BestMed Medical Scheme vs Fedhealth
BestMed Medical Scheme 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 BestMed 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: BestMed or Fedhealth?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the BestMed versus Fedhealth in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Overall Comparison
✔️ Feature | 🥇 BestMed | 🥇 Fedheatlh |
General comparison | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Number of plans | 13 | 7 |
Lowest premium | R1 873.00 (Beat1 Network) | R965.00 (FlexiFED Savvy) |
Highest premium | R10 343.00 (Pace4) | R14 289.00 (maxima PLUS) |
Student Plan | No | No |
Gap Cover | Yes | No |
Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
Number of members | 210 000 | 200 000+ |
Plan benefits
✔️ Feature | 🥇 BestMed | 🥇 Fedhealth |
Name of Plan | • Beat1 • Beat1 Network • Rhythm1 • Rhythm2 • Beat2 • Beat2 Network • Beat3 • Beat3 Network • Pace1 • Beat4 • Pace2 • Pace3 • Pace4 | • FlexiFED Savvy • FlexiFED 1 • FlexiFED 2 • FlexiFED 3 • FlexiFED 4 • Maxima EXEC • Maxima PLUS |
Price per plan | • Beat1: R2 082.00 • Beat1 Network: R1 873.00 • Rhythm1: R1 432.00 • Rhythm2: R2 100.00 • Beat2: R2 545.00 • Beat2 Network: R2 289.00 • Beat3: R3 724.00 • Beat3 Network: R3 352.00 • Pace1: R5 061.00 • Beat4: R6 059.00 • Pace2: R7 212.00 • Pace3: R8 280.00 • Pace4: R10 343.00 | • FlexiFED Savvy: R965.00 • FlexiFED 1: R1 716.00 • FlexiFED 2: R2 491.00 • FlexiFED 3: R2 844.00 • FlexiFED 4: R3 805.00 • Maxima EXEC: R8 456.00 • Maxima PLUS: R14 289.00 |
GP Visits | Yes | Network GP |
GP in room visits | Yes | Network GP |
Specialist visits | Yes | Yes |
Acute medication | Yes | Yes |
Chronic medication | Yes | Yes |
Basic pathology | Yes | Yes |
Basic and emergency dentistry | Yes | Basic from day to day benefits |
Basic optometry | Yes | Basic from day to day benefits |
HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
Road accident claims | Yes | Yes |
BestMed Medical Scheme vs. Fedhealth
👉 Both BestMed and Fedhealth are popular and well-known medical aid schemes 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 2024.
Which offers more affordable coverage – BestMed or Fedhealth?
👉 While Fedhealth offers the lowest premium on its FlexiFED Savvy plan, overall BestMed offers a greater selection of affordable medical aid plans designed for individuals, young families, and pensioners.
Do both schemes offer gap cover?
👉 Gap cover is short-term insurance policy which provides shortfall cover where doctors and specialists charge above medical aid rates of cover. Gap cover works in conjunction with your medical aid. BestMed offers direct cover from a broker while Fedhealth does not.
👉 The gap cover products from BestMed is managed by Totalrisksa and cover for shortfalls on approved in-hospital specialist claims, specific out-of-hospital costs related to an approved hospital admission and shortfalls on approved emergency international claims while travelling outside of South Africa. There are three product options to suit everyone’s needs.
👉 Fedhealth does not offer Gap Cover options within the medical scheme but advises you to take out gap cover from an independent insurer.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
👉 Yes, both BestMed and Fedhealth offer hospital plans. You have a choice of only having hospital coverage with your plan or combine it with day to day expenses.
👉 BestMed hospital plans cover you in hospital for unlimited emergency and planned procedures. You also get access to some additional benefits for wellness and preventative care. It includes full cover in hospital for specialists, and full cover for chronic medication.
👉 If you’re hospitalized, Fedhealth’s hospital plans cover ward, theatre, and anesthesiologist and radiology bills. Hospital plans cover emergency medical bills regardless of admission. An emergency requires unexpected treatment in a hospital’s casualty department, trauma counselling, or emergency medical services.
👉 Read more about Medical aid schemes that cover Epilepsy
Who is BestMed Medical Scheme?
👉 Bestmed was founded in 1964 and currently has more than 210 000 lives under its care. The Scheme is the largest self-administered scheme in South Africa and the fourth largest open medical scheme.
👉 BestMed has also been recognised for its outstanding contribution to the medical aid and healthcare industry, and has received a number of awards. In 2020 and 2021 it received the highest rating for perceived quality, perceived value, customer service and customer loyalty in the Medical Scheme Industry Category in the South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SA-csi). The scheme also received the highest rating for customer expectations, and have the lowest rating in the industry for beneficiary complaints.
👉 Bestmed was ranked number one in the Medical Aid Industry performance category of the 2020 Ask Afrika Orange Index® and was also awarded the Excellence in Creating Access to Quality Healthcare (Organisations) award at the 2020 annual Titanium Awards presented by the Board for Healthcare Fundraisers (BHF).
👉 BestMed recognise that people’s healthcare needs are different, depending on their age, marital status, family size, general health, priorities and budget and keeping this in mind, offers three main medical plan ranges, each with its own unique benefit options to choose from.
👉 They have a solution for you whether you simply only want to pay for hospital expenses or demand a more comprehensive product. The three categories for plans on offer are beaten, pace, and rhythm.
👉 The Beat range provides flexible hospital benefits as well as savings on certain options to cover out-of-hospital expenses. Beat1, 2, and 3 also allow you to reduce your monthly contribution by choosing a Network option.
👉 The Pace range offers more comprehensive in-hospital and out-of-hospital benefits. In addition, these options all have additional savings accounts to cover extensive out-of-hospital expenses.
