Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan – 2026 Review
Overview
Bestmed remains one of South Africa’s established medical aid schemes, officially registered with the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) under FSP No. 1252.
Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan Overview
The Bestmed Beat 3 Plus medical aid plan is one of 11, starting from R5,042, and includes cover for day-to-day and preventative care, international medical travel, and Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs).
Members on the Beat 3 Plus plan have access to Gap Cover and 24-hour emergency medical assistance. Bestmed currently has a Trust Index rating of 3.6.
Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan Contributions 2026
| 👤 Main Member | 👥 +1 Adult Dependent | 👶 +1 Child Dependent |
| R5,042 | R3,746 | R1,902 |
Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan vs. Similar Plans from other Medical Schemes
| Bestmed Beat 3 Plus | Fedhealth flexiFED 2 | Bonitas BonCore | |
| Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Screening and Prevention | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Medical Savings Account | ✅ | (optional) | ❌ |
| Maternity Benefits | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pre- and Postnatal Care | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Chronic Conditions | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Home Care | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Oncology Cover | 100% Scheme tariff, subject to ICON protocols | R311,900 DSP | PMB only |
| Extended Cover for Oncology | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Hospital Cover | 100% Scheme tariff, no stated annual limit | ✅ | ✅ |
| Optometry Benefit | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Dentistry Benefit | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Advanced Dentistry | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Internal Prosthesis | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| External Prosthesis | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mental Healthcare Program | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Diabetes Care Program | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| HIV Care Program | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cardio Care Program | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Spinal and Neck Program | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Disease Prevention Program | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cover for Covid-19 and other diseases (WHO Outbreak Benefit) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Annual Limit | Unlimited for hospital; sub-limits apply to specific benefits | No overall limit | No overall limit |
| Above Threshold Benefit (ATB) | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| International Cover | ✅ | ❌ | R1,200,000, Africa Benefit |
| Main Member Contribution | R5,042 | R3,787 (GRID R3,396, Elect R2,835) | R1,275 |
| Adult Dependent Contribution | R3,746 | R3,370 (GRID R3,027, Elect R2,534) | R1,275 |
| Child Dependent Contribution | R1,902 | R1,118 (GRID R1,003, Elect R842) | R1,275 (max 3) |
| Gap Cover | ✅ (optional) | ✅ | ✅ |
Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan Benefits and Cover Comprehensive Breakdown
Beat 3 Plus is one of Bestmed’s stronger mid-range options. It’s ideal for people who want good hospital cover, steady chronic care, and a few extras for prevention and maternity. Here’s how the plan’s cover works and what members can expect in 2026.
In-Hospital Benefits
| 🩺 Medical Event | 💡 What the Option Covers |
| 🏥 Hospital stay & theatre fees | · Paid at the Scheme rate for authorised hospital admissions. · Pre-authorisation required, except in emergencies (report next working day). · Network specialists are covered at 100% of the Bonitas Rate. · Non-network specialists are covered at 70% of the Bonitas Rate. · A combined out-of-network GP and specialist limit of R2,500 per family applies. |
| 💊 Discharge medication | · Limited short course allowed after discharge if claimed the same day. |
