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Why Do You Need a Student Medical Aid Plan?

State healthcare is extremely poor in South Africa and private healthcare is extremely expensive.
To get immediate and professional health treatment when you need it, you have to join a medical aid!

Here’s why having a plan is crucial:

• Visa Requirements: For international students, proof of medical aid membership is required for your study visa.
• Unexpected Emergencies: From food poisoning to sports injuries, you may need expensive medical care at very short notice. A good medical aid plan ensures you can afford treatment.
• Access to Quality Private Healthcare which is faster and more efficient than public options.
• Low premiums, but excellent benefits.

What Should You Look for in a Medical Aid Plan?

Not all medical aid plans are created equal. So, what should you be checking for when shopping around?

1. Benefits and limits: Does the plan cover basics like doctor, dental and optical visits, medication and unlimited hospitalisation?
   This plan does!
2. Cost: Students have tight budgets. This plan offers subsidised premiums, especially for students!
   You'll not get these benefits for R589 pm anywhere else!
3. Are there Provider Networks? Check if the network doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are near your campus or residence.
   This plan uses any hospital, but does have network provides for day-to-day care.
4. Compliance for Study Visa:The plan must meet South African Department of Home Affairs requirements for international students.
   This plan certainly does.
5. Wellness and Rewards programme: Are there value-added services like telemedicine consultations, mental health support, or gym discounts?

There are several Student Medical Aid Plans available in South Africa and remember, it’s not just about price but value for money!

Discovery Health KeyCare Plan is a very popular plan, however it is expensive at R 1,817 pm

Bonitas BonStart Plan : Costly Premium at R 1, 498 pm

The Best Momentum Health Student Plan

Experience a wide range of healthcare benefits. More than 1 million students trust this medical aid as the best choice for affordable and value-driven healthcare.

Whether it is service, benefits or hospitalisation - it offers exclusive advantages for study visa requirements and excellent cost-effective benefits for all students!

In hospital

• Unlimited access to any private hospital in South Africa for operations and procedures.
  (Local students can choose a Network hospital giving access to a different GP list with more network doctors on the network)
• Unlimited doctor visits

• Casualty and Emergency benefit including emergency medical response by road or air from the scene of a medical emergency and transfer by road or air to the closest, most appropriate medical facility and moving a member from one hospital to another, if medically required.

Out of hospital

• Doctor consultations / visits - Unlimited visits to any network doctor, who can prescribe medicine from the list of approved medicines.
  You need a prescription to collect medicine at a pharmacy.
• 1 visit per person or 2 visits per family per year to a non-network doctor including emergency / casualty visits with a small co-payment.
• 3 virtual doctor consultations per annum including scripting of medication where required.
  It includes Hello Doctor virtual consultations with a qualified doctor, from the comfort of your home, or wherever you may find yourself at the time.
• Your doctor can register you for any of 26 chronic conditions, such as diabetes and epilepsy.
• 2 Specialist referrals per family per year for the best care.
• Blood tests and cover for for a list of basic x-rays.
• Dental benefits like an annual check-up, consultations, cleaning, fillings, and extraction of teeth.
• Eye care offers one eye test and one pair of glasses every 2 years from a Network optometrist.
  Choose a frame from a specific range to avoid paying extra from your pocket.
• Preventative care with 1 Health assessment per year, which includes a blood pressure test, blood sugar and cholesterol finger prick tests, as well as height, weight and waist circumference measurements.
  You can do the assessment at any Clicks, Dis-Chem, MediRite or Pick n Pay pharmacy clinic.
• Cover for a list of Prescribed Minimum Benefits that all medical schemes must cover. These benefits are subject to pre-authorisation and a preferred provider must be used.

Join today and get access to cost-effective healthcare solutions from ONLY R 589 per month in 2025!

International Students

Your Finest Medical Aid for Study Permit.

To register at a South African academic institution, it is compulsory to obtain a study permit VISA for the duration of your studies and this medical aid qualifies you for an International Study Visa and is recognised by Home Affairs for education visa needs!

Momentum Health an approved and accredited medical aid partner of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) for the past 22 years.

It includes a unique study visa benefit, which covers the single view chest x-ray, radiology report and medical report in South Africa.

Payment is generally for 12-months - depending upon the rules of your academic institution - and you need to deposit for that period.
Please confirm the minimum duration of cover required by your Academic Institution and the South African Embassy /Department of Home Affairs.
Please check the confirmation letter handed in with the study permit VISA application, as there should always be a specific end date.

To work out your 12-month premium, multiply the months you need in each year by:
2025 requires R 589 pm
2026 requires R 648 pm

This is significantly cheaper than the leading medical aid which requires R 21,804!

So, why choose this medical aid?

3rd largest medical scheme in South Africa covering more than 155 000 families.

Trusted partner – Medical scheme of choice for more than 1 000 000 students over the past 33 years.

Their core purpose is to provide sustainable access to appropriate cost-effective healthcare for a growing pool of student members

A first-class digital platform offering various channels from WhatsApp, web chat and self- service.

Get a quote!

Password:

International Student
OR South African Student

Name:

Email:

Tel:

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083 655 2164

You must consult the schemes/company product brochures and rules for comprehensive benefit descriptions.

We will offer you the best help at no cost!

How to Choose a Medical Aid

Medical aid pays healthcare costs.
What if a disability stops your income?

YOUR TRUSTED, QUALIFIED ADVISOR:
Peter Pyburn - Authorised Financial Services Provider, fully licensed to render financial services since 1991. Death and Disability Planning; Retirement Planning; Investment Planning; Healthcare and Estate Planning.
FSP Licence 2995 and Medical Aid Accreditation BR 7428
Based in Sandton.

Council of Medical Schemes
Disclaimer, Medical Disclosure

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Important Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or healthcare advice.
Medical aid benefits are subject to change. Please consult the medical aid brochure and speak to me before making any decisions.

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Last verified: June 2, 2025