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 584.00 (MediCurve) | R541.00 (Ingwe) |
Highest premium | R7 587.00 (MediBonus) | R13 573.00 (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 | 250 000 | 293 000 |
Plan benefits
ℹ️ Feature | 🥇 Medshield | 🥈 Momentum Medical Scheme |
Name of Plan | • PremiumPlus • MediBonus • MediSaver • MediPlus Prime • MediPlus Compact • MediCore • MediValue Prime • MediValue Compact • MediSwift • MediPhila • MediCurve | • Evolve • Custom • Incentive • Extender • Summit • Ingwe |
Price per plan | • PremiumPlus: R7 842.00 • MediBonus: R7 587.00 • MediSaver: R4 524.00 • MediPlus Prime: R4 539.00 MediPlus Compact: R4 125.00 • MediCore: R3 474.00 • MediValue Prime: R2 736.00 • MediValue Compact: R2 478.00 • MediSwift: R2 037.00 • MediPhila: R1 851.00 • MediCurve: R1 584.00 | • Evolve: R1 687.00 • Custom: R2 149.00 • Incentive: R2 794.00 • Extender: R6 589.00 • Summit: R13 573.00 • Ingwe: R541.00 |
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 2024.
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.
Overall, both medical aids offer fairly affordable medical aid plans designed for singles, couples, families, and pensioners.
Do both schemes offer gap cover?
When patients see doctors and specialists who charge more than the patient’s medical aids would cover, financial gaps are left. A gap coverage policy is a short-term insurance plan that fills those spaces. Together, your medical insurance and gap insurance will safeguard you from unexpected expenses.
In exchange for a regular premium payment, the gap cover provider will compensate you for a predetermined portion of the difference between the total cost of your medical care and what your health insurance policy would cover. Private hospitals frequently charge patients more for the same operations when they are handled by a doctor who is not a part of the medical plan’s network.
Medshield recommends that members take out gap cover and members can access gap cover through its brokers.
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 250 000 lives. The Medshield Scheme has a Global Credit rating of AA – and has 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:
- ✅ MedShield MediCurve
- ✅ MedShield PremiumPlus
- ✅ MedShield Value Compact
- ✅ MedShield MediSwift
- ✅ MedShield MediSaver
- ✅ MedShield MediPlus Prime
- ✅ MedShield MediPlus Compact
- ✅ MedShield MediPhila
- ✅ MedShield MediCore
- ✅ MedShield 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 293 000 beneficiaries.
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, as modified (the Act). The Scheme was founded in 1963 as a cooperative organisation with the primary goal of offering dependable healthcare benefits to its expanding membership.
The Scheme aims to strike a balance between the needs of the individual members and those of the combined membership. You get medical aid cover to match your needs and your budget packed with added benefits and monthly rewards. As one of the most trusted medical aid schemes in South Africa, you can find the most affordable medical aid option to suit your individual or family needs, with industry-leading benefits.
Since its inception, Momentum have been offering a secure future for its clients and their loved ones by providing financial advice, supported by innovative product solutions and excellent service to all its clients.
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.
FAQ
How long is the waiting period after you have joined a medical aid?
There is usually a three-month waiting period after you have been approved to join a medical aid. The member will however, have cover under the Prescribed Minimum Benefits.
Is medical aid deducted from your salary?
If your company gives you the choice to join their preferred medical aid, then yes. This typically indicates that your employer additionally makes a monthly instalment contribution. Your employer will deduct the premium from your income or wages and make the necessary adjustments to your monthly PAYE tax.
What is medical aid?
Healthcare costs for members, such as daily expenses, hospital stays, medications, pathology, etc., are covered by medical aid. These expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the medical scheme’s regulations, and coverage is determined by the member’s medical aid plan type.
Does Gap cover pay for pregnancy?
You can use gap cover to recover any money that your medical insurance did not pay after your pregnancy. Don’t wait till you find out you are pregnant to apply for gap insurance because there is a waiting period when you take it out. A medical scheme membership is also required in order to get supplementary gap insurance.
Is Gap cover tax deductible South Africa?
Since these types of plans are registered as short-term insurance policies, the premiums for gap cover policies are not tax deductible. Unlike medical assistance, suppliers of gap insurance do not issue annual tax certificates for income tax purposes.