| · 💰 Small retail pharmacy allowance applies. | Covered for PMB only. |
| 🧬 Biologic treatments | Covered up to an annual family limit, subject to authorisation and funding rules. |
| 🧠 Mental health treatment | PMB cover at designated providers with set limits per year for inpatient and outpatient sessions. |
| 🚭 Substance abuse treatment | Covered for PMB conditions at DSP facilities, limited to 21 days per year, with pre-authorisation. |
| 👨⚕️ Specialist consultations & procedures | Paid at Scheme rate when part of an authorised admission. |
| 🔪 Surgical procedures & anaesthetics | Paid in full at Scheme rate according to clinical protocols. |
| 🫀 Organ and stem-cell transplants | Covered for PMB conditions only, subject to authorisation. |
| 😷 Major maxillofacial surgery | Covered up to a family limit per year for defined medical conditions. |
| 🦷 Dental and oral surgery | Paid at Scheme rate up to a family limit each year; pre-authorisation may apply. |
| 🦿 Prostheses – overall limit | One pooled annual family limit applies when preferred providers are used; otherwise, co-payments may apply. |
| ⚙️ Prostheses – internal | · Sub-limits apply for specific items such as pacemakers, spinal implants, and joint replacements. |
| · ✅ PMB cases are covered in full. | PMB only. No cover for physiotherapy during mental health admissions. Network use avoids the R14,680 co-payment. |
| 🩹 Prostheses – external | Covered only for PMB cases. |
| 🎗️ Breast cancer surgery | Cancer-related breast surgery is covered; surgery to the unaffected breast follows PMB rules and requires approval. |
| 🦴 Orthopaedic and medical appliances | Covered up to a family cap for appliances linked to hospital procedures. |
| 🧪 Pathology & basic radiology | Paid at Scheme rate as part of hospital treatment. |
| 🖥️ Specialised imaging (MRI, CT, nuclear scans) | · Combined annual family limit applies; co-payment per scan unless PMB. · PET scans covered only for PMBs. PMB only. A 25% co-payment is avoided by using a network provider. |
| 🎗️ Oncology | Covered at Scheme rate using ICON Essential protocols and designated providers, subject to authorisation. |
| 💧 Dialysis (peritoneal & haemodialysis) | Paid at Scheme rate with prior approval and DSP use. |
| 🤰 Confinements (birth) | · Covered at Scheme rate, including midwife-assisted deliveries. · Pre-authorisation is required. · Covered at Scheme rate, including midwife-assisted deliveries. |
| 👁️ Refractive eye surgery (non-cataract) | Limited cover per eye, with pre-authorisation and set criteria. |
| 🧫 HIV care | Covered under the HIV Care Programme at Scheme rate via designated providers. |
| 🧍♀️ Supplementary hospital services | Paid at Scheme rate (e.g., physio, occupational therapy). |
| 🏠 Procedures done in rooms (hospital alternatives) | Covered at Scheme rate when clinically justified as an alternative to admission. |
| 🌅 Advanced Illness Benefit | Provides extra cover for palliative or advanced-stage illness care, up to an annual limit per person. |
| 🏥 Day procedures | · Fully covered at network day hospitals with authorisation. · Fixed co-pay applies for procedures done at non-network hospitals unless arranged. |
| 🌍 International medical travel cover | · Travel insurance benefit for holidays (up to 90 days) and business trips (up to 60 days) with defined family limits. Lower cover applies for USA travel. |
| 💳 Procedure-specific co-payments | · Set co-pays for certain surgeries and scopes (e.g., laparoscopies, colonoscopies, back/neck surgery, wisdom teeth). |
Out-of-Hospital Benefits
| Medical Event | Scheme Benefit |
| 👩⚕️ GP, Nurse & Specialist Consultations (including emergency room visits) | · Paid from your savings account at the Scheme rate. · Pre-authorisation might be required for certain treatments. You get three GP visits per beneficiary each year. Two visits may be with non-network GPs and are paid at the Bonitas Rate. |
