5 Best Medical Aids for Pensioners and People over 65

 

The 5 Best Medical Aids for Pensioners and People Over 65 in South Africa revealed.

We tested them side by side and verified their medical aid plans.

This is a complete guide to the best medical aid for people over sixty-five years of age in South Africa.

 

In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:

• ✅ What is a Medical Aid?
• ✅ Can people over 65 only have a hospital plan?
• ✅ Which medical aid has no waiting periods for people over 65?
• ✅ Which medical aid does not withhold any benefits for pre-existing conditions?
• ✅ Which pre-existing conditions do medical aids cover for people over 65?

 

So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the best medical aid for people and pensioners over 65 in South Africa, this guide is for you.

Let’s dive right in…

 

 

Best Medical Aids for Pensioners and People over 65 (2024)

 

🩺 Medical Aid	✔️ Offers Plans for Pensioners Over 65?	⚕️ Plan Offered	👉 Sign Up
1. Discovery Medical Aid	Yes	Discovery KeyCare Plan	👉 Apply Now
2. FedHealth	Yes	flexiFED Savvy	👉 Apply Now
3. Momentum Medical Aid	Yes	Ingwe Student Option	👉 Apply Now
4. Bonitas Medical Aid	Yes	Edge	👉 Apply Now
5. BestMed Medical Aid	Yes	Hospital Plans	👉 Apply Now

 

5 Best Medical Aids for Pensioners and People over 65 Summary

 

1. Discovery Medical Aid – Overall, Best Medical Aid for Pensioners and People Over 65
2. Fedhealth Medical Scheme – Top Extensive Medical Protection in South Africa
3. Momentum Health – Broadest Range of Low-Cost Medical Aid Plans
4. Bonitas Medical Aid – Best Pay-As-You-Go Private Healthcare
5. BestMed Medical Aid – Best Customer Service Medical Aid

 

📌 You might consider Dischem Health Insurance from R206 per month

 

 

 

What to Consider When Joining a Medical Aid After 60

 

 

1. Cost.

 

☑️ Due to the high cost of medical care and the fact that one’s finances may be more constrained after retirement, it is important to give serious attention to the sort of medical insurance plan to enrol in.

 

2. Retiring from an Employer Where You Had Medical Aid

 

☑️ There is a significant possibility that any subsidy that your company was paying on your monthly contributions will be taken away. On the other hand, you should talk to your company about the retirement choices they could have for you before you actually retire.

☑️ There are several companies that may provide funds for medical assistance after retirement, either in its entirety or as a portion of the contribution.

☑️ Closed schemes, which are only accessible to employees of that particular firm, may receive financial support from either the company itself or, if there is an industry-linked union, the union. If this is the case, then staying with them is, without a doubt, the most important thing to do. You should only consider moving if you come across a medical aid that offers the same features at a lesser cost, which is quite doubtful.

 

📣 Read more about 5 Best Hospital Plans for Unemployed in South Africa

 

☑️ It is highly recommended that you give some thought to the possibility of reducing your plan while remaining with the same medical aid.

☑️ If you have to join another aid, note that there is no flexibility in the premiums that are charged for medical aid plans, regardless of the members’ varying levels of income or overall health. However, a Late Joiner Penalty can be added to a plan.

☑️ This depends on your age when you join the programme and applies to any new members over the age of 35. A portion of the plan’s premium is calculated based on the total number of years you have ever been a member of a medical assistance programme, and then that amount is added to your monthly payment for the rest of your life.

☑️ Because medical aids depend on a cross-subsidy from younger members to older members, it is intended to encourage younger members to sign up for a plan before they are subject to a penalty.

☑️ If you wait longer than 90 days between quitting and enrolling in a new medical aid plan, you may be subject to a general waiting period of three months.

☑️ After that, a new programme may include a waiting period of one year for particular pre-existing medical conditions.

 

3. Your Future Healthcare Risk.

 

☑️ The likelihood of requiring medical attention in a hospital setting significantly rises with advancing age. Therefore, it is extremely important that you give some thought to purchasing at least an in-hospital medical aid plan that provides crucial PMB chronic illness protection.

