. Outside of the hospital, you would have to pay for your own medicine and doctor visits. If you need to go to the hospital for a planned treatment, you will need to get permission from your hospital plan provider first. If you need to go to the hospital for an emergency, your hospital plan provider will work directly with the hospital to get you admitted.
Medical aids
Depending on the plan you choose, many medical help plans cover you both in and out of the hospital. So you will be covered for everything that a hospital plan covers, plus regular care like going to the doctor and dentist. Depending on your plan, though, the amount you can save every day in your MSA (Medical Savings Account) is limited. So, before you sign up for a medical help plan, make sure you do your study to make sure the limits are enough for you and your family.
What does a hospital plan cover?
A hospital plan helps you pay for your medical bills if you end up in the hospital. Your plan will pay a certain amount for your entry, stay, medical bills, and other costs. Some hospital plans have more benefits and less out-of-pocket costs, while others have tighter rules, restrictions, and limits.
It is important to remember that hospital plans only pay for costs you have when you are in the hospital. You will have to pay for things like visits to your doctor and short-term medications on your own. But even if you are not in the hospital, all medical aid plans, including hospital plans, are required by the Medical Schemes Act to cover medications for a list of 27 chronic diseases. This list is called Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs).
Before you can go to the hospital, you will need to get pre-authorization from your provider, unless it is an emergency. In that case, the hospital will work with your provider to get you in.
All medical aids are allowed to have a 3-month general waiting time, during which no claims will be paid, and/or a 12-month ban for any pre-existing medical conditions. When someone gets hurt and needs to go to the hospital, there are no waiting times. Benefits also will not be given out if the hospital stay starts during the waiting period and lasts longer than the waiting period.
READ more about Hospital Plans for Domestic Labour Workers
The Importance of Hospital Plans for Farm Workers
The lives of farm labourers in South Africa are fraught with difficulties on a daily basis for farmers.
Their staff is put at danger of suffering severe injuries or possibly dying as a result of this risk.
Therefore, the agricultural sector in South Africa is in desperate need of some form of protection and safety.
Farmers, too, require any and all assistance that can be provided to protect their employees, who play a significant part in the economic development of South Africa.
Because of this type of insurance, farmers are able to help their employees and the families of their workers in times of need.
1. The MadeSure AGRI Protector
The AGRI Protector offers benefits that safeguard farm employees against the everyday dangers they face, as well as the unforeseen costs of medical care in the event that they sustain an injury on the job.
Additionally, it offers protection in the event of the policyholder’s passing.
Therefore, this type of insurance provides peace of mind to farmers by assuring them that they will have access to financial support in the event of an emergency.
All farm labourers, including those from other countries, are eligible to participate in the hospital programme for farm workers.
When admitted to hospital for accidental injury the policy will cover R2 000 a day for up to 14 days.
A hospital admission guarantee of up to R20 000 is given if a worker is admitted to hospital following an injury while at work.
It also covers:
- Emergency Search and Rescue as well as transportation up to R100 000
- Life support and medical equipment up to R100 000
- Expert Accident Assistance to help farmers with claims submissions to the Compensation for Occupation Injury and Disease Fund
- A 24/7 panic response benefit in times of emergencies
- Permanent Disability Benefits of a total payment of R100 000
- Mobility Cover of up to R150 000 for wheelchairs, prosthetics or vehicle and home modifications
- Up to R75 000 for rehabilitation when workers need to be trained to perform other work tasks
- Child support of R200 a day is paid for 28 days in the event of accidental disability or injury to the main member/spouse/child. There is an annual limit of R10 000 and a seven-day waiting period
- Reimbursement for loss of income –
- The policies cover the sum insured weekly for up to 52 weeks in the event of accidental injury or serious illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes and cancer
- If diagnosed with a serious illness, then the cover applies up to the age of 60 years 30 days after diagnosis
The MadeSure AGRI Protector costs R95 a month, and the AGRI Protector Plus costs R150 a month and includes R150 free airtime monthly.