| 😁 Basic & Specialised Dentistry | · Routine check-ups & cleaning from preventative/savings funds. · More advanced dental procedures (orthodontics) require pre-authorisation and are paid from savings. You have two casualty or hospital emergency room consultations per family for true emergencies. Non-emergency visits are taken from your GP consultation allowance. |
| 🦽 Medical Aids & Appliances (wheelchairs, etc.) | Covered from your savings account. Larger claims might need a quote and medical motivation. |
| 👂 Hearing Aids | · Subject to pre-authorisation, quotation, and audiogram. · Paid from your savings account. Claims pay from your Benefit Booster first, then PMB only. |
| 🧘 Supplementary Services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics) | · Fully covered up to a set annual family limit. · Once exceeded, further claims come from savings. Claims pay from your Benefit Booster first, then PMB only. |
| 🩹 Wound Care (including NPWT) | · NPWT covered in full with prior approval. · General wound care covered in full up to a defined family limit per year. PMB-only cover applies for out-of-hospital mental health visits. |
| 👓 Optometry | · Available every 24 months. PPN network covers consultation, standard lenses, and frame allowance; non-network providers are reimbursed at fixed rates. · Members can choose contact lenses instead, up to a set limit. |
| 🧪 Basic Radiology & Pathology | Paid from savings at Scheme tariff. |
| 🧲 Specialised Diagnostic Imaging (MRI, CT, nuclear scans) | · Covered at 100% with prior approval, within an annual family limit. · A co-payment applies per scan unless it qualifies as a PMB. · PET scans are limited to PMB cases. |
| 🧍♂️ Rehabilitation After Trauma | Covered if it meets PMB criteria, subject to pre-authorisation and use of designated service providers. |
| 💪 Back & Neck Preventative Programme | · Fully funded when following Scheme protocols and using designated providers. · Pre-authorisation required. |
| 🧫 HIV/AIDS Care | · Fully covered through the designated HIV programme. · Pre-authorisation required. |
| 🎗 Oncology (Out-of-Hospital) | Managed through Bestmed’s designated oncology network (ICON) and covered at 100%, subject to approval and treatment protocols. |
| 💧 Dialysis (Peritoneal or Haemodialysis) | Covered at 100% when authorised and performed through approved service providers. |
Medicine Benefits
The Beat 3 Plus plan manages medication through a mix of scheme risk funding and your medical savings, depending on the type of medicine prescribed.
Here’s what it offers:
- Chronic and Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) medicines are comprehensively covered at the scheme rate, provided they’re on the approved formulary. A 30% co-payment applies for non-formulary options.
- Non-CDL chronic cover applies to five specific conditions, covered at 80% of the scheme rate. The annual limits are R4,358 for a single member and R8,865 for a member with dependents. Non-formulary items carry a 30% co-payment.
- Biological and other high-cost medicines are covered under the scheme risk only when prescribed for PMB conditions, following strict clinical protocols.
- Acute and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are paid from your savings account at the scheme rate.
- How chronic funding works: All approved chronic medicine costs are initially deducted from the non-CDL limit. Once that’s depleted, approved CDL and PMB medications continue without a limit from the scheme’s risk pool (but only if they meet formulary and protocol requirements).
- Special exceptions: Medication for conditions such as organ transplants, chronic renal failure, multiple sclerosis, and haemophilia is paid directly from the scheme’s risk benefit and doesn’t reduce your chronic medicine limit.
- Cost management measures: Pre-authorisation, designated providers, formularies, and the Mediscor Reference Price system apply to keep costs consistent across pharmacies and prevent unnecessary co-payments.
Chronic Conditions
Beat 3 Plus recognises three buckets of long-term conditions: the regulated Chronic Disease List (CDL), a short non-CDL set, and additional PMB conditions. Cover is administered per the scheme’s formularies, authorisations, and protocols.
