10 Cheapest Medical Aid in South Africa

In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 cheapest medical aid plans for 2025, specifically designed for a wide range of needs, from young professionals to families looking for affordable healthcare solutions. In this guide you will learn:

• ☑️ What to consider when choosing an affordable medical aid plan
• ☑️ The top 10 cheapest medical aid plans in South Africa
• ☑️ Frequently Asked Questions

💙 When it comes to finding affordable healthcare in South Africa, understanding the huge selection of medical aid plans can be overwhelming. As reviewers who have extensively researched the options available, we understand the importance of finding a plan that balances cost and coverage without compromising on essential benefits.

💙 Whether you need basic hospital cover or day-to-day benefits, these plans offer solid options at competitive rates, helping you make informed decisions about your healthcare.

💙 Our goal is to help you find the best plan that fits your lifestyle and budget, so you can get the care you need without breaking the bank.

10 Cheapest Medical Aid – A Comparison 2025

👉 What to Consider When Choosing an Affordable Medical Aid Plan

☑️ When choosing an affordable medical aid plan, several factors come into play, each greatly impacting your overall healthcare experience and budget.

Monthly premium

💙 The monthly premium is the most immediate concern for many, as this determines the affordability of the plan. However, it’s important to balance cost with the benefits provided. Cheaper plans may offer lower premiums but come with reduced coverage, so understanding what you’re getting for the cost is important.

Hospital network coverage

💙 Hospital network coverage is another critical factor. Some medical aid plans restrict hospital access to a network of designated service providers (DSPs). While this helps keep costs down, it also limits your choice of healthcare facilities.

💙 If you require treatment outside of this network, you may be faced with additional out-of-pocket expenses or co-payments. For those on a tighter budget, using a plan that emphasizes DSPs can greatly lower monthly costs without sacrificing quality care​.

Day-to-day benefits

💙 Day-to-day benefits refer to coverage for routine medical needs such as GP visits, medication, and minor procedures. Some affordable plans, especially hospital plans, focus solely on in-hospital coverage and offer little to no out-of-hospital benefits.

💙 These hospital plans are ideal for young, healthy individuals who don’t expect frequent doctor visits or chronic illness treatment. On the other hand, comprehensive medical aid plans cover both hospital stays and day-to-day medical needs, but they come with higher premiums​.

Chronic illness cover

💙 If you have a chronic illness, it’s vital to choose a plan that includes chronic illness cover. South African medical schemes are required by law to cover the treatment of a list of prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) for chronic conditions, but the extent of this coverage can vary from plan to plan.

💙 Some affordable plans may limit chronic medication coverage or only provide access to certain treatments through DSPs, making it important to carefully review your options.

💙 Ultimately, opting for DSP networks and focusing on hospital coverage can help lower costs, but it’s important to check that these limitations won’t leave you exposed to significant expenses later.

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You might also consider:

• 👉🏾 Momentum Health Ingwe Option
• 👉🏾 MedElect Plan from Medihelp
• 👉🏾 BonCap plan from Bonitas

The Top 10 Cheapest Medical Aid Plans in South Africa

☑️ Below are some of the most affordable medical aid plans from some of the leading medical aid schemes in South Africa.

Momentum Health Ingwe Option

☑️ The Momentum Health Ingwe Option is a popular choice for students and low-income individuals due to its combination of affordability and flexibility.

☑️ This plan offers hospitalisation cover through three provider choices: Any hospital, the Ingwe Network of private hospitals, or State hospitals. By selecting State hospitals or the Ingwe Network, members can lower their monthly premiums significantly, making it a highly affordable option​.

☑️ One of the best features of the Ingwe Option is its comprehensive hospital cover. It provides for hospitalisation and certain specialised treatments at up to 100% of the Momentum Medical Scheme Rate, with no overall annual limit. For major medical procedures and hospital stays, this brings peace of mind for members, knowing they won’t face substantial out-of-pocket costs if they stick to their network provider​.

