Medshield vs Momentum Medical Scheme
Medshield versus Momentum Medical Scheme 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 Medshield and Momentum Medical Scheme 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: Medshield or Momentum Medical Scheme?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with Medshield versus Momentum Medical Scheme in South Africa, this guide is for you.
👉 Let’s dive right in…
Medshield vs Momentum Medical Scheme Summary
Overall Comparison
| ℹ️ Feature | 🥇 Medshield | 🥈 Momentum Medical Scheme |
| General comparison | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Number of plans | 11 | 6 |
| Lowest premium | R1 821 (MediCurve) | R645 (Ingwe) |
| Highest premium | R9 489 (Premium Plus) | R16 469 (Summit) |
| Student Plan | No | Yes |
| Gap Cover | Medshield members can access gap cover through their brokers | Yes |
| Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
| Number of members | 140 000 | 330 000 |
Plan benefits
| ℹ️ Feature | 🥇 Medshield | 🥈 Momentum Medical Scheme |
| Name of Plan | • PremiumPlus • MediBonus • MediSaver • MediPlus Prime • MediPlus Compact • MediCore • MediValue Prime • MediValue Compact • MediPhila • MediCurve | • Evolve • Custom • Incentive • Extender • Summit • Ingwe |
| Price per plan | MediCurve: R1 821 MediPhila: R2 145 MediValue Prime: R3 207 MediValue Compact: R2 907 MediCore: R4 278 MediPlus Prime: R5 436 MediPlus Compact: R4 938 MediSaver: R5 376 MediBonus: R9 015 PremiumPlus: R9 489 | 1️⃣ Ingwe 645 – 4,546 ZAR 2️⃣ Evolve 2,029 ZAR 3️⃣ Custom 3,749 – 4,472 ZAR 4️⃣ Incentive 4,179 – 6,030 ZAR 5️⃣ Extender 9,017 – 11,472 ZAR 6️⃣ Summit 16,469 ZAR |
| GP Visits | Yes | Yes |
| GP in room visits | Yes | Yes |
| Specialist visits | Yes | Yes |
| Acute medication | Yes | Yes |
| Chronic medication | Yes | Yes |
| Basic pathology | Yes | Yes |
| Basic and emergency dentistry | Yes | Yes depending on the plan you choose |
| Basic optometry | Yes | Yes depending on the plan you choose |
| HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Road accident claims | No | Yes but not linked to medical aid scheme |
Medshield vs Momentum Medical Scheme
Both Medshield and Momentum Medical Scheme are known medical aid schemes in South Africa 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 2026.
Which offers more affordable cover – Medshield or Momentum Medical Scheme?
💙 Momentum Medical Scheme has the lowest premium with its Ingwe plan that specifically focusses on students. On the other hand, Medshield offers a choice between 11 plans compared to Momentum Medical Scheme’s six.
💙 Momentum Medical Scheme, on the other hand, falls under the umbrella of Momentum. Not only does the company provide medical aid but also has a number of other divisions. Gap cover is one of them but does not fall directly under the Momentum Medical Scheme. You apply for it separately.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
Yes, both Medshield and Momentum Medical Scheme offer hospital plans. All of Medshield’s plans come with hospital plans that will pay for the costs of your care if you are admitted to the hospital, including ward costs, theatre fees, and accounts from other in-hospital providers like anesthesiologists or radiologists. All of its hospital plans are governed by the terms of the Scheme, pre-approval, case management, clinical guidelines, and the benefit choice you have selected.
All Momentum Medical Scheme’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. All its hospital plans are subject to Scheme rules, pre-authorization, case management, clinical protocols and the benefit option you have chosen.
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Who is Medshield?
💙 Medshield is a well-established medical aid registered in 1968 and, following its merger with Oxygen, covering in excess of 140 000 lives. The Medshield Scheme has a Global Credit rating of AA+ and solvency of 60.2% in reserves well in excess of the mandated 25%.
