5 Best Cheapest Medical Aids under R500
The 5 Best Affordable and Cheapest Medical Aids under R500 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 under Five Hundred Rand in South Africa.
In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:
- ✅ What is a Medical Aid?
- ✅ How do you find the cheapest medical aid in South Africa?
- ✅ How to choose the best affordable medical aid for your needs?
- ✅ Medical Aids under R1000 vs Under R500.
- ✅ How to sign up with your ideal medical aid?
- ✅ How do you choose the best medical aid for your family?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the best affordable medical aids under R500, this guide is for you.
🇿🇦 Note: There is very few medical aid options in the range of R500 per month. We recommend that you consider Health Insurance.
Let’s dive right in…
Best Affordable Medical Aids under R500 (2025)
| 🩺 Medical Aid | ✔️ Offers Medical Aid Plan in the R500 region? | ⚕️ Monthly Premium |
| 1. Momentum Health | ✅ Yes | From R589 per month on the Ingwe Option. |
| 2. Makoti Medical Aid | ✅ Yes | From R406 per month on the Primary option. |
| 3. Fedhealth | No, but great value | From R1055 per month on the FlexiFed Savvy Option |
| 4. Discovery Health | No, but great value | From R1184 per month on the KeyCare Regional Plan |
| 5. Thebemed Medical Aid | ✅ Yes | From R574 per month on the Universal EDO Plan |
5+ Cheapest Medical Aids under R500 Summary*
- Momentum Health – Overall, Best Medical Aid Under R500 in South Africa.
- Makoti Medical Aid – Trustworthy and comprehensive medical aid.
- Fedhealth – Affordable and Extensive Medical Protection in South Africa.
- Discovery Health – Largest Medical Aid in South Africa.
- Thebemed Medical Aid – Range of Low-Cost Medical Aid Plans.
📌 You might consider Dischem Health Insurance from only R509
Affordable private Day-to-Day Insurance options & Accident Cover options for you and your family.
Overview
👉🏿 Despite the escalating expense of healthcare in South Africa, medical aids can still be offered at reasonable prices. Numerous low-priced medical aid schemes exist to serve your needs.
👉🏿 Salary-based medical aid schemes in South Africa can cost less per month for each primary member. These programmes typically offer low regular rates without restricting access to emergency treatment.
👉🏿 Income-based medical aid, on the other hand, charges members a fee each month that is directly related to their level of income.
👉🏿 This means that higher-income people may not be able to take advantage of the more affordable health care choices available within this group. Learn more about the affordable health care facilities in South Africa by reading on.
👉🏿 Currently, there are no medical aid schemes in South Africa for less than R200 per month. There are, however, some extremely affordable medical aid schemes available, which we will explore in this post.
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How to get the most out of your medical aid in South Africa
Consider or take use of the following elements to ensure you’re getting good value for money when finding an affordable medical aid plan:
- ☑️ Only use doctors and healthcare providers who are members of the scheme’s medical assistance network and accept medical aid payments.
- ☑️ Select generic medications, which are less expensive than brand-name medications but are still covered by a medical aid plan.
- ☑️ Get a letter of recommendation from your primary care physician before seeing a specialist. This guarantees that your claim will not be denied.
- ☑️ Make use of the medical aid’s preferred network of service providers, such as hospitals, primary care physicians, specialists, and pharmacies. Only authorised healthcare providers or services will be covered by your medical aid plan. Furthermore, the medical aid system will have negotiated special prices with these networks, which could result in you saving money.
- ☑️ Sign up for chronic care. Your doctor will need to complete documents outlining your chronic condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and submit them to your medical aid provider for clearance. If you do not register, the fee will be deducted from your daily expenses rather than your medical assistance funds.
- ☑️ Work out your bill with your doctor and make a claim with medical aid. Some doctors and pharmacies will charge a transaction fee in addition to a handling fee. Your medical savings account will be debited for this amount.
- ☑️ Leading a healthy lifestyle reduces your chances of being ill, particularly from preventable diseases such as colds and flu. Exercising, eating a nutritious diet, and getting those screenings, medical check-ups, and flu vaccines are all important.