☑️ The plan also includes chronic treatment for 26 prescribed minimum benefit (PMB) conditions, as well as day-to-day benefits for essential healthcare services like GP visits, basic dentistry, and prescribed medicines.

☑️ Members have access to either the Ingwe Primary Care Network or the Ingwe Active Network for these services, further reducing costs by adhering to designated service providers (DSPs). The plan also offers three virtual GP consultations per year, which is ideal for those seeking convenience.

☑️ For students and low-income individuals, the Ingwe Option stands out due to its extremely low monthly premiums.

☑️ For example, premiums can be as low as R589 when selecting State hospitals as the preferred provider, which makes this option one of the most affordable in South Africa.

Discovery Health KeyCare Start

☑️ The KeyCare Start plan from Discovery Discovery Health offers affordable healthcare coverage by using a network-based approach, making it ideal for individuals seeking essential hospital coverage at a lower cost.

☑️ One of the main features of the KeyCare Start plan is its hospital cover, which provides unlimited in-hospital care at designated KeyCare Network hospitals. This includes full cover for specialists in the network and 100% of the Discovery Health Rate (DHR) for other healthcare providers​.

☑️ To control costs, the plan requires members to use hospitals within the KeyCare Start network, and if you opt to use a non-network hospital for non-emergency care, you will need to cover the full costs yourself.

☑️ In terms of pricing, the KeyCare Start plan is structured based on income. For members earning between R10,101 and R15,950, the premium starts at R1,952 per month, while members earning below R10,100 pay R1,331 per month​. This income-based pricing structure sees that the plan remains accessible to individuals with lower incomes.

Medihelp MedElect Plan

☑️ The  is a network-based option designed to provide comprehensive medical care at an affordable rate. It offers private hospitalisation through an extensive network of private hospitals across South Africa. This means that members receive high-quality care while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses, as long as they use the designated service providers (DSPs) within the network​.

☑️ The MedElect plan uses a high-quality hospital network where members are required to seek treatment for hospitalisation and certain procedures, such as ophthalmological, endoscopic, and dental surgeries. By adhering to these network facilities, members can avoid co-payments, thus resulting in more affordable care.

☑️ The plan also includes insured day-to-day benefits, covering essentials like GP visits, dental care, optometry, and basic medicine. These day-to-day benefits are activated after savings account funds are depleted, providing continued cover even after basic funds run out​.

☑️ The MedElect plan is particularly affordable, with special student rates starting at under R1,000 per month. This makes it one of the most accessible medical aid options for students and young professionals entering the workforce.

☑️ The affordability extends to contributions for child dependents and savings account structures designed to suit those with lower or fluctuating incomes, such as recent graduates​.

Bonitas BonCap

☑️ The BonCap plan from Bonitas is an entry-level medical aid plan designed to offer essential healthcare benefits at an affordable cost. This plan is well-suited for individuals and families who are looking for basic coverage without the need for comprehensive medical benefits.

☑️ The BonCap plan offers unlimited GP consultations through its network of BonCap GPs, so that members can access primary healthcare services as needed. For hospital visits, BonCap covers 100% of costs at network hospitals when pre-authorized.

☑️ However, if a non-network hospital is used, there is a 30% co-payment unless it is an emergency. This plan also includes coverage for specialist consultations, which are limited to three visits per beneficiary, with a maximum of five visits per family.

☑️ Additional benefits include blood tests, X-rays, and MRI/CT scans within set limits, and maternity care, including antenatal consultations and post-delivery visits​.

☑️ BonCap’s pricing is based on income bands, making it flexible and affordable for various income levels.

☑️ For an individual earning less than R11,250 per month, the monthly premium is R1,554. As income increases, so do the premiums: those earning between R11,251 and R18,250 pay R1,897, and for higher incomes, the premium can go up to R3,753.

☑️ Dependents are charged R732 to R1,424 depending on the income bracket. Family coverage benefits are tailored accordingly, with limits on acute medicine, X-rays, blood tests, and specialist visits increasing based on the number of dependents​.

