It has never been more important to, at the very least, join a basic medical aid!
It is the only way you can avoid getting poor healthcare when you need it most and being forced to pay high costs for private care.Medical aid schemes offer a wide variety of plans from:
- comprehensive, affordable entry-level plans with premiums based on your income,
- hospital only and chronic benefit plans with lower premium. You self-fund out of hospital costs
- strong>comprehensive in hospital and day-to-day benefits,
- plans using networks of hospital and day-to-day providers, where full costs are paid and premiums are discounted
By joining a medical aid, you ensure you can get quality private healthcare when you need it most.
Regardless of your income level, there is always a hospital cover plan that will suit you.
Accident and illness can happen to anyone at any time.
Young or old, employed or retired, you need to be able to pay for the finest private healthcare you may need.
If you have no medical aid, you are at great risk of being treated in a sub-standard facility or ending up with debts that will take you years to pay back.
However, by paying a small amount every month and joining a medical aid, you can prevent this from happening!
As a medical aid member, you can be assured of being treated in a private hospital and no longer have the worry of not being able to afford the care you want.
What out-of-hospital costs?
Dental treatments can be very expensive. And what about physiotherapy or kidney dialysis?
These costs can be huge.
Do you have the money to pay for treatment in an emergency?
And if you do, what other living costs will suffer when you have to pay for these bills?
Fortunately, there are affordable medical aid plans that will pay for both in and out-of-hospital costs.
Because these plans are low cost does not mean you get low benefit either!
Here is a great plan to consider.
This is a network plan with premiums based upon your income.
That means that you are required to use hospitals and day-to-day providers who are linked to them.
It provides affordable access to entry-level cover with premiums based upon your income!
And, depending upon your choice of providers (full freedom of choice or listed providers or even the state) you can get discounted premiums as well!
In hospital benefits:
- no overall annual limit, and all in hospital accounts and related costs (from admission to discharge) are covered.
- procedures/treatments, done outside of admission to hospital.
- Network providers, cover chronic treatment for 26 conditions, according to Chronic Disease List in Prescribed Minimum Benefits.
Day-to-day benefits:
- no limit for Network GP consultations.
- Listed prescribed medicines paid.
- non-network GP, or casualty or after-hours visit.
- specialist visits per family per year.
- dental benefits like fillings and x-rays.
- physio treatment.
- eye test and formulary frames.
- Listed blood tests.
- Listed x-rays.
- PMB MRI and CT scans, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), whole body radioisotope and PET scans.
- programmes for Diabetes, Hypertension, HIV/Aids, Oncology, Drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Chronic renal failure, Organ transplants, Cholesterol.
- 24-hour emergency health advice.
- Emergency evacuation in South Africa by Netcare 911
From as little as R 589 pm!!! (Depending upon your income)
You get Preventative Care benefits through network providers, giving you preventative care and early detection dental consultations, Pap smear (pathologist) and GP consultations, general physical examinations (GP consultation), prostate specific antigen, blood pressure tests, cholesterol and blood sugar tests (finger prick tests), height, weight and waist circumference measurements.
A excellent Maternity programme offers antenatal visits (Midwives, GP or gynaecologist) , nurse home visit, urine tests (dipstick), 2 growth scans.
Private healthcare providers can charge up to 500% of medical scheme rates.Medical aids add procedure co-payments as well.
These are significant costs you must consider.
Protect yourself by joining Zest's GAP or top-up insurance plan.
This separate insurance will cover most in-hospital claim shortfalls and any co-payments. It is a vital safety net, ensuring you have enough to cover medical treatments, without having to pay for unexpected costs.Joining a hospital plan with Gap Cover remains the most affordable way for families to protect against rising costs in 2026.
Specialised Dental treatments can be extremely expensive!
The costs of braces, root canal, implants and so on, can run into thousands of rand.Most treatments are done out-of-hospital, and are paid from your savings.
That can result in less money available for other medical needs and family limits being used on one member only!
Dental treatment is something we all need and it is vital you consider the Best Dental Insurance Plan
OR Most Affordable Dental Plan in South Africa.
No Medical Aid or have a Hospital Plan only?
This plan will help you meet the high costs of both normal and specialised dentistry!
This is a medical aid you can trust. Do your own research and see what I am stating here!
Speak to me. I am a qualified and licenced broker.
Get your quote and join today and stop taking extra risks for you and your loved ones in these uncertain times.
What is the cost?Do you want the best affordable medical aid?
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083 655 2164
You must consult the schemes/company product brochures and rules for comprehensive benefit descriptions.
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Peter Pyburn - Authorised Financial Services Provider has been fully licensed to provide expert financial services since 1991.Based in Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, we specialise in comprehensive financial planning including: Death and Disability Cover, Retirement Planning, Investment Strategies, Medical Aid, Estate Planning
FSP Licence 2995 and Medical Aid Accreditation BR 7428.
Why Choose Peter Pyburn?
Over 30 ears of experience in financial services - Fully Licensed and Accredited for medical aid and other Personalised financial advice.
Council of Medical Schemes
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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: September 4, 2025