💙 Each of the plans offered by Medshield has advantages that are reasonably priced. They medical aid constantly evaluate and enhance the variety of benefits offered by each option to provide you with what you actually need, namely high-quality healthcare that is reasonably priced and a selection of plans that are tailored to your unique, individual needs.
💙 Medshield boasts a solvency ratio and stable AA+ Global Credit rating which is an indication that beneficiaries can rely on it to pay out your claims. As evidence of their dedication to their members, they invite potential clients to check with their healthcare providers about their payment history. For the 12th consecutive year, they have obtained the coveted AA+ rating with a stable outlook for their future claim payment performance in recognition of their efforts to make prompt payments.
💙 All the benefit options of plans provide coverage for homes of various income levels, and members even have the choice of controlling their healthcare 24 hours a day using the provided online tools.
👉 You might also like the following plans MedShield has to offer:
- MediCurve
- PremiumPlus
- MediValue Prime
- MediValue Compact
- MediSwift
- MediSaver
- MediPlus Prime
- MediPlus Compact
- MediPhila
- MediCore
- MediBonus
Who will benefit from Medshield?
Medshield is your healthcare Partner for Life with an appropriate product offering for every life stage as the requirements and lifestyle of its members evolve from early adulthood to retirement.
Medshield’s benefit options include affordable entry-level options to fully comprehensive medical aid cover for individuals, professional individuals, couples, families and corporate employees.
Who is Momentum Medical Scheme?
👉 Momentum is a financial services company and provider of healthcare, insurance and investment solutions in SA. It provides tailor made solutions to over 330 000 beneficiaries. Momentum Health has a solvency of 30.4%.
👉 The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) regulates Momentum Medical Scheme, a not-for-profit open medical scheme that is registered and controlled in accordance with the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998. The Scheme was founded in 1963 as a cooperative organization with the primary goal of offering dependable healthcare benefits to its members.
👉 The Scheme aims to strike a balance between the needs of the individual members and those of the combined membership. You get medical aid coverage to match your needs and your budget is packed with added benefits and monthly rewards. As one of the trusted medical aid schemes in South Africa, you can find the most affordable medical aid option to suit your individual or family needs.
👉 Since its inception, Momentum has been offering a secure future for its clients and their loved ones by providing financial advice, supported by innovative product solutions and excellent service.
Momentum Medical Scheme has a Momentum Multiply Rewards Program and also the following medical aid plans:
- ✅ Momentum Summit
- ✅ Momentum Ingwe
- ✅ Momentum Incentive
- ✅ Momentum Extender
- ✅ Momentum Evolve
- ✅ Momentum Custom
Who will benefit from Momentum Medical Scheme?
With Momentum Medical Scheme, you have access to a wide range of medical aid options and industry-leading benefits. Whether you’re a student looking for the most affordable medical aid, a young professional, or a breadwinner who needs extensive cover for your whole family in.
FAQ
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Momentum Health or Medshield?
Momentum Health offers a cheaper medical plan with its Ingwe Income based plan ranging from R645 – R4,546 per month, whereas Medshield cheapest plan is the MediCurve plan at R1 821 per month.
Which is the best experienced medical aid between Momentum Health and Medshield?
Medshield has been in operation since 1968 which makes it an experienced, knowledgeable and reliable medical scheme.
Momentum Group traces its history back to 1966, the medical aid entity we know today as Momentum Medical Scheme was officially established in 2004 (launching to the public on January 1, 2005).
Which medical aid, Momentum Health or Medshield are the most popular?
Medshield boasts membership of over 140 000+ whereas Momentum Medical Scheme boasts members of over 330 000+. Momentum Medical Aid Scheme only offers a choice between six medical plans whereas Medshield offers a choice between eleven medical plans.
Do Momentum Health and Medshield medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Medshield does not offer the option of gap cover but advices that members apply for gap cover from an independent insurer. Momentum Health as an option for its members to take out Gap cover.
Do Momentum Health and Medshield medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Momentum and Medshield have a general three-month waiting period during which you are unable to submit a claim.
