Medihelp versus Fedhealth compared and revealed. We tested them side by side and verified their medical aid plans benefits, affordability, and much more.
This is a complete guide to Medihelp and Fedhealth in South Africa.
👉 In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:
✅ What is a Medical Scheme?
✅ Which medical aid is the best for young families?
✅ Which medical aid is best for a young person?
✅ How to compare medical aids against each other?
✅ Which should you choose: Medihelp or Momentum Medical Scheme?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with Medihelp versus Momentum Medical Scheme in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Both Medihelp and Momentum Medical Scheme are popular and well-known on the medical aid list of health schemes in SA that provide a comprehensive selection of tailored plans. Here, we compare in these two medical aid schemes to help you decide on the best option for your healthcare needs in 2026.
Which offers more affordable cover – Medihelp or Momentum Medical Scheme?
Momentum Medical Scheme has the lowest premium of the two medical aids with its Ingwe plans that specifically focusses on students. However, Medihelp also offers a very low premium on its MedMove Student plan that also focusses on students. Both medical aids provide medical aid plans that are reasonably priced. These plans are meant for individuals, families, and retirees.
Do both schemes offer gap cover?
👉 A gap coverage policy is a short-term insurance plan that covers a deficit if people see doctors and specialists who charge more than their medical aids. Medical help and gap cover, cover you.
👉 For a monthly charge, your gap cover provider will pay you a percentage of the difference between the total cost of your medical care and the amount your health insurance policy would cover. If you use a non-network doctor, you'll likely pay more at a private hospital than your plan would cover.
👉 Medihelp does not offer direct Gap Cover within the medical scheme but advise you to take out gap cover from an independent insurer. Anyone who is an up to date member of Medihelp and who meets the age requirement can apply for cap cover for Medihelp.
👉 Momentum does not only provide medical aid but also has a number of other divisions under its umbrella. Gap cover is one of them but does not fall directly under the medical scheme.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
👉 Yes, both Medihelp and Momentum Medical Scheme offer hospital plans. All 11 of the plans Medihelp offer give you access to quality care at private hospitals with no overall annual limit. Some Medihelp plans offer you a choice between using any hospital or a network hospital when you join the network version of the plan at a considerably lower premium, which is made possible by negotiating tariffs with efficient networks of hospitals and day procedure facilities.
👉 All of Momentum Medical Scheme's plans come with hospital plans that will pay for the costs of your care if you are admitted to the hospital, including ward costs, theatre fees, and accounts from other in-hospital providers like anesthesiologists or radiologists. All of its hospital plans are governed by the terms of the Scheme, pre-approval, case management, clinical guidelines, and the benefit choice you have selected.
Who is Medihelp?
👉 Medihelp is the second largest self-administered medical aid in South Africa and has been serving the interests of members for the past 120 years. It has close to 220 000 beneficiaries, and remain one of the top five choices of medical aids in the industry.
👉 The sole objective of Medihelp, as a self-administered medical aid, is to look after its members and provide for their medical need. All South Africans are welcome to apply, whether they are students, newly employed individuals looking to enrol in a medical insurance plan for the first time, independent business owners searching for a trustworthy healthcare provider for their staff, or parents supporting expanding families.
👉 Medihelp’s reserve level is well above the legal requirement and its ability to pay members’ claims is rated amongst the highest in the industry at A+ by Global Credit Rating (GCR), the largest independent rating company in Africa.
👉 Medihelp is owned by its members and handles administrative duties as processing and paying claims, pre-authorisation and communication with members in-house.
Who will benefit from Medihelp?
All Medihelp plans are designed to provide solid cover for what is considered essential to preserve and protect your health. It makes provision for students, singles, couples, families and pensioners.
👉 MediHelp has the following 11 plans to choose from:
👉 Momentum is a financial services company and provider of healthcare, insurance and investment solutions in SA and provides tailor-made solutions to over 330 000 beneficiaries. Momentum Health has a solvency of 30.4%.
👉 The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) regulates Momentum Medical Scheme, a not-for-profit open medical scheme that is registered and controlled in accordance with the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998. The Scheme was founded in 1963 as a cooperative organization with the primary goal of offering dependable healthcare benefits to its members.
👉 The Scheme aims to strike a balance between the needs of the individual members and those of the combined membership. You get medical aid coverage to match your needs and your budget is packed with added benefits and monthly rewards. As one of the trusted medical aid schemes in South Africa, you can find the most affordable medical aid option to suit your individual or family needs.
👉 Since its inception, Momentum has been offering a secure future for its clients and their loved ones by providing financial advice, supported by innovative product solutions and excellent service.
👉 With Momentum Medical Scheme, you have access to a wide range of medical aid options and industry-leading benefits. Whether you’re a student looking for the most affordable medical aid, a young professional, or a breadwinner who needs extensive cover for your whole family in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Medihelp or Momentum Medical Scheme?
Momentum Medical Scheme offers the cheapest medical plan with its Ingwe plan at R645 per month. The cheapest plan with Medihelp is its MedMove Student plan at R804, which is specifically aimed at students.
Which medical aid, Medihelp or Momentum Medical Scheme are the most popular?
Momentum Medical Scheme boasts membership of over 330 000 whereas Medihelp boast members of over 220 000+. Medihelp also offers a choice between nine medical plans whereas Momentum Medical Scheme offers a choice between six medical plans.
Do Medihelp and Momentum Medical Scheme medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Medihelp does not provide the option of gap cover but advises that members apply for gap cover from an independent insurer. Momentum Medical Scheme does provide the option to apply for gap cover, although with Momentum it is covered by one of the company’s other divisions.
Do Medihelp and Momentum Medical Scheme medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Medihelp and Momentum Medical Scheme have a general three-month waiting period during which you are unable to submit a claim.
Which is the best medical aid between Medihelp and Momentum Medical Scheme?
Medihelp, is one of the oldest medical aid schemes in South Africa. It was founded in 1905 as the Civil Service Medical Benefit Association. Today it is one of the largest open medical aids in South Africa. Momentum Medical Scheme was founded in 1963 and besides offering affordable medical aid options to its members, it also provides financial advice which is supported by innovative product solutions.