CDL
- Addison disease
- Asthma
- Bipolar disorder
- Bronchiectasis
- Cardiac failure
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic renal disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Crohn disease
- Diabetes insipidus
- Diabetes mellitus type 1
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Haemophilia
- HIV/AIDS
- Hyperlipidaemia
- Hypertension
- Hypothyroidism
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Schizophrenia
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Ulcerative colitis
Non-CDL
- Severe acne
- Allergic rhinitis
- ADD/ADHD
- Severe eczema
- Migraine prevention therapy
PMB
- Aplastic anaemia
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Cerebral palsy
- Chronic (persistent) anaemia
- COVID-19
- Cushing disease
- Endometriosis
- Menopause (female)
- Fibrosing alveolitis
- Graves disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pituitary (hypophyseal) adenoma
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Pulmonary embolism
- Stroke
Preventative Care Benefits
| Benefit | What you get |
| 💉 Flu vaccine | One flu shot per person each year. |
| 🫁 Pneumonia vaccines | · Babies follow the state schedule. · Adults at high risk get two lifetime doses, with a booster after 65. Available annually |
| 🌍 Travel vaccines | Mandatory shots for selected destinations (e.g., yellow fever, typhoid) covered up to the plan limits. |
| 🧸 Paediatric immunisations | Full childhood schedule covered per the national programme. |
| 📏 Baby growth & development checks | Three clinic assessments per year from birth to age two. |
| 👩🍼 Female contraceptives | · Oral, injectable, or implant options covered up to a yearly limit. · IUD covered with a five-year cycle cap. |
| 💜 HPV vaccinations | Three-dose course for females aged 9–26. |
| 🩺 Mammogram | One screening every two years from age 40. |
| 🧬 Colon cancer screen | · Faecal occult blood test every two years from age 40. · The doctor visit is funded from the consultation benefit/savings as applicable. |
| ❤️ HIV rapid test | One test every 12 months at a network pharmacy. |
Preventative Dentistry
Early dental care keeps avoidable claims off your savings. The plan funds routine check-ups and basic preventative work at defined intervals, with extra support for children and teens.
| 🦷 Service | Who it’s for | How often / limit |
| 🪥 Comprehensive dental exam (incl. gloves/sterile kit) | 12+ years; under 12 years | Once per year (12+). Twice per year (<12). |
| 🩻 Full-mouth X-rays | All ages | Once every 36 months. |
| 📸 Small intra-oral X-rays | All ages | Two per year. |
| 🫧 Scale and polish | All ages | Twice per year (about every 6 months). |
| 💧 Fluoride application | All ages | Twice per year (about every 6 months). |
| 🧩 Fissure sealants | Up to and including 21 years | Covered according to clinical protocols (to seal decay-prone grooves). |
| 🌈 Space maintainers | Children in primary/mixed dentition | One per space when clinically indicated. |
Maternity Benefits
- Cover applies at the scheme’s rate once registered and pre-authorised when needed.
- Members receive up to nine antenatal consultations with a GP, gynaecologist, or midwife, and one postnatal consultation.
- Two standard 2D ultrasounds are covered; one early in pregnancy (10–12 weeks) and another mid-pregnancy (20–24 weeks).
- Approved maternity supplements can be claimed monthly, up to a capped amount, for a maximum of nine months.
- All benefits are subject to scheme rules, formularies, and designated service providers.
Maternity Care Programme
- A guided support programme that assists expectant parents from pregnancy confirmation through delivery and the postnatal period.
- Registration should be done as soon as pregnancy is confirmed by a lab test or scan.
- After signing up, a consultant reaches out to guide you through the process.
- High-risk pregnancies are monitored by the scheme’s case management team.
- Registration on the programme does not automatically approve maternity benefits; these remain subject to the scheme’s standard rules.
- To register, members can email [email protected] or call 012 472 6797, including their membership number and due date.
- Once registered, members receive an email from Bestmed’s third-party partner (DLA) to complete the forms for continued support and eligibility for a maternity gift after 14 weeks.
- The programme also provides access to a 24-hour medical advice line and ongoing educational material throughout pregnancy.
Bestment Tempo Wellness Programme
Tempo is Bestmed’s member wellness toolkit: complete a once-a-year Lifestyle Screening to unlock a set of health coaching benefits that cover screenings, movement, and nutrition support.
The aim is to help members spot risks early, get a tailored plan, and keep momentum with practical follow-ups and webinars.
What it offers:
- Annual Lifestyle Screening for adults (16 and older), including a questionnaire and checks for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, height, and weight.
- One face-to-face physical assessment with a biokineticist, followed by a virtual or in-person consultation to create a tailored exercise plan.
- One nutrition assessment with a registered dietitian, followed by a follow-up session (virtual or in-person) to develop a personalised eating plan.
- Monthly online wellness webinars focusing on mental health, physical wellbeing, and nutrition topics.
Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan Exclusions and Waiting Periods
Like all Medical Aid Schemes, Bestmed has certain exclusions and waiting periods that prospective members should be aware of.