- ☑️ Determine the best medical aid plan for you based on your age, gender, health, individual healthcare needs, day-to-day needs, and budget.
- ☑️ Discover your individual healthcare risks based on your lifestyle and family medical history.
- ☑️ When selecting a medical assistance plan, reveal any pre-existing conditions. Your claim will be rejected if you do not explain the nature of your sickness.
- ☑️ Examine your medical insurance policy. Read the fine print. Learn what it includes and excludes. You should also be aware of any exclusions, limitations, or waiting periods. Cheap Medical Aid normally has a lot of exclusions.
- ☑️ Take advantage of any loyalty programmes or perks that come with your individual package. These vary depending on the medical programme, but they typically include discounts or cash-back benefits on retail purchases, travel, and other products.
- ☑️ Get medical attention while you are young. Don’t be a late joiner, which is someone beyond the age of 35 who has never participated in any form of medical assistance programme. Members who enrol later will pay higher monthly premiums than those who enrol early.
- ☑️ Lower the cost of your plan. If you are unable to pay your monthly expenses, consider reducing your medical aid plan rather than cancelling it completely, as this may leave you vulnerable if you require healthcare services.
- ☑️ Seek professional aid. If you have any questions regarding your medical aid plan, contact your service provider and speak with a consultant who can help you understand the procedure, plan, or specifics. The Cheapest Medical Aid Option in South Africa will probably not be the right plan for your health needs.
📌 You might like more about cheap Hospital Plans under R500 per month
📌You might like more about Health Insurance Plans under R500 per month
1. Momentum Health
Overview
➡️ The parent company of Momentum Medical plan is widely considered as a market leader, and the plan itself is one of the three largest open medical schemes in South Africa.
➡️ Momentum Health is dedicated to the long-term success of the plan and to the complete happiness of its members.
➡️ Momentum Health Solutions is staffed by medical professionals that are committed to providing you with high-quality care without breaking your pocket.
➡️ Momentum has teamed up with financially motivated physician networks to provide better care for its members. Hello Doctor also offers 24/7 access to actual doctors who can answer any health-related inquiries its users may have.
➡️ Momentum’s actuarial services make it possible to incentivize and reward members who maintain a healthy lifestyle without breaking the bank.
➡️ The lobbying efforts of Momentum’s health coaches have improved the members’ ability to make wise choices regarding their healthcare budgets.
Affordable Momentum Medical Aid Plans
Momentum offers a wide range of options for members’ medical coverage, including some plans that are affordable for many South Africans.
Ingwe Student Option
📣 Momentum Ingwe Student is a low-cost health insurance plan for students. In-patient benefits can total up to R1.19 million, or the full cost of the medical insurance policy.
📣 Chronic coverage is available to twenty-six PMBs, while restricted coverage is available to a smaller pool of service providers.
📣 Payment in full, six months in advance is required to activate this plan for students. Prepaying for a complete year through the initiative eliminates the need to renew your plan every six months.
📣 Students who need a Visa or who want to save money on medical care while abroad would benefit greatly from this package.
📣 You may get free check-ups and cleanings at the dentist and eye doctor, as well as unlimited visits to your primary care physician and referrals to specialists. Your plan should pay for the cost of a chest X-ray that is required to obtain a visa.
- ✅ The Student Ingwe Plan is available from R589.00 per month
Ingwe Option Plan
📣 You and your family can go to whatever hospital you like, up to the plan’s annual maximum. You can only go to private, Ingwe-affiliated hospitals. To be eligible for the plan’s lowest premiums, you must make use of publicly funded health care services.
📣 The Ingwe option is a kind of health insurance that does not cap how much can be spent on healthcare in a given year. You have the option of either private hospitals in the Ingwe network or less expensive state hospitals, depending on your budget.
📣 Only doctors in the Ingwe Active Network or the Ingwe Primary treatment Network can be contacted in an emergency, and only those doctors can be relied on for follow-up care including prescriptions and office visits.
