How much more Medical Aid Members will have to pay in 2018
The majority of South Africa’s biggest medical aid schemes have released their prices for 2018, showing below 10% increases across all plans.
According to the latest statistics released by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), there are currently 82 medical aid schemes operating in South Africa with a total subscription of just under 8.9 million members as at December 2016.
Discovery remains the largest medical aid scheme in the country, with over 2.7 million members.
This is followed by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) with 1.8 million members, and the Bonitas Medical Fund, with just under 680,000 members.
Due to the nature of medical aids, and how each scheme is structured to cater for different hospital networks and cover different medical needs, it’s incredibly difficult to compare like for like, especially on price.
However, with all medical aids now releasing their contribution structures for 2018, the tables below outline the price changes among the biggest* (open) schemes for next year.
Discovery
| Scheme |
2017 Cost for principle member |
2018 Cost for principle member |
Change |
| Executive |
R5 544 |
R5 950 |
7.3% |
| Classic Comprehensive |
R4 506 |
R4 882 |
7.1% |
| Essential Comprehensive |
R3 787 |
R4 102 |
8.3% |
| Classic Priority |
R2 968 |
R3 214 |
8.3% |
| Essential Priority |
R2 551 |
R2 763 |
8.3% |
| Classic Saver |
R2 577 |
R2 773 |
7.6% |
| Essential Saver |
R2 047 |
R2 203 |
7.6% |
| Classic Smart |
R1 535 |
R1 647 |
7.3% |
| Essential Smart |
R1 100 |
R1 180 |
7.3% |
| Classic Core |
R1 918 |
R2 064 |
7.6% |
| Essential Core |
R1 648 |
R1 773 |
7.6% |
| KeyCare Plus |
R914 – R1 906 |
R990 – R2 064 |
8.3% |
| KeyCare Access |
R644 – R1 863 |
R697 – R2 018 |
8.3% |
| KeyCare Core |
R731 – R1 408 |
R792 – R1 525 |
8.3% |
Bonitas
| Scheme |
2017 Cost for principle member |
2018 Cost for principle member |
Change |
| BonComprehensive |
R 5 254 |
R5 774 |
9.9% |
| BonClassic |
R3 648 |
R4 009 |
9.9% |
| BonComplete |
R2 923 |
R3 212 |
9.9% |
| BonSave |
R2 135 |
R2 304 |
7.9% |
| BonFit |
R1 789 |
R1 930 |
7.9% |
| BonEssential |
R1 473 |
R1 604 |
8.9% |
| Standard |
R2 998 |
R3 265 |
8.9% |
| Standard Select |
R2 597 |
R2 828 |
8.9% |
| Primary |
R1 924 |
R2 076 |
7.9% |
| Hospital Plus |
R2 636 |
R2 897 |
9.9% |
| Hospital Standard |
R1 665 |
R1 830 |
9.9% |
BestMed
| Scheme |
2017 Cost for principle member |
2018 Cost for principle member |
Change |
| Pace 4 |
R6 096 |
R6 608 |
8.4% |
| Pace 3 |
R5 097 |
R5 370 |
5.4% |
| Pace 2 |
R4 315 |
R4 667 |
8.2% |
| Pace 1 |
R3 055 |
R3 312 |
8.4% |
| Pulse 2 |
R4 365 |
R4 732 |
8.4% |
| Pulse 1 |
R1 823 |
R1 976 |
8.4% |
| Beat 4 |
R3 618 |
R3 922 |
8.4% |
| Beat 3 |
R2 359 |
R2 558 |
8.4% |
| Beat 2 |
R1 554 |
R1 685 |
8.4% |
| Beat 1 |
R1 257 |
R1 363 |
8.4% |
MediHelp
| Scheme |
2017 Cost for principle member |
2018 Cost for principle member |
Change |
| Dimension Elite |
R3972 |
R4272 |
7.6% |
| Dimension Prime 3 |
R2730 |
R2940 |
7.7% |
| Dimension Prime 2 |
R2136 |
R2310 |
8.1% |
| Dimension Prime 1 |
R1608 |
R1728 |
7.5% |
| Unify |
R1944 |
R2088 |
7.4% |
| Necesse |
R438 – R1932 |
R474 – R2076 |
7.4% – 8.2% |
* Momentum Health is yet to release its prices for 2018.
Original article
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