☑️ You are then responsible for funding day-to-day charges such as visits to your primary care physician, dentist, optician, and medications.

☑️ Your monthly payment will be significantly less than what you would pay for a comprehensive medical aid plan, which provides benefits both in and outside of hospitals.

☑️ There are medical aid programmes that are limited to a network of hospitals that give a variety of advantages in addition to hospitalisation. You might think about purchasing a low-cost network provider type plan if you have a need for day-to-day benefits (services that are not provided by hospitals). Your monthly premiums will be calculated based on your salary and can be significantly less than R1 000 on average.

☑️ You should be aware that the benefits can be limiting in the sense that you are required to use only hospitals and providers that are listed with the scheme, which may not be convenient for you.

☑️ On the other hand, they do provide affordable coverage for life-threatening conditions (heart attack, stroke, accident) and life-sustaining conditions (chronic illnesses like cancer, kidney) in a private hospital and with private providers.

☑️ If you are willing to use such affiliated providers, you can get a reduction on your premium through one of the available programmes.

☑️ All South Africans, pensioners included, have access to government healthcare facilities. However, given the state of public healthcare in South Africa, it’s understandable why only those who absolutely can’t afford anything else resort to it.

 

📣 You might like The 10 Highest Paid Doctors in South Africa revealed

 

4. Planning Ahead

 

☑️ South African medical aid schemes are not allowed to refuse membership to people above a certain age, and basic monthly contributions are the same for all members in a specific plan, irrespective of age or any pre-existing conditions.

☑️ However, it’s important to note that medical aid schemes are entitled to charge anyone of 35 years or older who joins a scheme for the first time a “late joiner” fee. The late joiner fee doesn’t apply to medical aid members changing from one medical aid to another, if they have always had cover – only to those signing up for cover for the first time or to those that have had breaks in cover since age 35.

☑️ As a standard condition across all medical aid providers and plans, any new member of a medical aid plan is subject to a 3-month waiting period. During this period, you can’t claim for any expenses. A three-month waiting period applies even if you change from one medical aid to another, but the criteria may change if the member has been on a previous medical aid and the new scheme may have to cover certain conditions.

 

5. Pre-existing Conditions

 

☑️ Typically no pre-existing conditions will be covered once you join a medical aid scheme, due to the 12 months waiting period. For this reason, the earlier you join a medical aid scheme, you’ll lessen the risk that you won’t be covered for pre-existing conditions when you need it most.

 

📣 READ more about 5 Best Medical Aid for SASSA Pensioners

 

 

📢 Complete form and get a no obligation free quote

 

 

1. Discovery Medical Aid

 

Overview

 

➡️ Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) is probably the biggest open health plan in all of South Africa. It is a registered open medical scheme, which means that anyone can join as long as they follow the Scheme’s rules and regulations.

➡️ The Scheme is owned by the people who take part in it and run by an independent Board of Trustees. Discovery Health (Pty) Ltd, a separate company that is licenced to offer financial services, is in charge of running it.

➡️ The Council for Medical Schemes is in charge of regulating the Discovery Health Medical Scheme, which is an independent non-profit organisation. The Discovery Health Medical Scheme is governed by the Medical Schemes Act.

➡️ The Discovery Health Medical Scheme gives you more than 20 different health plans to choose from, of which quite a few are suitable for pensioners and people over 65.

➡️ These plans includes coverage for private hospital care and a variety of other benefits that can be changed to fit your needs and budget.

➡️  You will have access to a wide range of benefits, care programmes, and services that will make sure you and your doctor can get the best medical care whenever it is needed.

➡️ Discovery says that its monthly premiums are, on average, 14.9% less than what other South African medical schemes ask for the same level of coverage, something that a pensioner should take into account when making a choice.

➡️ Vitality is the company’s health and wellness programme. If you live a healthy life, you can join and get rewards for doing so.

 

 

Discovery Medical Aid Option Plans suitable for Pensioners and People over 65

 

👉🏽 Discovery option plans range from the most comprehensive private healthcare cover, ideal for pensioners who can afford the premiums, to basic plans where they can get cost-effective private healthcare cover through a specified network of providers.

