Medical Aid

[Sharkie 2]

Don't touch them with a barge pole. Those are Hospital Plans that pay out a fixed amount per day spent in hospital. Okay if that's all you can afford, but they fall woefully short of providing any sort of meaningful coverage. 

 

There are Hospital Plans provided by the med aid companies that are fully fledged medical aids, just without the out-of-hospital coverage, and then there are the "hospital plans" that are flogged to all and sundry as a cheap replacement or substitute for med aid. These latter ones are normally sold with the condition "Product X is Not a Medical Aid"

Must be dodge for that price!

[B1cyk1ll3r]

I am not sure i understand the question. I am rather aghast that anyone would be naive enough to put their life (and possibly their families) at risk like this.

 

You really need to think a little bit about what you are asking and prioritise where you are spending money on and how much.

 

Like stop spending money on MTB's etc and start buying basic necessities like health cover mate.

 

Basically the public hospital and health infrastructure have collapsed in at least two provinces and is not functional to say the least in many others. KZN where you are is a shining light compared to others. Just look at the press lately and you will get the idea clearly.

 

Unless you have a complete death wish I suggest you need to get some serious advice mate.

 

BTW Medical cover and major medical and hospital plans etc are not only for when you fall off your MTB....

This is why i am here... Asking for advice. I'm not about to disclose my financial standing's on a public forum. My post is simple i provided some background, then asked for opinion's as simple as that!

 

Thank's everyone for your input so far!

[Maximis]

I am on discovery coastal saver and gap cover. Kills my pocket every month but I feel at ease knowing I am covered. All it takes is one major injury and you are in trouble. I say get medical aid, without even blinking!

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Must be dodge for that price!

they're short term insurance products that rely on people not knowing what they're covered for. Very bad coverage. 

[Azi]

I must say that I hold/held a similar view to the OP. When I worked for myself I never had medical aid, and thankfully, never needed it. Working for companies it becomes mandatory so I took (and still take) the basic hospital plan offered, which usually came with some savings benefit. Never really used the medical aid other than for maternity stays in hospital for the wife, and my son was admitted earlier this year for a week - all of which didn't come to anywhere near two years worth of payments.

 

 

Having said that though, for a few grand a month, its worth taking a hospital plan for the peace of mind, more than anything else.

 

For some perspective, in the 90s I audited a family owned company, where the lady would get quotes for the best medical cover and insurance every year and invest that money every month, using the savings to self-insure. At that time, in the 90s, she had well over R1.5 million in savings from those payments alone.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I must say that I hold/held a similar view to the OP. When I worked for myself I never had medical aid, and thankfully, never needed it. Working for companies it becomes mandatory so I took (and still take) the basic hospital plan offered, which usually came with some savings benefit. Never really used the medical aid other than for maternity stays in hospital for the wife, and my son was admitted earlier this year for a week - all of which didn't come to anywhere near two years worth of payments.

 

 

Having said that though, for a few grand a month, its worth taking a hospital plan for the peace of mind, more than anything else.

 

For some perspective, in the 90s I audited a family owned company, where the lady would get quotes for the best medical cover and insurance every year and invest that money every month, using the savings to self-insure. At that time, in the 90s, she had well over R1.5 million in savings from those payments alone.

That's all fine and well, but if that same lady had had even basic hospital admissions before she'd built up a suitable amount, she'd have been ruined. 

 

Much easier to say that from a position of already having that capital in your pocket... 

[B1cyk1ll3r]

Then for what reason did you move if the package is poorer?

 

I have seen some plans advertised for R350 a month....no idea if they actually cover anything

 

The package is not poorer, I left for a better work environment. Yes they offered a co payment for med aid and a provident fund. But i worked 9 -6 sometimes up to 14 days at a time. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

The package is not poorer, I left for a better work environment. Yes they offered a co payment for med aid and a provident fund. But i worked 9 -6 sometimes up to 14 days at a time. 

If you need help, really - give me a shout.

 

This is me...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myles-Mayhew-Independent-Financial-Advisor/117954824953364?ref=hl

 

And I deal with Momentum, Disco and Fedhealth. 

 

EDIT: Please forgive the lack of activity on that there FB page. The past 18 months have been.... busy. 

Edited July 14, 2015 by Renaissance Man

[Showtime]

Does anybody have a recommendation for Gap Cover?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Does anybody have a recommendation for Gap Cover?

We deal solely with Ambledown (previously Complimed & Medilink) as they're VERY good from an administrative perspective, and offer a vast selection of products. They also cover PMB shortfalls, which very many gap cover providers don't. 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

In SA I would personally never be without medical cover, although to be fair I do know of a few folk who have had very good care in the public system, one associate I knew was admitted to the Jhb Gen after suffering a major heart attack. He was operated on and spent a week in ICU and another week in the general ward. When he left he had a bag of medication the size of a suitcase, I fetched him and paid the bill - R25.00.

 

So yes in private care that would have cost the medical aid, or himself, half a bar, sure he didnt get a menu at meal times, you took what you got and the bed was rather spartan, but he claims he was well looked after.

 

Its probably not the norm I know, hence few people are prepared to risk their chances in the public health system, but for him, it worked out well. 

[Maximis]

Just make sure you get the premium gap cover from ambledown and that you have co-payment cover. Sometimes gap cover pays more than the medical aid, so it is also a must have.

[JanJan]

I also suggest having a good medical aid.

 

But just something for all you guys who mentioned "It would've cost me ..."

 

You won't pay that amount regardless, as almost all off the costs occured by someone in a public hospital, is payed by taxes. My fiance who works in Tswane Hostipal told me about someone who has been there for 5 years after a motorcycle accident. He has had the best surgeons, dieticians, care-takers and phisiotherapists and he hasn't paid a cent. And there are wards full of such cases.

 

Medical Aid just gives you the benefit off immediate assistance, instead of being 4th or 5th in the queue in the public casualties department not knowing when the doctor will help you.

[Lurch the stalker]

Medical Aid just gives you the benefit off immediate assistance, instead of being 4th or 5th in the queue in the public casualties department not knowing when the doctor will help you.

I will pay the medical aid, public hospitals are a gamble.

I'm sure I am not the only one who heard the story a couple weeks back of the guy who didn't have the R20.00 when his father went in to one of the hospitals and the old man died because they didn't do anything.

Though on the flip side to that, my mother has a chronic disease, and she sees a whole bunch of professors that are at JHB General because they're the absolute best in the country, and she has never had anything but good experiences there.

[igg]

Something I've been wondering regarding hospital plans. At what stage will you get checked in and treated as admitted patient (vs out-patient)? My last trip to hospital resulted in me having to pay the entire visit cash because I was treated as an out-patient.

 

I'm currently on a hospital plan (Discovery) and have been considering upgrading to something more "comprehensive" at the end of the year. But, reading through the policy docs it appears the same situation as above will repeat even on a comprehensive plan, except it'll be paid from MSA. Is there any reason to get anything more than a hospital plan Would gap cover cater for this, or is it only for the difference between medical aid and specialist rates?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Something I've been wondering regarding hospital plans. At what stage will you get checked in and treated as admitted patient (vs out-patient)? My last trip to hospital resulted in me having to pay the entire visit cash because I was treated as an out-patient.

 

I'm currently on a hospital plan (Discovery) and have been considering upgrading to something more "comprehensive" at the end of the year. But, reading through the policy docs it appears the same situation as above will repeat even on a comprehensive plan, except it'll be paid from MSA. Is there any reason to get anything more than a hospital plan Would gap cover cater for this, or is it only for the difference between medical aid and specialist rates?

what procedure was it, if I may ask? That may go a long way to explaining why...