Fedhealth MyFED

☑️ The MyFed plan from Fedhealth is designed specifically to meet the healthcare needs of low-income earners and first-time workers, offering them a comprehensive yet affordable medical aid option. It appeals particularly to individuals who may not have had access to medical aid before and need an entry-level solution that provides essential healthcare services.

☑️ The MyFed plan offers competitively priced contributions, structured according to income bands, making it accessible to a wide range of members.

☑️ For individuals earning between R1 and R1,262 per month, the monthly premium is R1,278 for the main member. As income increases, the premiums adjust accordingly, ensuring that it remains affordable for low-income earners.

☑️ For higher incomes, such as those earning above R21,000, the premium is R3,700​. This tiered pricing structure makes the plan suitable for first-time employees and low-income families who are looking for a cost-effective healthcare solution.

☑️ The MyFed plan provides unlimited hospital cover at network hospitals, seeing that members receive the necessary care without the burden of high hospital bills. Hospitalisation costs, including accommodation, theatre fees, and medication, are fully covered at Fedhealth Network Hospitals.

☑️ Members are required to use network hospitals to avoid co-payments, with a co-payment of R15,470 applying if a non-network hospital is used for elective procedures​.

KeyHealth Essence

☑️ The Essence Plan from KeyHealth is designed for individuals who need essential medical cover, particularly for hospital and emergency care, making it a suitable option for young professionals or single members looking for affordable and reliable medical aid.

☑️ The Essence Plan offers unlimited private hospital coverage, provided that members use hospitals within the designated network of Netcare, Life Healthcare facilities nationwide, and Mediclinic in specific regions (Western Cape, Bloemfontein, and Polokwane).

☑️ If a non-network hospital is used for elective procedures, a 30% co-payment applies​. This means that members can access high-quality care while controlling out-of-pocket expenses.

☑️ For emergency care, the plan provides access to Easy-ER, which guarantees full payment for emergency medical treatment at the nearest hospital’s emergency room without upfront payments.

☑️ This benefit covers a wide range of emergencies, such as motor vehicle accidents and sports injuries, with the assurance that any required follow-up hospitalisation will be covered under the regular in-hospital benefit​.

☑️ The plan’s coverage also includes significant medical events like oncology treatment, psychiatric services, and organ transplants, all subject to pre-authorization and managed care protocols.

☑️ In terms of affordability, the Essence Plan is priced competitively, making it particularly attractive to young professionals or single individuals.

☑️ The monthly contribution for a principal member is R2,187, with adult dependents costing R1,753 and child dependents R788​.

☑️ This relatively low pricing offers comprehensive hospital coverage and emergency care benefits without overwhelming premiums, making it an affordable choice for those who may not require extensive day-to-day medical coverage but want to be protected in case of major medical events.

CompCare SelfCare Plus Option

💙 The CompCare SelfCare Plus plan is a comprehensive health insurance offering from CompCare, aimed at individuals and families seeking high-quality medical care at an affordable cost.

💙 The plan offers a range of benefits, including cover for in-hospital expenses, chronic medication, and day-to-day healthcare needs, all at competitive prices. One of the plan’s key features is its flexibility, with members able to choose from various options to create a package that best suits their health needs.

💙 This includes a choice of three different levels of cover and the option to add on additional benefits such as dental and optical cover.

💙 SelCare Plus plan start from R2,566 for the main member, Adult dependent is also R2,566 and Child dependent is R898

Genesis Med 100 Plan

☑️ The MED-100 plan provides comprehensive in-hospital coverage for both planned and emergency admissions. Members can access care at any private hospital in South Africa, giving them the flexibility to choose their preferred healthcare provider.

☑️ The plan covers hospital and related accounts, including ward fees, medication, X-rays, and pathology services, up to 100% of the Genesis Scheme Tariff​.

☑️ The Genesis MED-100 plan is priced competitively, with contributions of R1,610 per month for adults and R505 per month for child dependents​. This makes it one of the more affordable hospital plans available, particularly for individuals who do not require day-to-day benefits but want peace of mind when it comes to major medical events or hospital admissions.

