Best Hospital Plan for a Single Guy?

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sutekj

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Hi I'm 23 and I need to start paying for my own health insurance/medical aid. I earn R6000 per month. I don't know how much my salary will go up next year.

I'm basically looking for the cheapest way of insuring that I can get professional care in case of an emergency. I don't go to the doctor a lot. For instance I've been to the doctor once this past year, and once the year before, so paying just R100 per month will already cost me a lot more than I generally use. I will be better off just putting the money that I would have paid for med aid in a savings account and use from there as I need.

The only reason I can see for needing some sort of insurance is if I'm involved in some sort of accident, like a car crash. So this is why I'm looking for a hospital plan.

On a side note; does anyone think it might be worth it not to spend any money on such insurance, and just put the money you would have spent in a savings account?

I'm sure there are other people asking the same questions. Any advice will be appreciated.
 
If you are earning that amount then have a look at the subsidised plans that most medical aids offer. The monthly premium you pay for these is based on your earnings. They are basic hospital plans but with low earnings (usually the lowest is under R5,500 but may change for 2010) you pay very little. Like a few hundred each month.

Discovery Keycare Core - Earnings between R6001 and R8000 - Monthly premium R492

sutekj said:
On a side note; does anyone think it might be worth it not to spend any money on such insurance, and just put the money you would have spent in a savings account?
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No! Putting the premiums saved into savings will be fine for doctor's visits and medication etc but one major health incident and you would need to have been savings for 20+years to cover the costs!
 
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u must get a plan, a per-night stay at high-care of a proper hospital can easily come in at R5000 pn and thats not ICU.
 
Basicly what they said. Get yourself a "Hospital plan".

Yes it is a lot of money. No you will problably never use it. BUT! If you get into a huge accident and you face R100k and upward hospital bills Discovery will cover it.

But no, if your nose is runny and you go to the GP for anti-snot pills you will have to fork it out of your own back pocket.

But whatever you do, GET A HOSPITAL PLAN (sorry about the caps, but is is very very very important)

:D
 
someone in my family got pneumonia 5 years ago. booked into a good hospital for a week, no medical aid.

I maxed out 2 of my credit-cards at R25k limit each.

Thats why you need a plan.
 
I'll probably go with Discovery KeyCare Core. Thanks everyone, and thanks for the link. :)
 
mk1 said:
Medihelp !!!
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There always has to be a comedian!

Before any of you shouting Medihelp lead the OP in this direction perhaps I should provide him with some useful information.

  • The Medihelp entry level plan, Necesse, will cost him R642 per month.
  • The Discovery Keycare Core will cost him R492.


  • The Medihelp Necesse has an annual limit of R750,000 per annum. Sounds like a lot but you try getting cancer and see how long that lasts.
  • The Discovery Keycare Core has unlimited in hospital benefits
 
It is my personal recommendation to this dude.
He can make his own decision.

Personally I would not touch Discovery with a 10m pole.
 
mk1 said:
It is my personal recommendation to this dude.
He can make his own decision.

Personally I would not touch Discovery with a 10m pole.
Click to expand...

And as stated by me earlier Medihelp is not a medical aid plan but an entire scheme. He specifically asked which hospital plan would best suit his needs. And as pointed out further by me the limit is a little worrying if you can get unlimited for the same price.

Believe me I too usually am opposed to Discovery as they have too many bells and whistles like Vitality with it's movies, gym etc. People lose focus on what they are actually buying... a medical aid. But in this instance it may best suit the OPs needs, or any other scheme where you pay based on what you earn.
 
Keycare is a real bargain if you earn less than 8K.

I'm going onto Keycare Plus from next year. It's only R130/month more than the Essential Core I was on, and it covers basic dentistry and doctors and things as well.

Have been badly neglecting my teeth because I don't feel like forking out a few K just for a dentist, but if it's "free" I might be more inclined to go. A bit of a safety net for doctors and optometry won't hurt either.
 
I am on Discovery Hospital plan and they paid for a recent hospital visit without any problems. They are very organised when it comes to claims. Thing about hospital plan is when you get discharged you have to fork out for medication. Still beats the high monthly cost of a higher plan.

There are some schemes that limit you to certian hospitals and only cover 100% of the medical aid rate. Rather choose the option to go to ALL hospitals and if you can try go for the scheme that pays up to 200% of the med rate. So if a doc / hospital overcharges for something they will still pay.
 
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