8 Top reasons why medical aids are good.
Why is it that most of the information around medical aids so negative and designed to create a feeling of fear if you are not a member?
That without a medical aid plan, you are going to land up in a government hospital and never return home again!That without a plan, you will never get quick, professional medical treatment!
If you don't have cover, then your teeth will never be Comprehensive!
Where is the GOOD NEWS about joining a medical aid?
8 Top Reasons why Medical Aid is Good for you.
1. A medical aid guarantees your admission in a hospital that you prefer.
As a member you can afford to access some of the best private hospitals in the world, with the best doctors, nurses and overall medical care and support - right here in South Africa.
With many options, you get to choose which hospital you’d prefer to go to, a great advantage if you need hospitalisation and you are far from home.
Yes, you can be hospitalised as a private patient, but you will have to pay a substantial deposit on admission.
2. Unlike a health insurance plan with defined daily claim amounts, medical aid does NOT restrict you when you need to go to hospital.
You can be admitted for any emergency or diagnosed condition, as long as it is medically necessary. And there should be no deposit or co-payment needed.
You can also have casualty and day clinic benefits that require no deposits.
If you use Network providers, their costs can be fully paid - guaranteed!
3. A medical plan helps you afford to go for the right treatment as soon as symptoms appear.
Although I have never heard of a patient going bankrupt over a GP or dental bill, a lack of cash can prevent many people from seeking medical treatment.
Even small ailments, like colds and flu, can develop into major illnesses if not quickly and appropriately treated.
Consultation fees are not cheap and with prescribed medication as well, many cannot afford to get care.
That makes recovery so much more quick and certain. You may also, not be able to work while you're hospitalised and that means that you could lose out on pay as well.
It can be extremely difficult to pay for expensive medical costs without medical aid, especially if you do not have extensive emergency funds available.
4. A medical aid gives you the opportunity to go for annual check-ups.
As we all know, prevention is far better than cure.
Early detection can be invaluable in diagnosing things like diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, dental concerns and so much more.
With early intervention, these conditions can be made manageable and not become debilitating and expensive to treat.
Preventive medicine and quick treatment are the best ways to avoid long, expensive hospital stays.
5. You can treat and effectively control a chronic illness through medical aid.
If you have a history of hereditary chronic disease in your family - like high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes, or if you already have a chronic illness you’ll be able to receive your medication as and when you need it.
This is vital as on-going, regular medicine is the key to living comfortably when it comes to dealing with chronic conditions.
There are 270 medical and 25 chronic conditions medical aids must cover and pay for.
6. It is possible to join a hospital plan that pays for private hospitalisation and dentistry costs!
We face 2 areas of the threat of high medical costs - private hospitalisation and dentistry.
Now you can cover both of these threats in a very affordable hospital benefit only plan!
The plan offers unlimited private hospitalisation and essential dentistry benefits.
That means if you have day-to-day savings they will last way longer than with a standard medical aid!
That's good news for any cash-strapped consumer!
7. Everyone can discover healthcare cover to suit their lifestyle and budget.
Plans range from comprehensive cover to hospital plans.
Every scheme has their own set of features that you can expect to be covered for.
At the end of the day, you should at least have a private hospital only benefit medical aid plan.
That way you are financially protected, should you suddenly have to pay large, unexpected medical costs.
And living in South Africa, that is not a not a luxury, but an essential!
A healthcare plan should tick the “worthwhile”, “good value”, and “benefit” boxes too, providing you make the optimal choice of fund and plan that best suits you and your current circumstances.
And we can help you discover that plan!Without medical aid, many people would never be able to afford healthcare assistance.
Be it reckless accidents or simply health-related issues that have become worse over time, it’s extremely important to consider some type of medical plan to support your needs in the toughest of times.
8. Some schemes have very attractive lifestyle reward benefits.
These reward programs encourage members to lead active, healthy lives, even driving well!
For doing that they receive benefits such as gym membership, holiday accommodation discounts, half-price movies, flight savings, cash back on groceries, fuel savings, weekly rewards and more.
It is a win-win situation for both members and the scheme.
We lead healthier lives and that's good for us, whilst for the schemes - healthier members make for fewer claims.
Even employers benefit as healthier employees mean fewer sick days, better attendance and this helps the company profits!
For many medical aid members, these rewards and incentives are the deciding factors in determining which medical aid scheme they join.
Signing up with the right one could be all you need to kick-start a new and healthy lifestyle!
What are the benefits of medical aid?
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.Protect yourself from soaring medical expenses by bridging the gap between medical scheme rates and the charges imposed by private providers.
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!
Medical aid is able to offer endless benefits depending on the type of plan you join.
With so many plans on offer, you certainly can discover something that works for you, your lifestyle and your budget.
Before you make any hasty decisions, make sure that you do your research and speak to professionals like us, who can help you.
If you take good, preventative care of your health, it's hard to see why you'd really need medical aid.
However, missing that last stair at home and dislocating an ankle, or slipping at the mall and breaking an arm could cause an injury that costs you thousands in medical bills.
It can quickly climb higher if you need surgery or any kind of ongoing rehabilitation.
It is better to join a plan, than to need one and not be a member!
You carry a spare tyre in your car for a puncture.
Sort your medical aid out NOW!
Talk to me .... I am here to help you - at no charge!
Send me your questions and concerns. I'll answer them for you.
Get Your Free Quote
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!
Easy-to-understand articles on medical aid.
Medical aid pays healthcare costs.
What if a disability stops your income?
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
Disclaimer, 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.
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.
South African rights reserved.
Last verified: September 5, 2025