Pensioners who can afford the premiums, can consider the following health plan options:

 

Executive Plan

👉🏽 The Executive Plan offers customers the most extensive cover for in-hospital and day-to-day benefits, as well as extended chronic medicine cover and an unlimited Above Threshold Benefit.

 

Comprehensive Series

👉🏽 This series of plans provide comprehensive cover for in-hospital and day-to-day cover with extended chronic medicine cover and unlimited Above Threshold Benefit.

 

Priority Series

👉🏽 These plans offer cost-effective in-hospital cover, essential chronic medicine cover and day-to-day benefits with a limited Above Threshold Benefit.

 

👉🏽 Pensioners with an average income, and who can still afford it, can choose from the Saver Series, which is economical, provides in-hospital cover, essential chronic medicine cover and day-to-day benefits through a Medical Savings Account. Another value-for-money series of hospital plans that provide unlimited private hospital cover and essential cover for chronic medicine but with no day-to-day cover, is the Core Series.

 

👉🏽 Pensioners that needs to look out for the most affordable options while still enjoy basic coverage, can consider a plan from the Smart Series or Keycare Series.

 

👉🏽 These plans provide the most cost-effective in-hospital cover, essential chronic medicine cover plus limited day-to-day cover if you use providers in a specified network.

 

 

Benefits of Discovery Medical Aid for Pensioners and People over 65

 

Depending on the option you choose, you will find an option from Discovery Medial Aid that fulfil all or a portion of the following purposes:

• ✅ Provide hospitalisation benefits.
• ✅ Ensure that you are admitted to a private hospital when you need it.
• ✅ No required deposits to pay up front.
• ✅ Protection without limits.
• ✅ Pays for both therapy that is life-threatening (such as an accident, stroke, or heart attack) and treatment that is life-sustaining (such as for cancer or renal disease).
• ✅ Care for injuries.
• ✅ Consultants and diagnostic procedures such as MRI and CT scans.
• ✅ Radiography and pathology performed within the hospital
• ✅ Diagnostic scopes – gastroscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy
• ✅ Chronic medications are ones that your doctor may prescribe for you.
• ✅ Procedures and treatments such as biopsies and operations on the eye, ear, nose, and throat.

 

How Much Are Discovery Medical Aid Monthly Premiums?

At the time of writing, monthly premiums started from R1,102 per member for the Keycare Series with medical cover for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital treatment by providers in a specified network and ranged up to R10,303 per member for the Executive Plan with extensive cover for in-hospital and day-to-day benefits, extended chronic medicine cover, and unlimited Above Threshold Benefit.

 

 

What Is the Waiting Period for Discovery Medical Aid’s Benefits?

Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s general waiting period is 3 consecutive months and the condition-specific waiting period is 12 consecutive months.

 

 

How to Claim for Discovery Medical Aid Benefits

You can submit a claim fast and easy in the following ways:

• 👉🏾 Scan and upload your claims on the website.
• 👉🏾 Scan and email your claims to [email protected].
• 👉🏾 Use the Discovery app on your smartphone. If the claim has a QR code, scan the QR code or alternatively take a photo of the claim from within the app.
• 👉🏾 You can also submit your claims by post.

 

Discovery Medical Aid Contact Details

PO Box 784262,

Sandton,

2146

Phone: 0860 99 88 77

 

📣 READ more about 10 Best Medical Aids in South Africa revealed and rated

 

 

2. Fedhealth Medical Scheme

 

Overview

 

👉🏾 Since 1936, Fedhealth has been taking care of the health of South Africans. Over the years, they have worked hard to offer affordable health care that is also of high quality.

👉🏾 For 14 years in a row, the fund had a Global Credit Rating of AA-, and the scheme’s reserves are well over the minimum of 25%.

👉🏾 Fedhealth is also known for its unique benefits paid by Risk, which help members get more out of their regular benefits.

👉🏾 The company is still run by members for members, and they are always coming up with new ways to help people take care of their health in a world that is always changing.

