Bonitas vs. Medimed
Bonitas versus Medimed 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 Medimed 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 Medimed?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the Bonitas versus Medimed in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Overall Comparison
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 Medimed |
| General comparison | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Number of plans | 15 | 4 |
| Lowest premium | R1 378.00 (BonStart Plan) | R1 680.00 (Alpha) |
| Highest premium | R9 853.00 (BonComprehensive Plan) | R3 980.00 (Medsave Max) |
| Student Plan | No | No |
| Gap Cover | Yes | A member can apply with Medimed |
| Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
| Number of members | 730 000 | 6 000+ |
Plan benefits
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 Medimed |
| Name of Plan | • BonStart • BonStart Plus • BonFit Select • BonSave • BonComplete • BonClassic • BonComprehensive • Standard • Standard Select • Primary • Primary Select • BonEssential • BonEssential Select • Hospital Standard • BonCap | • Alpha • Medisave Essential • Medisave Max • Medisave Standard |
| 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 | • Alpha: R1 680.00 • Medisave Essential: R1 600.00 • Medisave Max: R3 980.00 • Medisave Standard: R2 300.00 (Price per plan is determined by your income) |
| 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 |
| Basic optometry | Yes | Yes |
| HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Road accident claims | Yes | Will give assistance |
Bonitas vs. Medimed
👉 Both Bonitas and Medimed are known medical aid companies 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 Medimed?
👉 Bonitas offers the lowest premium on its BonStart plan, and also offers a greater selection of affordable medical aid plans designed for singles, families, and pensioners. Medimed only offers a choice between four plans but the price you pay depends on your income. Medimed’s Medisave Essential plan is a capitated option and it is unfortunately only available to members in the Nelson Mandela Metropole as this is the area where the aid has specific contracts with the providers.
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.
👉 Bonitas gives you three Gap Cover options, and the 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.
👉 Medimed offers the option to take out gap cover with Momentum which specifically makes provision for clients of Medimed.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
👉 Yes, both Bonitas and Medimed 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 Medimed’s plans give you access to quality care at private hospitals and the Medisave Max plan has no overall annual limit.
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 Medimed?
👉 The Medimed Medical Aid, founded in 1980, focuses on providing healthcare solutions to members in the Nelson Mandela Metropolis. As of the end of 2012, the scheme had just over 5,500 members and reserves of more than R124 million.
👉 Medimed’s primary mission is to give the members of the organisation access to a comprehensive medical care facility that extends to encompass a wide range of additional components.
👉 According to the regulations of the Scheme, the key participants in the plan will consist of those workers who are currently employed by the company as well as the beneficiaries of those workers. Members who have reached retirement age and are still eligible for benefits under the plan are known as retirees and their beneficiaries respectively.
👉 Medimed’s delivery arrangements include a capitated managed care model where comprehensive cover is purchased from the local IPA’s (Independent Practice Associations) and free choice.
👉 Medimed provides four options with comprehensive hospitalisation and chronic medication coverage. Each plan provides a different way to manage the out-of-hospital benefits. The Alpha option is a co-payment plan. Medisave Max and Standard provide out-of-hospital benefits through a savings account with an additional elective benefit. The Medisave Essential option is a managed health care plan provided by contracted service providers with the added flexibility of a savings account.
Medimed Medical Aid has a late joiner fee and also has the following plans to choose from:
Who will benefit from Medimed?
👉 All Medimed plans are designed to provide solid cover for what is considered essential to preserve and protect your health. There are 4 plans available that will benefit individuals, couples and families.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Bonitas or Medimed?
Bonitas’ BonStart plan is the cheapest option between the two medical aids at R1 378.00 per month. Medimed’s Alpha plan is its cheapest medical plan R1 680.00 per month.
Which medical aid, Bonitas or Medimed are the most popular?
Bonitas has much more members, 730 000 compared to the 6 000+ members of Medimed. Bonitas also offers a choice between 15 different medical plans, where the choice at Medimed is only between four medical plans.
Do Bonitas and Medimed medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Bonitas offer the option to apply for gap cover. With Medimed, members have the option to apply for gap cover with Momentum.
Do Bonitas and Medimed medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Bonitas and Medimed 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 Medimed?
Bonitas has been in operation since it opened its door in 1982. Due to the more affordable medical plans, the members of Bonitas seems to be under 30 years of age. Medimed is a fairly young medical aid and was only founded in 1980 and solely focusses on providing healthcare solutions to members in the Nelson Mandela Petropolis.
