Bonitas vs. KeyHealth
Bonitas versus KeyHealth 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 Bonitas and KeyHealth 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: Bonitas or KeyHealth?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the Bonitas versus KeyHealth in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Overall Comparison
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 KeyHealth |
| General comparison | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Number of plans | 15 | 6 |
| Lowest premium | R1 378.00 (BonStart Plan) | R1 990.00 (Essence) |
| Highest premium | R9 853.00 (BonComprehensive Plan) | R11 308.00 (Platinum) |
| Student Plan | No | No |
| Gap Cover | Yes | No |
| Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
| Number of members | 730 000 | 69 000+ |
Plan benefits
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 KeyHealth |
| Name of Plan | • BonStart • BonStart Plus • BonFit Select • BonSave • BonComplete • BonClassic • BonComprehensive • Standard • Standard Select • Primary • Primary Select • BonEssential • BonEssential Select • Hospital Standard • BonCap | • Essence • Origin • Equilibrium • Silver • Gold • Platinum |
| Price per plan | • BonStart: R1 378.00 • BonStart Plus: R1 754.00 • BonFit Select: R2 295.00 • BonSave: R3 447.00 • BonComplete: R5 359.00 • BonClassic: R6 732.00 • BonComprehensive: R9 853.00 • Standard: R4 922.00 • Standard Select: R4 448.00 • Primary: R2 993.00 • Primary Select: R2 619.00 • BonEssential: R2 287.00 • BonEssential Select: R1 998.00 • Hospital Standard: R2 964.00 | • Essence: R1 990.00 • Origin: R2 250.00 • Equilibrium: 2 778.00 • Silver: R4 799.00 • Gold: R7 036.00 • Platinum: R11 308.00 |
| GP Visits | Yes | Yes |
| GP in room visits | Yes | Yes |
| Specialist visits | Yes (with sublimits) | Yes |
| Acute medication | Yes | Yes |
| Chronic medication | Yes | Yes |
| Basic pathology | Yes | Yes |
| Basic and emergency dentistry | Basic dentistry only | Yes on basic dentistry |
| Basic optometry | Yes | Yes |
| HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Road accident claims | Yes | No |
Bonitas vs. KeyHealth
👉 Both Bonitas and KeyHealth are known medical aid schemes in South Africa 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 2025.
Which offers more affordable cover – Bonitas or KeyHealth?
👉 Bonitas has the lowest premium of the two medical aids with its BonStart plan. It also offers a variety of plans to best suit your needs while KeyHealth only offers a choice between six different plans. Both medical aids offer reasonable affordable medical aid plans designed for singles, 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.
👉 In exchange for a monthly premium, the gap cover provider will reimburse you for a portion of the difference between your medical expenses and what your medical insurance would cover. If you utilize a healthcare provider who is not in your medical plan’s network, you may frequently pay more for services at private hospitals than what your plan would pay for.
👉 With Bonitas beneficiaries have three Gap Cover options that have been designed to provide the most comprehensive medical expense shortfall cover along with extensive financial protection against a wide range of health risks.
👉 Although KeyHealth does not make specific provisions for Gap Cover options, it has adopted two approaches to tackle this issue. The first is to keep its products as affordable as possible. Equilibrium includes a savings account which could be used to meet co-payments or day-to-day expenses if necessary.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
👉 Yes, both Bonitas and KeyHealth offer hospital plans. Bonitas Hospital Plans cover you in the hospital for emergency and planned procedures. You also get access to some additional benefits for wellness and preventative care.
👉 All six plans offered by KeyHealth include hospital plans to cover the treatment costs if you’re admitted to the hospital such as ward costs, theatre fees, and accounts from other in-hospital providers such as anaesthetists or radiologists. All its hospital plans are subject to Scheme rules, pre-authorization, case management, clinical protocols and the benefit option you have chosen.
Who is Bonitas?
👉 The worldwide rating for Bonitas’ financial security is AA-. As a percentage, it is 30.7% solvent.
👉 Since the majority of Bonitas contributors and beneficiaries are relatively young, under 30 years old, annual contribution increases tend to be more modest on average.
👉 Hospitalization, long-term care, and pharmaceutical coverage are all available at low costs through the various medical assistance plans offered by Bonitas. This organization is a great fit for both individuals and families seeking medical insurance.