 

Fedhealth Medical Scheme Option Plans Suitable for Pensioners and People Over 65

➡️ Several of the medical aid plans offered by Fedhealth are suitable to fit the needs and budget of pensioners and people over 65.

➡️ Older people can choose from a variety of options, including coverage if they never had medical aid before.

➡️ The choice will depend on their health situation, available budget and how they prefer to manage their medical expenses.

 

myFED

myFED options offers income depended, very affordable cover for people with a lower income or first time members.

 

flexiFED 4

☑️ Other than the other options in the flexiFED series, flexiFED 4 provides solid cover for more mature people – especially those that still has child dependents. Apart from comprehensive in-hospital cover, it also offers Fedhealth Savings for unplanned medical bills and a Threshold benefit once claims have accumulated to a certain level.

 

maxima EXEC

☑️ Although expensive, the maxima EXEC offers comprehensive all-round cover for older members. Apart from in-hospital, chronic medicine, screening and additional benefits, it has a day-to-day savings portion and Threshold benefit.

 

maxima PLUS

☑️The maxima PLUS option is the ideal choice for pensioners or people over 65 because it offers extensive medical cover for every aspect of your healthcare, like generous in-hospital cover, chronic medicine, screening and additional benefits, a day-to-day savings portion, a Threshold benefit, and an optional hospital expense benefit.

 

This option is quite expensive though and can only be considered by pensioners who still have a considerable income to spend on medical aid.

 

 

Fedhealth Medical Scheme’s Option Plan Benefits for Pensioners and People over 65

 

Pensioners who can afford the more expensive plans from Fedhealth, can look forward to a medical aid that will fulfil as much as possible of the following:

• ✅ Comprehensive hospitalisation benefits in a private hospital
• ✅ Protection without limits.
• ✅ No required deposits to pay up front.
• ✅ Coverage for life-threatening (such as an accident, stroke, or heart attack) therapy and life-sustaining treatment (such as for cancer or renal disease).
• ✅ Coverage for injuries.
• ✅ Diagnostic procedures such as MRI and CT scans and relevant consultancies.
• ✅ Radiography and pathology performed within the hospital
• ✅ Diagnostic scopes like gastroscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy
• ✅ Chronic medications prescribed by a doctor
• ✅ Procedures and treatments such as biopsies and operations on the eye, ear, nose, and throat.

 

Fedhealth is also known for an excellent scheme that offers you a hospital only plan, but with the benefit of a day-to-day savings fund that you repay only when you spend them. If you want to have access to funds for unforeseen out of hospital costs, but which you can control, this is a very good choice for a medical scheme for pensioners and people older than 65.

 

 

How Much Are Fedhealth Medical Scheme Monthly Premiums?

☑️ The monthly premiums for the salary-banded myFED option is from R 1 590 per month for the main member.

☑️ The maxima PLUS extensive medical cover will cost from R14,289 per month per main member.

 

Waiting Period for Fedhealth Medical Scheme Benefits?

➡️ The general waiting period for FedHealth benefits are usually three months, depending on the medical aid scheme you join. The waiting period for pre-existing conditions is 12 months.

 

How to Claim for Benefits from Fedhealth Medical Scheme

Members can submit claims using one of the following:

• 👉🏾 On the Fedhealth Family Room,
• 👉🏾 Through a WhatsApp service
• 👉🏾 On the Fedhealth Member phone App
• 👉🏾 You may also email, fax or post the claims to email: [email protected], fax: (011) 671 3842 or post to Private Bag X3045, Randburg, 2125.

 

Fedhealth Medical Scheme Contact Details

Flora Centre Shop 21 and 22

Corner Conrad street and Ontdekkers Rd

Florida Glen

Johannesburg

Phone: 0861 116 016

 

 

3. Momentum Health

 

Overview

➡️ Momentum Health Solutions is a company that Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited owns 100 percent of.

➡️ Momentum is one of the best open medical schemes, and it is run by one of South Africa’s largest and most reliable healthcare solutions companies.

➡️ Momentum Medical Scheme is an open medical plan that is registered under the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, as amended. It is a not for profit company.

➡️ At its Annual General Meetings, people are chosen to be on its Board of Trustees. These people have a lot of experience and skills in different medical, accounting, and legal fields.