👉 The Rhythm range consists of Network only options that offer in-hospital and GP benefits.
Who will benefit from BestMed Medical Scheme?
👉 BestMed offers comprehensive medical cover that is well-suited towards individuals, established families and higher income earners as well as pensioners.
Who is BestMed Medical Scheme?
👉 Bestmed was founded in 1964 and currently has more than 210 000 lives under its care. The Scheme is the largest self-administered scheme in South Africa and the fourth largest open medical scheme.
👉 BestMed has also been recognised for its outstanding contribution to the medical aid and healthcare industry, and has received a number of awards. In 2020 and 2021 it received the highest rating for perceived quality, perceived value, customer service and customer loyalty in the Medical Scheme Industry Category in the South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SA-csi). The scheme also received the highest rating for customer expectations, and have the lowest rating in the industry for beneficiary complaints.
👉 Bestmed was ranked number one in the Medical Aid Industry performance category of the 2020 Ask Afrika Orange Index® and was also awarded the Excellence in Creating Access to Quality Healthcare (Organisations) award at the 2020 annual Titanium Awards presented by the Board for Healthcare Fundraisers (BHF).
👉 BestMed recognise that people’s healthcare needs are different, depending on their age, marital status, family size, general health, priorities and budget and keeping this in mind, offers three main medical plan ranges, each with its own unique benefit options to choose from.
👉 They have a solution for you whether you simply only want to pay for hospital expenses or demand a more comprehensive product. The three categories for plans on offer are beaten, pace, and rhythm.
👉 The Beat range provides flexible hospital benefits as well as savings on certain options to cover out-of-hospital expenses. Beat1, 2, and 3 also allow you to reduce your monthly contribution by choosing a Network option.
👉 The Pace range offers more comprehensive in-hospital and out-of-hospital benefits. In addition, these options all have additional savings accounts to cover extensive out-of-hospital expenses.
👉 The Rhythm range consists of Network only options that offer in-hospital and GP benefits.
You might also consider the following options BestMed has to offer:
- 🟧 BestMed Beat 3 Network
- 🟨 BestMed Beat 2 Network
- 🟧 BestMed Beat 1 Network
- 🟨 BestMed Tempo
- 🟧 BestMed Pace 4
- 🟨 BestMed Pace 3
- 🟧 BestMed Pace 1
- 🟨 BestMed Rhythm 2
- 🟧 BestMed Rhythm 1
- 🟨 BestMed Beat 4
- 🟧 BestMed Beat 3
- 🟨 BestMed Beat 2
- 🟧 BestMed Beat 1
Who will benefit from BestMed Medical Scheme?
👉 BestMed offers comprehensive medical cover that is well-suited towards individuals, established families and higher income earners as well as pensioners.
👉 BestMed also operates on a network-based coverage basis, so individuals should first check whether they reside in areas that fall within the pre-selected GP, hospital and specialist network, making it a better option for those residing in urban areas. BestMed also operates on a network-based coverage basis, so individuals should first check whether they reside in areas that fall within the pre-selected GP, hospital and specialist network, making it a better option for those residing in urban areas.
Who is Fedhealth?
👉 Since 1936, South Africans have received health care from Fedhealth. Although a lot has changed over the years, the organisation’s dedication to offering inexpensive, high-quality healthcare has not.
👉 Even today, its medical assistance is still administered by members for members, and it is continually evolving to meet the requirements of those who are concerned about their health while navigating a world that is changing quickly.
👉 Fedhealth has maintained a Global Credit Rating of AA- for 14 consecutive years, and with reserves well over the required 25%, the Scheme’s healthy financial position enables it to take care of its members when needed most.
👉 At Fedhealth it is all about customisation and allowing its clients to enjoy medical aid that you can create and control.
👉 Fedhealth is known for its unique benefits paid from Risk to help members’ day-to-day benefits stretch even further. These include upgrades any time of the year within 30 days of a life-changing event, child rates for financially dependent children up to the age of 27, and unlimited network GP visits.
Fedhealth offers 8 medical aid plans:
Who will benefit from FedHealth?
👉 Fedhealth offers comprehensive medical cover that is well-suited towards individuals, families and pensioners. It offers a fair amount of comprehensive plans, with great coverage that is affordable and starts a very low plan for individuals just starting out in the professional world.
👉 As with BestMed, Fedhealth also works on a network-based coverage basis, so individuals should first check whether they reside in areas that fall within the pre-selected GP, hospital and specialist network, making it a good option for those residing in urban areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Bestmed or Fedhealth?
Fedhealth offers the cheapest medical plan with its FlexiFED Savvy plan at R965.00 per month. The cheapest plan with Bestmed is the Beat1 Network plan at R1 873.00 per month.
Which medical aid, Bestmed or Fedhealth are the most popular?
Both medical aids have over 200 000 members at present. It seems that both medical schemes are fairly popular although BestMed offers a choice between 13 plan options, where Fedhealth offers a choice between seven medical plans.
Do Fedhealth and Bestmed medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Bestmed does offer the option to apply for gap cover. Fedhealth does not provide the option but advises the members apply for gap cover from an independent insurer.
Do Fedhealth and Bestmed medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Fedhealth and Bestmed have a general three-month waiting period during which you are unable to submit a claim.
Which is the best medical aid between Bestmed and Fedhealth?
Bestmed, founded in 1964, has received many awards for excellence. The company also receives the lowest ratings in the sector for complaints from beneficiaries. Fedhealth, which has been providing health care services since 1936 is well-known for the unique benefits paid from Risk that help to stretch members’ daily benefits.