Home: bestmedicalaid.co.za

Why You Need a Student Medical Aid Plan

State healthcare is poor in South Africa and private healthcare is extremely expensive.

If you want to have immediate and professional health treatment, you have to join the best student medical aid in South Africa!

Here's why having a plan is crucial:

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 that treatment, by allowing you to get quality private healthcare (which is faster and more efficient than public options), with excellent benefits, all at a low premium!

Get Comprehensive, Affordable Medical Cover for Local and International Students
from only R645 per month in 2026!

Comprehensive and affordable medical aid benefits for local and international students in South Africa.
Using network doctors and dentists, this Momentum Student plan gives students unlimited in-hospital, day-to-day cover and preventive care.
It includes chronic medication, and emergency services.
Perfect for International student visa requirements.

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 R 645 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 providers 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 1,961 pm

Bonitas BonStart Plan: Costly Premium at R 1,603 pm

The Best Plan Is the 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.

Momentum Health and Momentum Medical Scheme have just taken home two major awards: the News24 Medical Scheme of the Year Award and the PMR.africa Golden Arrow Award, confirming they are the best student medical aid plan in South Africa.
Whether it is service, benefits or hospitalisation they offer 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 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 645 per month in 2026!

International Students Need Medical Aid

As an international student studying in South Africa, Department of Home Affairs regulations require you to have medical aid cover for at least 12 months or the duration of your study visa.
This ensures you have access to private healthcare without burdening the public sector.

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

It includes a medical report required for your study visa.

To work out your 12-month premium, multiply the months you need in each year by R 645
Example: From 01/01/2026 to 31/12/2026 @ R 645 = R 7,740

(The premium will increase to R 710 pm in 2027.)

WANT A SPECIFIC QUOTE, GO HERE

This is significantly cheaper than the leading medical aid which requires R 23,532!

GO HERE TO APPLY NOW

Renew Your Student Healthcare Membership to comply with your study visa and academic registration requirements.

Are you a full-time student on a study visa in South Africa?
If so, you need to make sure that your student medical aid membership is renewed before your current one expires.
This is because your visa and academic institution may require you to have medical cover for the duration of your studies.

Renewing your Momentum Medical Scheme membership is the best way to ensure that you have the medical cover you need to stay healthy and study in South Africa.
You can extend or top up your medical cover to comply with your study visa and academic registration requirements.

Simply email us and we will take you through the process.

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 35 years
• A credible and trustworthy medical scheme registered with the Council for Medical Schemes in South Africa, PLUS an accredited partner of International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA)
• Core purpose is to provide sustainable access to appropriate cost-effective healthcare for our growing pool of student members
• Dedicated, skilled and experienced student team taking care of our student members
• Comprehensive and standalone day-to-day benefits (not pooled under one limit)
• Value for money for you as a student to stretch your budget

International students

APPLY ONLINE NOW for the fastest, direct and simple application process!

OR Use this application

Please use me to apply, as I will get your certificate to you soonest.
I charge zero fee for immediately processing your application.

Brochure

South African students

APPLY ONLINE NOW

OR Use this application

Tell me when done so I can immediately process for you at NO added fee!

Brochure

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?

LinkedIn

Council of Medical Schemes
Medical Disclosure

By submitting an enquiry you agree to us collecting the information in the fields above. Please refer to our POPI Manual.
Your data will be processed according to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) guidelines.