 

 

Momentum Health Option Plans suitable for Pensioners and People Over 65

 

➡️ Momentum Medical Scheme gives access to a wide range of medical insurance plans and benefits, including 6 medical aid plans, all suitable for pensioners and people over 60.

➡️ Momentum medical aid has been known for its affordable packages to pensioners over the years. Its wide range of options caters to the needs of a diverse age and covers range from entry-level packages to comprehensive medical aid cover, depending on your ability to afford the services. Common options with their monthly costs include:

 

Evolve Option

👉🏿 The Evolve option only gives cover for hospitalisation when a person makes use of the specific Evolve Network of private hospitals. There is no overall annual limit of coverage. The Evolve Option costs R1687.

 

Custom Option

👉🏿 The Custom option gives a more comprehensive hospital and chronic cover from any providers. Pensioners can save on contributions however by using a specific list of private hospitals. The Custom Option costs R2149

 

Incentive Option

👉🏿 With the Incentive option pensioners can get extensive hospital and chronic cover from any or network providers. Day-to-day expenses is covered by a dedicated medical savings account that is funded by 10% of monthly contributions. The Incentive option costs R2794.

 

Extender Option

👉🏿 With the Extender option 25% of your contributions go to your dedicated medical savings account from which your day-to-day expenses are paid. The plan gives extensive hospital cover and additional chronic cover, which is advantageous to older people. They will get an Extended Cover benefit once they have reached their set Threshold. The Extender Option costs R6589.

 

Summit Option

👉🏿 The Summit option gives pensioners an unlimited private hospital cover from any provider. They can also get a chronic cover for 36 conditions and day-to-day benefits up to a certain amount per beneficiary per year. The Summit Option costs R13,573

 

Ingwe Option

👉🏿 The Ingwe option costing R541 will suit pensioners who can only afford a very basic cover. The option gives coverage for treatment at any hospital, the Ingwe Network of private hospitals, or State hospitals, but nothing more.

 

 

Benefits under Momentum Health’s Option Plans for Pensioners and People over 65

 

Depending on the amount a pensioner has available to spend on monthly premiums, the person should be able to get all or a selection of the following coverage:

• ✅ Hospitalisation benefits.
• ✅ Asthma Cover Benefits
• ✅ Admittance to a private hospital when you need it.
• ✅ No deposits required to pay up front.
• ✅ Coverage for therapy that is life-threatening (such as an accident, stroke, or heart attack) and treatment that is life-sustaining (such as for cancer or renal disease).
• ✅ Consultations and diagnostic procedures such as MRI and CT scans.
• ✅ Coverage for injuries.
• ✅ Radiography and pathology performed within a hospital
• ✅ Procedures and treatments such as biopsies and operations on the eye, ear, nose, and throat.
• ✅ Diagnostic scopes – gastroscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy
• ✅ Chronic medications as prescribed by a doctor.

 

How Much Are Momentum Health Monthly Premiums?

✔️ Momentum monthly premiums start at R1 687 for the main member on the Evolve Option and go up to R13,573 for the main member on the Summit Option.

 

What Is the Waiting Period for Momentum Health Benefits?

✔️ The general waiting period is 3 months, but since pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition, it is excluded from all benefits for the first 12 months of scheme membership.

 

How to Claim for Momentum Health Benefits

You can submit a claim in several ways:

• ➡️ Use the Momentum App
• ➡️ Use the web chat facility in the bottom left corner.
• ➡️ Send an email to [email protected] or send normal mail to PO Box 2338, Durban, 4000

 

To make sure your claim is processed quickly and accurately, include the following information:

• 👉🏿 Membership number.
• 👉🏿 Principal member’s surname, initials, and first name.
• 👉🏿 Patient’s surname, initials, and first name.
• 👉🏿 Date of treatment.
• 👉🏿 Amount charged.
• 👉🏿 ICD–10 code (code to indicate what condition you’ve been diagnosed with), tariff code (product-specific code for procedures and claims), and NAPPI code (unique identifier for a given ethical, surgical, or consumable product).
• 👉🏿 Service provider’s name and practice number.
• 👉🏿 Proof of payment if you’ve paid the claim out of your own pocket.

