Medical Aid Comparison - Discovery vs CAMAF

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maccaman

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I am leaving my current employment, and will be self employed for a while, which means I have a choice in medical aid (was previously in a closed scheme). I have a wife and 3 teenagers, and we're all reasonably healthy, so am considering either a hospital plan type cover, or one with a small savings component.
I am considering CAMAF (either Vital or Double Plus) and Discovery (either Classic Call or Classic Saver). I have been with CAMAF before, they have good cover and service, but can be a bit pricey. I have no experience with Discovery.

I realize this is a broad request, but was hoping for advice or feedback from people who may have had positive or negative experiences with either, or just some pointers to consider in my decision making.

I have not checked out or researched other medical aids, so if there are alternatives I should consider to the two above, please let me know. I chose these on my past history with CAMAF, and Discovery's size and presence in the industry.
 
I've been on both...so somewhat qualified to comment.

The CAMAF plans are mostly hospital plans unless you take the top one / second from top. Rolls Royce hospital plans, but hospital plans none the less. They're also very very sensitive to which one you pick - its not a case of the benefits go up linearly as the cost goes up...the fundamental structure changes. The lower end ones are also linked to your earnings - that might be interesting as you say self-employed.

Discovery - only seen Classic comprehensive which was great, but also flippin expensive.

If the cost/benefit seems similar I'd go with CAMAF though - if sht goes sideways in a serious way I'd much rather be on CAMAF & that to me is the only moment I really need med aid. They're also a lot more trusting in my experience. i.e. They rely on the entry barriers to keep out the people that look to defraud/scam them.

On day to day cost I suspect Discovery will win...to me thats not the part that matters though.

Also watch out for dental & optometry...that stuff can screw over your calcs easily.
 
HavocXphere said:
I've been on both...so somewhat qualified to comment.

The CAMAF plans are mostly hospital plans unless you take the top one / second from top. Rolls Royce hospital plans, but hospital plans none the less. They're also very very sensitive to which one you pick - its not a case of the benefits go up linearly as the cost goes up...the fundamental structure changes. The lower end ones are also linked to your earnings - that might be interesting as you say self-employed.

Discovery - only seen Classic comprehensive which was great, but also flippin expensive.

If the cost/benefit seems similar I'd go with CAMAF though - if sht goes sideways in a serious way I'd much rather be on CAMAF & that to me is the only moment I really need med aid. They're also a lot more trusting in my experience. i.e. They rely on the entry barriers to keep out the people that look to defraud/scam them.

On day to day cost I suspect Discovery will win...to me thats not the part that matters though.

Also watch out for dental & optometry...that stuff can screw over your calcs easily.
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Thanks for your feedback. For the plans I have been comparing, the costs are similar, so that is not a differentiator. My gut feel is that CAMAF is the safer choice if something goes belly up, so your feedback is reassuring.
 
maccaman said:
Thanks for your feedback. For the plans I have been comparing, the costs are similar, so that is not a differentiator. My gut feel is that CAMAF is the safer choice if something goes belly up, so your feedback is reassuring.
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Cool. As I said though - its a hospital plan (Vital & below), so be ready to cover pretty much everything out of pocket on day to day stuff.

The double plus isn't a hospital plan though afaik - that one might be a proper med aid. Never looked at that one in detail though so don't know the details.
 
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