Fedhealth vs. KeyHealth
Fedhealth 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 Fedhealth 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: Fedhealth or Keyhealth?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the Fedhealth vs. Keyhealth in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Overall Comparison
| ✅ Feature | 🥇 Fedhealth | 🥇 KeyHealth |
| General comparison | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Number of plans | 7 | 6 |
| Lowest premium | R965.00 (FlexiFED Savvy) | R1 990.00 (Essence) |
| Highest premium | R14 289.00 (maxima PLUS) | R11 308.00 (Platinum) |
| Student Plan | No | No |
| Gap Cover | No | No |
| Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
| Number of members | 200 000+ | 69 000+ |
Plan benefits
| ✅ Feature | 🥇 Fedhealth | 🥇 KeyHealth |
| Name of Plan | • FlexiFED Savvy • FlexiFED 1 • FlexiFED 2 • FlexiFED 3 • FlexiFED 4 • Maxima EXEC • Maxima PLUS | • Essence • Origin • Equilibrium • Silver • Gold • Platinum |
| Price per plan | • FlexiFED Savvy: R965.00 • FlexiFED 1: R1 716.00 • FlexiFED 2: R2 491.00 • FlexiFED 3: R2 844.00 • FlexiFED 4: R3 805.00 • Maxima EXEC: R8 456.00 • Maxima PLUS: R14 289.00 | • 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 | Network GP | Yes |
| GP in room visits | Network GP | Yes |
| Specialist visits | Yes | Yes |
| Acute medication | Yes | Yes |
| Chronic medication | Yes | Yes |
| Basic pathology | Basic from day to day benefits | Yes |
| Basic and emergency dentistry | Basic from day to day benefits | Yes on basic dentistry |
| HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Road accident claims | Yes | No |
Fedhealth vs KeyHealth
👉 Both Fedhealth and KeyHealth are known medical aid names 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 – Fedhealth or KeyHealth?
👉 Although Fedhealth’s FlexiFed Savvy is the lowest plan on offer between the two medical aids, KeyHealth also offers good coverage in its plans. Overall, both Fedhealth and KeyHealth offers a good selection of affordable medical aid plans designed for singles, couples, families, and pensioners.
Do both schemes offer gap cover?
👉 Gap coverage is a short-term insurance policy that provides shortfall coverage when doctors and specialists charge fees in excess of those covered by medical assistance. Gap coverage complements your medical aid coverage.
👉 In exchange for a monthly premium, the gap cover provider will compensate you for a portion of the difference between your medical expenses and what your medical insurance would cover. If you use a healthcare provider who is not in your medical plan’s network, you may pay more for private hospital services than your plan would cover.
👉 Fedhealth does not offer Gap Cover options within the medical scheme but advises you to take out gap cover from an independent insurer.
👉 Neither does KeyHealth make specific provisions for Gap Cover options, however, 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 Fedhealth and KeyHealth offer hospital plans. Fedhealth’s hospital plans cover the treatment costs if you’re admitted to hospital such as ward costs, theatre fees, and accounts from other in-hospital providers such as anesthetists or radiologists.
👉 Hospital plans also typically cover emergency medical expenses, whether you are admitted to the hospital or not. To qualify as an emergency, the condition or event must be unexpected and need immediate treatment, for example, treatment in the casualty ward of a hospital, trauma counselling or emergency medical services.
👉 All six plans offered by KeyHealth include hospital plans to cover the treatment costs if you’re admitted to hospital such as ward costs, theatre fees, and accounts from other in-hospital providers such as anesthetists 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 Fedhealth?
👉 Since 1936, South Africans have received health care from Fedhealth. Although a lot has changed over the years, the organisation’s dedication to offering inexpensive, high-quality healthcare has not.
👉 Even today, its medical assistance is still administered by members for members, and it is continually evolving to meet the requirements of those who are concerned about their health while navigating a world that is changing quickly.
👉 Fedhealth has maintained a Global Credit Rating of AA- for 14 consecutive years, and with reserves well over the required 25%, the Scheme’s healthy financial position enables it to take care of its members when needed most.
👉 At Fedhealth it is all about customisation and allowing its clients to enjoy medical aid that you can create and control.
👉 Fedhealth is known for its unique benefits paid from Risk to help members’ day-to-day benefits stretch even further. These include upgrades any time of the year within 30 days of a life-changing event, child rates for financially dependent children up to the age of 27, and unlimited network GP visits.
Fedhealth offers 8 medical aid plans:
Who will benefit from Fedhealth?
👉 Fedhealth offers comprehensive medical cover that is well-suited towards individuals, families and pensioners. It offers a fair amount of comprehensive plans, with great coverage that is affordable and start a very low plan for individuals just starting out in the professional world.
👉 Fedhealth also works on a network-based coverage basis, so that individuals should first check whether they reside in areas that fall within the pre-selected GP, hospital and specialist network, making it a good option for those residing in urban areas.
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 specialty 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.
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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Fedhealth or KeyHealth?
Fedhealth offers the cheapest medical plan with its FlexiFED Savvy plan at R965.00 per month. The cheapest plan with KeyHealth is the Essence plan at R1 990.00 per month.
Which medical aid, Fedhealth or KeyHealth are the most popular?
Fedhealth boasts membership of over 200 000 whereas KeyHealth only have around 69 000 members. Fedhealth also offers a choice between seven medical plans and KeyHealth offers a choice between six medical plans.
Do Fedhealth and KeyHealth medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Fedhealth does not provide the option of gap cover but advises the members apply for gap cover from an independent insurer. Neither does KeyHealth make specific provision for gap cover but opts to rather keep its products as affordable as possible. Member do have the option to apply for gap cover with an independent insurer.
Do Fedhealth and KeyHealth medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Fedhealth 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 Fedhealth and KeyHealth?
Fedhealth has provided health care since 1936, and is known for its unique benefits paid form Risk to help members’ day-to-day benefits stretch even further. KeyHealth has been operating since 1968 and has maintained the necessary high membership figures since then. The key to its success has been an unwavering determination to offer its members the best possible value for their hard-earned cash.