Beat 3 Plus Exclusions
- PET scans are not covered, except where the case qualifies as a Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB).
- External prostheses have no benefit unless linked to a PMB condition.
- Joint replacements are excluded unless the surgery qualifies as a PMB; when it does, coverage is subject to prosthesis sub-limits.
- Organ transplants are limited to PMBs; non-PMB transplants are excluded.
- Stem-cell transplants are limited to PMBs; anything outside PMB criteria is excluded.
- Rehabilitation after trauma is limited to PMBs; non-PMB rehab is excluded.
- Breast surgery for the non-affected breast in cancer cases is restricted to PMB provisions; beyond the PMB scope, it is excluded.
Beat 3 Plus Waiting Periods
- A general waiting period might be applied at joining (often up to three months) per the underwriting rules.
- A condition-specific waiting period might be applied for pre-existing conditions (commonly up to 12 months) per underwriting rules.
- Late-joiner penalties might apply based on age and prior cover history, calculated per CMS methodology.
Our Verdict on the Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan
Beat 3 Plus keeps its focus on meaningful medical coverage. It’s a decent option for hospital stays, chronic treatment, and long-term disease management. Preventative and maternity benefits are handled responsibly, offering solid support across different life stages.
The contribution is on the higher side, but the depth of cover balances that out. Members benefit from comprehensive wellness options and dedicated care programs for conditions like diabetes and HIV.
You might like to discover more about the plans from Bestmed
- 📌 Bestmed Beat 3 Network medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Beat 2 Network medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Beat 1 Network medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Pace 4 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Pace 3 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Pace 2 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Pace 1 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Rhythm 2 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Rhythm 1 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Beat 4 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Beat 3 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Beat 2 medical aid plan
- 📌 Bestmed Beat 1 medical aid plan
- 📌 Beat 3 Plus Medical aid plan
Bestmed Beat 3 Plus Plan FAQs
What does Bestmed Beat 3 Plus cover in-hospital and out-of-hospital?
It pays 100% of the scheme rate for approved hospital stays, theatre fees, specialists, scans, and maternity care. Out-of-hospital cover includes GP and specialist visits, dentistry, optometry, basic radiology, pathology, and chronic medicine from savings or at scheme rate.
Does Bestmed Beat 3 Plus cover maternity and newborn care?
Yes. It covers up to nine antenatal visits, two standard ultrasounds, one postnatal consultation, and maternity supplements.
What chronic conditions are covered under Bestmed Beat 3 Plus?
It covers the complete Chronic Disease List, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and HIV. It also covers non-CDL conditions, plus several PMB conditions.
Does Bestmed Beat 3 Plus cover mental health and substance abuse treatment?
Yes. Mental health care is covered at designated providers, with limits for inpatient and outpatient sessions.
How much is the monthly contribution for Bestmed Beat 3 Plus in 2026?
R5,042 for the main member, R3,746 for an adult dependent, and R1,902 for a child dependent.
Are there waiting periods for joining Bestmed Beat 3 Plus?
Yes. A general waiting period of up to three months may apply, and pre-existing conditions can carry up to 12 months.
What happens if I change from another scheme to Bestmed Beat 3 Plus mid-year?
You can transfer, but standard underwriting may apply, meaning waiting periods or late-joiner penalties could still be enforced based on your cover history.
What co-payments or sub-limits apply to Bestmed Beat 3 Plus?
Co-payments apply to certain scans and procedures, unless they qualify as PMBs. Family sub-limits apply to prostheses, appliances, and high-cost treatments.
What are the day-to-day benefits under Bestmed Beat 3 Plus?
Day-to-day expenses like GP visits, dentist appointments, and prescribed medicine are paid from your savings account. Preventative care is covered separately.
What preventative care and wellness benefits does Bestmed Beat 3 Plus include?
It covers vaccines, paediatric checks, female contraceptives, HPV vaccines, mammograms, colon cancer screening, HIV testing, and the Tempo Wellness Programme for screenings and health coaching.