📣 Momentum has an established track record of excellence in the delivery of quality healthcare. It’s the country’s fifth-largest health insurer and the third-largest medical aid programme. The total number of persons who would benefit from this is 284 400, which is 3.2% of the market and 5.8% of the open sector.
- ✅ The Ingwe Option Plan is available at R589.00 – R4,134 per month
How Much Are Momentum Health Monthly Premiums?
Momentum monthly premiums start at R1 847 for the main member on the Evolve Option and go up to R14 903 for the main member on the Summit Option.
What Is the Waiting Period for Momentum Health’s 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.
READ more: Tips for choosing a medical aid
2. Makoti Medical Aid
Overview
💙 Makoti Medical Scheme is a South African medical aid scheme offering affordable healthcare coverage to individuals and families. The scheme provides a range of benefit options to suit different healthcare needs and budgets, including comprehensive coverage for hospitalization, chronic conditions, and day-to-day medical expenses.
💙 Makoti Medical Scheme’s unique selling points include its personalized service, speedy claims processing, and competitive pricing. However, the scheme has limited geographical coverage, as it only operates in specific provinces within South Africa.
💙 In summary, Makoti Medical Scheme is a reliable and cost-effective medical aid scheme for those who live in its operational areas and require comprehensive healthcare coverage.
Affordable Makoti Medical Aid Plans
Makoti Medical Aid offers a wide range of options for members’ medical coverage, including some plans that are affordable for many South Africans.
How Much Are Makoti Medical Scheme’s Monthly Premiums?
| 🔎 Plan | 💶 Contributions Range (Main) | 💶 Contributions Range (+Adult) | 💶 Contributions Range (+Child) |
| 1️⃣ Primary Option | R406 – R1,118 | R406 – R870 | R273 - R400 |
| 2️⃣ Comprehensive Option | R2,738 – R3,744 | R2,359 – R3,209 | R910 – R1,218 |
What Is the Waiting Period for Makoti Benefits?
Depending on the medical aid scheme you join, the average waiting period for Makoti benefits is three months. Pre-existing conditions have a 12-month waiting period.
3. Fedhealth
Overview
➡️ Fedhealth was founded in 1936 in response to the urgent need for medical services in South Africa. Although much has changed over the years, their commitment to offering high-quality service at affordable pricing remains unchanged.
➡️ Since Fedhealth is still a cooperative, it serves the interests of its members and seeks new ways to meet the medical requirements of its customers.
➡️ Because of Fedhealth’s focus on customization, each member can tailor their healthcare coverage to meet their specific needs. Since it is well aware of its members’ needs, Fedhealth is committed to offering only the highest quality service to its subscribers.
➡️ The Scheme’s robust reserve of more than the legally necessary 25% for the benefit of participants is a major factor in why it has kept its AA- Global Credit Rating for the past 14 years.
➡️ Fedhealth’s innovative Risk-based awards are praised for increasing the value of the regular benefits offered to members.
➡️ You can see an in-network doctor as often as you like without incurring additional costs, and you can seek a free upgrade to a more expensive plan once per year (within 30 days of a big life event).
Affordable Fedhealth Medical Aid Plans
Fedhealth offers a wide range of options for members’ medical coverage, including some plans that are affordable for many South Africans.
flexiFED Savvy
📣 You’re a cool twentysomething professional who makes good use of fitness and technology. You won’t need a new hip or knee anytime soon.
📣 As one of the most affordable hospital plans and a supercharged savings plan or supercharged flexible savings plan, flexiFED Savvy is an appealing option for individuals and organisations looking to provide high-quality, low-cost medical coverage for their employees.
📣 It’s an alternative for your standard medical insurance that may be customised to meet your needs and your budget.