 

Momentum Health Contact Details

201 Umhlanga Ridge Blvd

Cornubia

Blackburn

PO Box 2338

Durban

 

➡️ You might consider reading more about comparing the difference between a hospital plan and a medical aid plan in South Africa

 

4. Bonitas Medical Aid

 

Overview

☑️ Bonitas has been around for a few decades, with a rich history and a good understanding of the South African private healthcare industry.

☑️ Its team of experts is always looking for new ways to make sure that members get affordable, high-quality health care. This means keeping up with technology, managing care so that lifestyle diseases are found before they become chronic, or negotiating better rates.

☑️ Moreover, the company’s finances are stable, its key indicators of fiscal health are strong, and it has enough funds in reserve.

 

Who Manages Bonitas Medical Aid?

Bonitas is run by a management team with a lot of experience and an independent Board of Trustees made up of professionals from the health, legal, financial, and business fields – and who are not members.

 

Bonitas Medical Aid Option Plans suitable for Pensioners and People over 65

👉🏿 Knowing that one size doesn’t fit all, Bonitas offers a wide variety of plans so that any family can find one that fits their needs perfectly.

👉🏿 The plans are easy to understand and use while helping the customer to get the most out of their benefits.

👉🏿 Like most of the other medical aid covers, Bonitas also has a range of options for customers, making it possible that pensioners can opt for a package that suits their needs best. Each of these plans has specific offers so that a pensioner can choose the one that best accommodates his or her current financial situation and enjoy great medical cover in old age.

👉🏿 The common plans in this medical scheme are:

 

Edge

✔️ The Edge plans, starting from R1378, gives access to day-to-day benefits including unlimited GP consultations, layers of virtual care, dental and optical consultations, a private hospital network and more.

 

Traditional

✔️ These plans, starting from R2,619 give an overall day-to-day limit with sub-limits for GP and specialist consultations, acute and over-the-counter medicine, X-rays and blood tests and other out-of-hospital medical expenses.

✔️ Pensioners can choose between a Standard, Standard Select, Primary or Primary Select option. They use a network of quality providers that offers day-to-day benefits and hospital cover.

 

Savings

✔️ These plans start from R2,295 and give pensioners a set amount that they can use however they want for out-of-hospital costs like doctor visits, optometry, and dentistry. They also give coverage while you’re in the hospital and give you extra benefits for wellness and preventative care.

✔️ Pensioners have the following options: BonFit Select, BonSave, BonComplete, BonClassic and BonComprehensive. The latter is a first-class savings plan that offers ample savings, an above threshold benefit and extensive hospital cover.

 

Hospital

✔️ Hospital plans, starting from R1,998, cover members for emergency and planned procedures in hospital and pensioners can get access to some additional benefits for wellness and preventative care. The different options are called Hospital Standard, BonEssential, and BonEssential Select – which uses a quality provider network that offers comprehensive hospital benefits and some value-added benefits.

 

 

Bonitas Medical Aid Benefits for Pensioners and People over 65

 

Like all the other medical aid covers, Bonitas also offers a selection of coverage models in the different options. This means that pensioners can opt for a package that best suits their needs, with the Edge plan starting from only R1378 per month. A pensioner should strive to get as much as possible from the following types of cover:

 

• ✅ Hospitalisation benefits from a private hospital
• ✅ No deposits to pay up front.
• ✅ Chronic medications are ones that your doctor may prescribe for you.
• ✅ Payment for both therapy that is life-threatening (such as an accident, stroke, or heart attack) and treatment that is life-sustaining (such as for cancer or renal disease).
• ✅ Care when injured
• ✅ Consultations and diagnostic procedures such as MRI and CT scans.
• ✅ Radiography and pathology within the hospital
• ✅ Diagnostic scopes – gastroscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy
• ✅ Procedures such as biopsies and operations on the eye, ear, nose, and throat.

 

How Much Are Bonitas Medical Aid Monthly Premiums?

