Bonitas vs. Medihelp
Bonitas versus Medihelp 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 Medihelp 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 Medihelp?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the Bonitas versus Medihelp in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Overall Comparison
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 Medihelp |
| General comparison | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Number of plans | 15 | 9 |
| Lowest premium | R1 378.00 (BonStart Plan) | R894.00 (MedElect Student) |
| Highest premium | R9 853.00 (BonComprehensive Plan) | R12 792.00 (MedPlus) |
| Student Plan | No | Yes |
| Gap Cover | Yes | Yes with another provider |
| Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
| Number of members | 730 000 | 200 000+ |
Plan benefits
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 Medishield |
| Name of Plan | • BonStart • BonStart Plus • BonFit Select • BonSave • BonComplete • BonClassic • BonComprehensive • Standard • Standard Select • Primary • Primary Select • BonEssential • BonEssential Select • Hospital Standard • BonCap | • MedElect Student • MedMove! • MedVital! • MedAdd • MedSaver • MedElect • MedPrime • MedElite • MedPlus |
| 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 | • MedElect Student: R894.00 • MedMove!: R1 476.00 • MedVital: R2 598.00 • MedAdd: R3 354.00 • MedSaver: R3 516.00 • MedElect: R2 820.00 • MedPrime: R4 782.00 • MedElite: R7 368.00 • MedPlus: R12 792.00 |
| GP Visits | Yes | Network and Non Network |
| GP in room visits | Yes | Network and Non Network |
| 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 and differs from plan to plan |
| Basic optometry | Yes | Yes, with exception of the Student plan |
| HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Road accident claims | Yes | Will give assistance |
Bonitas vs. Medihelp
👉 Both Bonitas and Medihelp 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 cover – Bonitas or Medihelp?
👉 While Medihelp offers the lowest premium on its MedElect Student and MedMove! plan, Bonitas offers a greater selection of 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. It is not a medical aid or hospital 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.
👉 Although Bonitas gives you three Gap Cover options, Medihelp does not offer direct Gap Cover within the medical scheme but advises 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.
👉 Bonitas’ three Gap Cover options have been designed to provide the most comprehensive medical expense shortfall cover along with extensive financial protection against a wide range of health risks.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
👉 Yes, both Bonitas and Medihelp 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 Medihelp’s plans 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.
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.
You might also like to consider the following plans Bonitas has to offer:
- ✅ Bonitas Primary Select Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas Primary Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas Hospital Standard Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas Standard Select Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonStart Plus Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonStart Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonSave Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonFit Select Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonEssential Select Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonEssential Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonComprehensive Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonComplete Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonClassic Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Bonitas BonCap Medical Aid Plan
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 117 years. It has close to 200 000 beneficiaries and remains one of the top five choices of medical aid 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 needs. 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 AA minus by Global Credit Rating (GCR), the largest independent rating company in Africa.
👉 Medihelp is owned by its members and handles administrative duties such as processing and paying claims, pre-authorisation and communication with members in-house. Members are therefore assured of top-quality service by the dedicated Medihelp employees.
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. There are 9 plans available in the product range, and members have a choice between a network plan or a non-network plan. Medihelp differentiates per plan on how the cover is provided for medical expenses incurred out of the hospital. This allows you to move from one product to another as your and your family’s needs change.
👉 It makes provision for students, singles, couples, families and pensioners.
MediHelp has the following 11 plans to choose from:
- ✅ MediHelp Medprime
- ✅ MediHelp MedPrime Elect
- ✅ MediHelp MedPlus
- ✅ MediHelp MedElite
- ✅ MediHelp MedVital
- ✅ MediHelp MedVital Elect
- ✅ MediHelp MedSaver
- ✅ MediHelp MedMove
- ✅ MediHelp MedElect
- ✅ MediHelpMedAdd
- ✅ MediHelp MedAdd Elect
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Bonitas or Medihelp?
The cheapest medical aid offering between these two isfrom Medihelp (R894.00 p.m. for their MedElect Student Plan).
Which medical aid, Bonitas or Medihelp are the most popular?
Bonitas is much larger, with 730 000 members compared to Medihelp’s 200 000+. Bonitas offers 15 different medical plans whereas Medihelp only has nine.
Do Bonitas and Medihelp medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Yes, both Bonitas and Medihelp have an option to apply for gap cover.
Do Bonitas and Medihelp medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Bonitas and Medihelp 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 Medihelp?
Bonitas members seem to be younger than 30 due to their more affordable medical plans. Medihelp is one of the oldest South African medical aid schemes. In 1905, it was established as the Civil Service Medical Benefit Association. It is now one of South Africa’s largest open medical aids.