- ✅ flexiFED Savvy is available at R1055.00 per month
How Much Are Fedhealth Medical Scheme Monthly Premiums?
| 🔎 Plan | 💴 Contributions (Main) | 💵 Contributions for Adult) | 💶 Contributions for Child) | 💷 Annual maximum Backup Savings (can add to their day-to-day cover) |
| 🟫 FlexiFED Savvy | R1,604 | R1,155 | R849 | R6 528 for all family types |
| ⬛ MyFED | R1,719 – R4,052 (Household income based) | R1,719 – R4,052 | R779 – R1,281 | None |
| 🟪 FlexiFED 1 | R3,062 | R2,401 | R1,122 | R7,488 (Main Member) R5,880 (Adult Dependant) R2,760 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟪 FlexiFED 1 Elect | R2,490 | R1,947 | R909 | R7,572 (Main Member) R5,940 (Adult Dependant) R2,796 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟧 FlexiFED 2 | R4,845 | R4,312 | R1,432 | R12,012 (Main Member) R10,692 (Adult Dependant) R3,564 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟧 FlexiFED 2 Grid | R4,420 | R3,940 | R1,306 | R12,048 (Main Member) R10,728 (Adult Dependant) R3,564 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟧 FlexiFED 2 Elect | R3,810 | R3,403 | R1,131 | R12,108 (Main Member) R10,764 (Adult Dependant) R3,576 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟦 FlexiFED 3 | R5,785 | R5,300 | R2,051 | R14,400 (Main Member) R13,200 (Adult Dependant) R5,112 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟦 FlexiFED 3 Grid | R5,278 | R4,839 | R1,872 | R14,436 (Main Member) R13,224 (Adult Dependant) R5,124 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟦 FlexiFED 3 Elect | R4,550 | R4,174 | R1,615 | R14,472 (Main Member) R13,284 (Adult Dependant) R5,148 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟩 FlexiFED 4 | R7,941 | R7,248 | R2,388 | R21,960 (Main Member) R20,052 (Adult Dependant) R6,600 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟩 FlexiFED 4 Grid | R7,255 | R6,632 | R2,186 | R21,996 (Main Member) R20,076 (Adult Dependant) R6,624 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟩 FlexiFED 4 Elect | R6,285 | R5,832 | R1,921 | R22,032 (Main Member) R20,124 (Adult Dependant) R6,636 (Child Dependant) |
| 🟫 Maxima EXEC | R12,273 | R10,653 | R3,792 | R12,528 (Main Member) R10,872 (Adult Dependant) R3,864 (Child Dependant) + Self-payment Gap benefit |
| 🟨 Maxima PLUS | R19,393 | R16,739 | R5,992 | R7,728 (Main Member) R6,672 (Adult Dependant) R2,388 (Child Dependant) + OHEB Benefit + Self-payment GAP benefit |
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.
4. Discovery Health
Overview
➡️ According to the Council for Medical Schemes’ Quarterly Report for the quarter ended 30 June 2019, Discovery Health Medical Plan (DHMS) had 2,808,106 members as of December 31, 2019, making it the largest open medical scheme in South Africa.
➡️ Discovery operates under the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, as modified and is regulated by the non-profit Council for Medical Schemes. The System is a government-run healthcare service, therefore anyone who fits the requirements can sign up to use it.
➡️ Since the primary goal of the Scheme is to benefit its members, those members’ interests are taken into account whenever possible. Discovery employs shared objectives to reconcile personal preferences with those of the Scheme as a whole.
➡️ Medical bills for people enrolled in the South African Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS or the Scheme) are reimbursed from a central fund that puts charity before profit.
Affordable Discovery Health Medical Aid Plans
Discovery offers a wide range of options for members’ medical coverage, including some plans that are affordable for many South Africans.
Discovery KeyCare Series Plans
📣 KeyCare’s comprehensive hospital networks ensure that its members have access to high-quality medical care. Inpatient hospitalisation costs are covered in full by KeyCare network providers and up to 100% by the Discovery Health Rate (DHR) for all other providers.
📣 Pregnant women and their infants receive special treatment throughout their lives.
📣 KeyCare Plus and KeyCare Start members receive unlimited coverage for doctor’s visits, lab work, X-rays, and prescription drugs.
📣 When you see a DSP who is a KeyCare participating provider, you will receive 100% coverage for all chronic diseases on the KeyCare Chronic Disease List. The degree of your protection depends on the insurance you purchase.
✅ Discovery KeyCare Start is available at R1,184 per month
How Much Are Discovery Medical Aid KeyCare Series Monthly Premiums?