Bonitas monthly contributions start at R2,287 per month for a Principal Member, R1,690 for a spouse/adult  dependant and R739  per child (max 3) on the BonEssential Hospital Plan and go up to R9,853 for a main member, R9,292 for additional adult, and R2,006 for a child for the BonComprehensive plan that offers abundant savings, an above threshold benefit and extensive hospital cover.

 

 

What Is the Waiting Period for Bonitas Medical Aid Benefits?

☑️ The minimum general waiting period for Bonitas medical aid is three months for all benefits. Some plans, however, have a waiting period of 12 months, especially regarding a pre-existing condition.

☑️ Pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition; therefore it is excluded from all benefits for the first 12 months of scheme membership.

 

How to Claim Benefits from Bonitas

✅ You can send in your claim in the following ways:

• 👉🏿 Email your claims to [email protected].
• 👉🏿 Post your claims to Bonitas Claims Department, PO Box 74, Vereeniging, 1930.
• 👉🏿 Submit your claims in person at one of the walk-in centres.

 

✅ Follow these simple steps to get your claims paid quickly:

• 👉🏿 Ensure your banking details are correct for refunds by electronic transfer (EFT) into your bank account
• 👉🏿 Make sure that your account and receipt show your name and initials, membership number, treatment date, the name of the patient as shown on your membership card, amount charged and ICD-10 code.

 

Bonitas Contact Details

34 Melrose Blvd, Birnam

Johannesburg

2196

Phone for General Queries: 0860002108

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

 

📣 READ more about the 5 Top Medical Aids Schemes for Physiotherapy in SA

 

5. BestMed Medical Aid 

 

Overview

☑️ BestMed has a well-established track record of providing members with access to a vast network of healthcare providers, providing excellent value for the money, and providing wellness benefits for young and old.

☑️ BestMed asserts that it is South Africa’s largest self-administered programme as well as the fourth largest open medical system in the country.

☑️ The company boasts that it had annual hikes of less than ten percent for the past five years in a row, as well as thirteen option plans that also account for elder people and their financial situation.

☑️ All of its available options come with significant advantages for preventative health care, such as vaccinations against pneumonia and the flu.

☑️ Members will have access to networks of specialists and hospitals located throughout South Africa, as well as more than 4 300 family doctors.

☑️ The management team at Bestmed is assisted in their work by teams of trustees who have been elected by the members of the organisation as well as trustees who have been appointed by the board.

 

BestMed Medical Aid Option Plans Suitable for Pensioners and People over 65

 

Pensioners can choose between BestMed Hospital Plans, Network Plans, Savings Plans, and Comprehensive Plans.

 

Hospital Plans

✔️ Hospital Plans cover members at a range of network hospitals for planned and unplanned hospital stays, no matter what age you are.

 

Network Plans

✔️ BestMed Network Plans include the Rhythm1 and Rhythm2 Network Plans, that offer unlimited in-hospital cover with either limited essential day-to-today benefits, or comprehensive savings for consultations with designated healthcare providers. The Rhythm 2 plan is dependent on income level.

 

Savings Plans

✔️ BestMed Savings Plans include the Beat 2 Savings Plan and Beat 2 Network Savings Plan, as well as the Beat 3 Savings Plan and Beat 3 Network Savings Plan.

✔️ All offer extensive hospital cover at private hospitals and a savings account out of which general day-to-day expenses are paid.

✔️ The Network options are associated with certain hospitals and providers in a set network.

 

Comprehensive Plans

✔️ BestMed Comprehensive Plans include several options, all of which are excellent choices for pensioners and people over 65, providing their financial situation allows for the expensive premiums.

✔️ The Beat4 Comprehensive Plan, Pace1 Comprehensive Plan, Pace2 Comprehensive Plan, Pace3 Comprehensive Plan, and Pace4 Comprehensive Plan all provide excellent and comprehensive hospital benefits with extensive day-to-day cover, chronic benefits and the added benefit of an individual medical savings account which offers extra payment flexibility.

✔️ The specific level of coverage differs slightly from option to option.