👉 Bonitas wasn’t the country of South Africa’s initial medical aid provider, but it has swiftly become the largest. Its doors first opened in 1982.
👉 The 4,500 doctors, hospitals, and other medical facilities that make up the Bonitas network are dedicated to providing high-quality care at reasonable costs.
👉 To help tackle the rising expense of healthcare, Bonitas provides its clients with two distinct solutions: oncology management and hospital and medicine management.
👉 Many Bonitas policies include coverage for Lasik eye surgery in addition to other dental and vision therapies. The interest that is accrued on each participant’s unused amount is carried over to the following year.
Who will benefit from Bonitas Medical Scheme?
👉 Bonitas is a good option for young families and individuals looking for affordable medical aid that will cover the most essential and important aspects of their medical needs, including GP visits, chronic medication, and medical emergencies in-hospital.
Who is KeyHealth?
👉 KeyHealth is a well-known medical plan and health insurance company in South Africa. The Scheme, which is managed by PPS Healthcare, places a high value on transparency in the way it presents its health advantages, steering clear of “nice to haves” and emphasising the provision of “pure” medical aid benefits.
👉 KeyHealth Medical Aid, strive to keep its members’ contributions as affordable as possible, throughout all its options, from the most basic to the most comprehensive plan. Members are given fair and reasonable value and coverage in return for their monthly contributions.
👉 All KeyHealth plans come with three additional complimentary benefits, namely Easy-ER, Health Booster, and Smart Baby, and all provide limitless coverage for Prescribed Medical Conditions (PMBs) in compliance with South African law. Some exclusions apply based on the chosen plan. The Chronic Disease List is covered by all options.
👉 The most affordable option with Health is Essence. Some exclusions apply, such as day-to-day medical costs, dentistry, prostheses, and hospitalisation benefits for some surgical operations. Disaster and other significant medical expenses caused by accidents (in hospitals) are covered. Essence makes sure that users of this plan have access to basic, necessary medical coverage. The next option, equilibrium, is also reasonably priced, but although daily medical coverage is provided, some hospital benefits are excluded.
👉 With the Silver plan two in-hospital treatment benefits and specialised dentistry are excluded. Gold is the recommended plan which offers comprehensive and complete cover. While member contributions are higher, the benefits are also higher. There are no in-hospital benefit exclusions, and coverage is limitless for both general and speciality dentistry operations.
👉 The Platinum option is at the top of the list. A Threshold Zone that funds extra expenses after the predetermined Self-Payment Gap has been closed is one of the benefits. Other benefits include those for routine, daily expenses. The benefits of this complete choice go beyond the 26 ailments on the Chronic Disease List and cover 29 more chronic conditions.
Who will benefit from KeyHealth?
👉 KeyHealth offers a fairly comprehensive medical cover that is well-suited towards individuals, families and pensioners. It offers comprehensive plans, with good coverage that is affordable.
KeyHealth offers 6 medical aid plans:
- ✅ KeyHealth Essence Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ KeyHealth Origin Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Keyhealth Equilibrium Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Keyhealth Silver Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Keyhealth Gold Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Keyhealth Platinum Medical Aid Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Bonitas or KeyHealth?
Bonitas’ BonStart plan is the cheapest plan between the two medical aids at R1378.00 per month. KeyHealth’s Essence plan is its cheapest at R1 990.00.
Which medical aid, Bonitas or KeyHealth are the most popular?
Bonitas has much more members, 730 000 compared to the 69 000+ members of KeyHealth. Bonitas also offers a choice between 15 different medical plans, where the choice at KeyHealth is only between six medical plans.
Do Bonitas and KeyHealth medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Yes, both Bonitas and KeyHealth have an option to apply for gap cover.
Do Bonitas and KeyHealth medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Bonitas and KeyHealth have a general three-month waiting period during which you are unable to submit a claim.
Which is the best medical aid between Bonitas and KeyHealth?
Bonitas is in business since 1982. Bonitas members are younger than 30 because of the lower cost of their medical plans. KeyHealth, which has operated since 1968, has managed to maintain high numbers of members. KeyHealth’s success is due to a never-ending commitment to provide its members with the best value for money.