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.
READ more about The 10 Best Gap Covers in South Africa compared and revealed.
5. Thebemed Medical Aid
Overview
💙 Thebemed is a South African medical aid provider that offers a variety of healthcare plans to meet the needs of individuals and families. The plans offer a range of benefits and services, including hospital cover, chronic medication benefits, and wellness programs.
💙 One of the key advantages of Thebemed is its focus on providing affordable healthcare solutions to its members. The plans are designed to be accessible to many individuals with varying healthcare needs and financial situations.
💙 The plans offer a range of benefits tailored to different members’ needs, including comprehensive hospital cover, chronic medication benefits, and wellness programs.
💙 Another advantage of Thebemed is its commitment to innovation and customer service. The scheme regularly updates its plans to meet the changing needs of its members and uses advanced technology to enhance the customer experience.
💙 Members can access their benefits and claims information online. In addition, the scheme offers a range of digital tools to help members manage their healthcare needs.
Thebemed Medical Aid offers the following plans:
- ✅ Thebemed Energy Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Thebemed Fantasy Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Thebemed Universal Medical Aid Plan
- ✅ Thebemed Universal EDO Medical Aid Plan
Affordable Thebemed Medical Aid Plans
Thebemed Medical Aid is a trustworthy and comprehensive medical aid plan that offers 24/7 medical emergency assistance and Chronic Illness Benefits for its Family Members. The Thebemed Medical Aid starts from R625 ZAR.
How Much Are Thebemed Medical Aid Monthly Premiums?
| 🔎 Plan | 💴 Contributions (Main) | 💵 Contributions (+ Adult) | 💶 Contributions (+ Child) |
| 🟥 Universal EDO | R680 – R2,145 | R680 – R1,840 | R680 – R1,005 |
| 🟧 Universal | R820 – R3,155 | R820 – R2,970 | R820 – R1,225 |
| 🟨 Energy | R3,490 | R3,300 | R580 |
| 🟩 Fantasy | R2,545 | R2,080 | R1,045 |
What Is the Waiting Period for Thebemed Medical Aid Benefits?
The minimum general waiting period for Thebemed medical aid is three months for all benefits. Some plans, however, have a waiting period of 12 months, especially regarding a pre-existing condition.
Thebemed Customer Support Contact Details
💙 To contact Thebemed Customer Support, you can use the following channels:
- ✅ Contact Thebemed Customer Support at 0861 84 32 36 or 011 544 8000. The customer support team can take your calls from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm and Saturdays from 8h30 am to 1h30 pm.
- ✅ You can email Thebemed Customer Support at [email protected]. The customer support team will respond to your email as soon as possible.
- ✅ You can complete the online contact form on Thebemed’s website at https://www.thebemed.co.za/contact-us/. The form requires you to provide your name, contact details, and a brief message about your inquiry or concern.
Additionally, you can add Thebemed on WhatsApp at 0861 84 32 36 and simply say “Hi” to the Thebemed contact in the app to receive customer support options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there medical aid for less than R200 in South Africa?
Currently there is no medical aid scheme for less than R200 in South Africa. There are, however, many cheap health insurance options available to most South Africans.
Which medical aid scheme is the best?
All medical aid schemes in South Africa have shown an increase in customer satisfaction.
What is the most popular medical aid plan in South Africa?
The most popular medical aid scheme in South Africa is the Discovery Health Medical Scheme. With Discovery Health Medical Scheme, you can rest easy knowing that your medical needs will be met at every turn. You can pick from one of 25 different health plans to find the one that best fits your health and budget requirements.
What size is important to a medical aid scheme?
It is crucial to learn the demographics and scale of the medical aid scheme, bearing in mind that size matters. Claims tend to be more predictable when there are more people in the risk pool. The average age of the organisation also increases the financial concerns.
How can I save on a medical aid in South Africa?
Reduce the amount of people who rely on you by putting them on separate medical aid plans. Make the switch to a cheaper network plan when you use the medical scheme’s affiliated providers. Consider enrolling in a plan with a premium that varies with your income. Take into account the possibility of co-pay schemes.