 

BestMed Medical Aid’s Option Plan Benefits for Pensioners and People over 65

 

When selecting one of BestMed’s options, members can bargain to get quite a number of the following benefits:

• ✅ Private hospitalisation
• ✅ Chronic medications as prescribed for you.
• ✅ No deposits required up front.
• ✅ Treatment that is life-sustaining (such as for cancer or renal disease) and therapy (such as for an accident, stroke, or heart attack).
• ✅ Care when injured
• ✅ Diagnostic procedures such as MRI and CT scans gastroscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy, radiography and pathology
• ✅ Procedures and treatments such as biopsies and operations on the eye, ear, nose, and throat.

 

How Much Are BestMed Medical Aid Monthly Premiums?

 

☑️ At the time of writing, monthly premiums for the cheapest BestMed Beat1 Network Hospital Plan started at R1 873 for a member, with an additional R1 456 for an adult dependant and R789 for a child dependant, to a maximum of 3 child dependants. Additional children join at no additional cost.

 

☑️ The most expensive plan at the time was the Pace4 Comprehensive Plan, with monthly contributions of R10,343 per member and R10,343 per adult dependant. For a child dependant the extra contribution was R2,423 up to 3 child dependants with additional children added as beneficiaries of the scheme at no extra cost.

 

What Is the Waiting Period for BestMed Medical Aid’s Benefits?

✔️ There can be a general waiting period of three months or a specific waiting period of 12 months for a certain condition.

✔️ Bestmed Medical Scheme will sometimes only pay a claim if it is a PMB. This can happen if you are in a waiting period or if you are getting treatment for a condition that your plan doesn’t cover.

 

How to Claim for Benefits from BestMed Medical Aid

✅ If your healthcare provider does not submit claims to BestMed, one must submit the original claim directly to the fund administrators.

✅ You can claim by means of the BestMed App, or by scanning and emailing your claim to them.

✅ Details that should appear on all claim documents include:

• Member’s name and contact details
• BestMed membership number
• Patient’s details
• Service provider’s name, contact details and practice number
• Details of treatment, including applicable tariff and ICD-10 codes
• Whether payment should be done to the service provider or the member

✅ You will receive an email confirmation when your claim is received and indexed.

 

BestMed Medical Aid Contact Details

Head Office:

Bestmed Medical Scheme,

Glenfield Office Park

361 Oberon Avenue

Faerie Glen

Pretoria

PO Box 2297

Pretoria

Emails: [email protected]; [email protected],

Phone: +27 (0)86 000 2378

 

📣 Discover the Top Hospital Plans for Pensioners and Receivers of SASSA in South Africa.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Join a Medical Aid If You Are a Pensioners or over 65?

☑️ Yes, you can join a medical aid if you are a pensioner or over 65.

 

Are There Medical Aids That Cover Pensioners and People over 65?

☑️ Yes, most medical aids cover pensioners and people over 65. The level of coverage only depends on the option choice of the member.

 

How Long Do You Have to Be a Member Of a Medical Aid to Get Covered if You Are a Pensioner or Over 65?

☑️ Even if you are a pensioner, you will only be able to receive general benefits after a 3 month waiting period and benefits for pre-existing conditions after 12 months. If you just switched medical aids, these waiting periods may not be necessary.

 

Which is the Most Popular Medical Aid for Pensioners in South Africa?

☑️ Discovery Health Medical Scheme is South Africa’s most popular medical aid for pensioners. Discovery Health Medical Scheme gives its members complete peace of mind and 25 health plan options designed to suit your individual health needs and financial situation.

 

What Is the Age Limit to Join a Medical Aid?

☑️ There is no age limit when to join a medical aid. Pensioners, retirees and members over 60 can easily get medical aid as long as they can afford the monthly premiums.

 

Can a 70 Year Old Get Health Insurance?

☑️ Yes, any person can get health insurance. There are comprehensive senior citizen health insurance policies available for individuals aged between 65 and 80 years.

 

Is Private Health Insurance Worth It for Pensioners?

☑️ Yes, private health insurance can be worth it for pensioners since it offers a lot of benefits. It can give you more choice around healthcare providers and enable you to avoid the public hospital waiting lists and get treatment sooner..

 

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