2. Discovery Medical Scheme
The Discovery Health Medical Scheme offers more than 20 different health plan options, all of which are suitable for young adults because they include limitless private hospital coverage and a range of perks to suit everybody’s requirements and financial situation.
Discovery Hospital Plans suitable for farm workers include:
Keycare Range
This range gives you cover with Discovery’s network of hospitals and GPs.
KeyCare Core gets affordable cover in Discovery’s network of hospitals.
For those who earn less than R8 800 per month, it is a hospital plan with limited cover and includes cover for some chronic conditions.
KeyCare Access is also suitable if you earn below R8 800, if you don’t need private hospitals and if you would like private services outside hospital.
KeyCare Plus is suitable for those earning below R8 800 who would like to have cover with limited benefits.
Discovery Health has the following plans to offer under the Discovery Health KeyCare series:
➡️ Discovery Health KeyCare Start Regional
➡️ Discovery Health KeyCare Start
➡️ Discovery Health KeyCare Plus
➡️ Discovery Health KeyCare Core
Core Range
Essential Core offers chronic disease cover. It gives you “no limit” cover in any local hospital.
Classic Delta Core Network covers private hospitals at a reasonable rate. It has no limit on admissions to the Discovery local hospital network.
Coastal Core is for those who live in coastal areas and need hospital cover and medications for chronic conditions at a reasonable price. There is no limit to access to coastal hospitals, as well as emergency cover in non-coastal local areas.
The Discovery Health Core Series includes the following plans:
- ✅ Discovery Health Classic Delta Core
- ✅ Discovery Health Classic Core
- ✅ Discovery Health Coastal Core
- ✅ Discovery Health Essential Core
- ✅ Discovery Health Essential Delta Core
Saver range
Classic Saver plan has a good hospital benefit and good savings for out-of-hospital costs. It covers any private hospital in South Africa at 200% of the Discovery health rate with no overall limit.
Classic Delta Saver Network is good for hospital cover and savings for out-of-hospital care. It provides cover in a private hospital network with no overall limit.
3. Momentum Health
Momentum Health offers three hospital plans suitable for farm workers. They are the Momentum Ingwe, Momentum Custom and Momentum Incentive plans.
Ingwe offers entry level cover at a list of private hospitals or State hospitals.
Momentum Extender offers private hospitalisation.
4. Episodic Hospital Plan
An Episodic Hospital Plan lets you choose your own cover and an opportunity to save on your premiums.
You can get access to private hospitals for accidents, illnesses, maternity benefits and more.
Accident and Hospital Cover cost from R175 per month with hospital cover for accidents up to R800,000 per year with R15,000 emergency room cover.
You have a choice of 3 levels of cover, no waiting period and 24/7 Emergency Services.
For casualty visits not related to accidents there is cover up to R12,000 per year with a 1 month waiting period.
Hospital cover for illnesses and planned procedures are covered up to R48,500 per event and there is a 3 month waiting period.
5. Fedhealth Medical Scheme
Fedhealth is also known for its unique benefits paid by Risk, which help members get more out of their regular benefits.
Fedhealth option plans suitable for farm workers include the following:
flexiFED 1
flexiFED 1 is an affordable hospital plan that gives solid medical aid cover at a great price. Get access to Fedhealth Savings powered by the MediVault to help cover unexpected day-to-day medical bills and enjoy a valuable Threshold Benefit that kicks in once claims have reached a certain level. This is a perfect entry-level hospital plan from R1 583 per month.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can farm workers in South Africa get hospital plans?
Yes, farm workers in South Africa can get hospital plans.
What does a hospital plan for farm workers typically cover?
Hospitalization costs, operations, and related medical procedures are frequently covered by hospitalization plans for farm laborers.
Are pre-existing conditions covered under a hospital plan for farm workers?
Pre-existing condition coverage may vary based on the particular hospital plan and insurer.
Can farm workers choose their preferred hospitals with a hospital plan?
Depending on the insurance and the particular hospital plan, the option to select preferred hospitals may change.
How can farm workers in South Africa find affordable hospital plans?
South African farm laborers can obtain affordable hospital plans by contrasting several insurance options and their costs and features.