☑️ The MED-100 plan is a smart choice for those who want to avoid the high costs associated with comprehensive medical aid schemes that include day-to-day benefits.

☑️ The plan provides comprehensive hospital coverage, so that members are protected for major medical events like surgeries, hospital stays, and specialist visits, without the additional premium for routine care that they may not need.

☑️ This makes it especially appealing to young professionals, families, or individuals who are generally healthy but want to be covered in case of hospitalisation.

Sizwe Hosmed Access Core Plan

💙 Sizwe Hosmed Access Core Plan is a medical aid scheme offering members comprehensive healthcare coverage. The plan is designed for individuals and families who require extensive medical care and are willing to pay higher premiums to access top-quality healthcare services.

💙 Furthermore, the plan has many unique features and benefits that make it stand out from other medical aid plans in South Africa. One of the key benefits of the Sizwe Hosmed Core Plan is its extensive hospital coverage.

💙 Members of the plan can access care from a network of private hospitals across South Africa, including many of the country’s leading medical facilities. This coverage includes in-hospital and out-of-hospital care, ensuring that members can receive the care they need when needed.

💙 AccessCore Plan start from R2 636 for the main member.

Momentum Health Evolve Option

☑️ The Evolve Plan offers unlimited private hospital coverage within a network of designated service providers (DSPs). Members are required to use the Evolve Network hospitals, which include many high-quality private facilities.

☑️ The plan covers a range of hospital-related expenses, including accommodation, surgery, and specialist fees, up to 100% of the Momentum Medical Scheme Rate​.

☑️ The Evolve Plan also covers essential procedures like MRI and CT scans, with pre-authorization required to ensure the best possible care at the lowest possible cost.

☑️ One of the standout features of the plan is its prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs), ensuring that members have access to treatment for chronic diseases listed under PMBs. The plan covers hospital admissions for PMB conditions without any limits when treated in a network hospital​.

☑️ The Evolve Plan is competitively priced, making it highly suitable for families.

☑️ Contributions for main members start at R1,847 per month. Child dependents have significantly lower contributions, making the plan affordable for larger families. In addition, Momentum Health offers cost-saving options by allowing members to pay only for the first three child dependents, with additional dependents covered free of charge​.

☑️ For families seeking an affordable hospital plan that ensures comprehensive cover for essential treatments, the Evolve Plan offers an excellent balance of quality care and affordability.

☑️ By requiring members to use network hospitals and specialists, the plan keeps costs under control while providing the critical health benefits families need.

Conclusion

Choosing the right medical aid plan is a vital decision for individuals and families seeking affordable healthcare coverage. By selecting the right plan based on individual health requirements, budget, and preferred healthcare providers, South Africans can enjoy access to quality medical care without overspending.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I consider when choosing a cheap medical aid plan?

When selecting an affordable medical aid plan, consider factors such as the coverage provided for hospital stays, day-to-day benefits, chronic illness coverage, and the network of hospitals and doctors. It’s also important to assess whether the plan fits your healthcare needs and budget.

Do these affordable plans cover chronic conditions?

Yes, most affordable medical aid plans cover prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) for chronic conditions. However, the extent of chronic illness coverage can vary, so it’s important to review each plan’s benefits for chronic disease management.

Can I switch from a more expensive plan to a cheaper one?

Yes, you can switch to a cheaper medical aid plan, but it’s important to check the terms and conditions, such as waiting periods or restrictions on coverage, when downgrading. Check that the cheaper plan still meets your healthcare needs.

Are hospital-only plans a good option for young, healthy individuals?

Yes, hospital-only plans can be a great option for young, healthy individuals who do not require frequent doctor visits but want coverage for major medical events such as surgeries, hospital stays, or emergencies.

How can I keep my medical costs low on an affordable plan?

To keep costs low, use the designated service providers (DSPs) within your plan’s network, opt for generic medications where possible, and stay up to date with preventative care benefits like screenings and vaccinations. This will help you maximize your coverage while controlling out-of-pocket expenses.