Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Affordable Medical Aid

It is important to look for affordable medical aid because you don’t want to overstretch yourself financially and not be able to meet your financial commitments each month. If you opt for a more expensive medical aid plan when your income is limited, you could struggle to pay your contributions, so that when you do require hospital treatment you actually find yourself with cover. This is certainly not a position you wish to find yourself, which is why it is important to consider the options available, so that you can find affordable medical aid, instead of getting carried away and signing up to a plan that you can’t really pay for.

If you don’t have access to affordable medical aid you may become reliant on state healthcare provision, even though there are many problems with this system. Without a medical aid plan, you won’t have much choice about the treatment you receive and the doctors and nurses will have very little time to deal with your specific requirements. At least with private care you are more likely to be treated with dignity and respect and you can relax about the standard of treatment you receive, since it will be high. Private health care doesn’t come cheap, though, which is why you need to find a plan that could help you to pay for it.

Affordable medical aid schemes are designed to give you the coverage you need for a price you can afford. All you have to do is commit yourself to a plan and pay so much money each month to ensure that if you develop any health problems in the future, you can see a doctor privately or seek treatment in a private hospital. You may even be lucky enough to work for a company that will subsidize the cost of a medical aid plan, so that you can pay even less and still be sure that your health needs will be provided for.

As you get older it becomes even more important to ensure that you have an affordable medical aid scheme in place, as the chances are you will require the use of more medical facilities. You become more susceptible to illness and disease and you’re generally more fragile. If you don’t have any kind of medical aid you could find yourself stuck on a ward with many other patients with more urgent problems than you, so that you don’t get the attention you require. By getting yourself affordable medical aid you hopefully can avoid such a situation arising.

It isn’t too difficult to find such a scheme, as you can easily compare different medical aid plans online, so that you get the best deal for you. The younger and healthier you are, the lower the quotes are likely to be, and so it is worth taking care of your health if it means you don’t have to pay as much in contributions, since you will be less likely to require medical treatment, as well, which can only be a positive thing.

For more information, go to Medical Aid Quotes

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Types of Medical Aid Schemes

Medical aid has been growing in popularity because South Africans are concerned that state healthcare provision just isn’t good enough. Although everyone can access state health care, resources are relatively scarce, which means that people seeking treatment may not be seen straightaway and when they are seen, they may not get the attention they deserve. Hospitals are full to capacity and doctors and nurses are rushed off their feet, which makes it difficult for you to put across how serious your health problem is. Private health care, on the other hand, has more money going into it, and this is reflected in the level of care you receive.

Because medical aid is popular you will find that there are many different medical aid schemes to choose from. With so many options, it is always good to have an idea of what you want from a plan, as this will enable you to narrow down the field when looking for a medical aid provider. Thus, you have to consider whether you want yourself covered alone or whether you have a large family that you wish to have coverage as well. The more people you want to be covered, the more expensive it becomes, though it obviously works out better value than not having any kind of plan and having to pay for medical treatment by yourself.

Plus, you need to decide whether you want your basic hospital bills to be paid for or whether you’d prefer more extensive coverage, so that rehabilitation and psychiatric treatment and any other kind of medical services are paid for as well. You may want the cost of going to see your doctor to be paid for and for medication costs to be covered, in which case you will need a more in-depth medical aid plan. A basic plan won’t cover everything, but at least it is cheap. If you’re worried about being able to afford medical aid it might be worth going for a basic plan and then adding on any extras at a later date.

When looking for the best deal, it helps to go online, since you can find out everything you could possibly need to know. Not only will you be able to compare quotes; you will also be able to read the specific details of each plan and read reviews of the various providers. Since your health is so important to you, it will be an effective use of your time to do some research and find out which providers are more reliable than others. It might seem like a hassle, but you will be grateful that you did some research when you end up in hospital and you suddenly find yourself needing to get in touch with your provider.

You should not underestimate the importance of health and the value of having a good medical aid plan, because, ultimately, you’re the one who will lose out if you do not have adequate protection. That is why you should give some consideration to your healthcare provision while you are fit and healthy, instead of avoiding the issue.

For more information, go to Medical Aid Quotes

Monday, March 26, 2012

Medical Aids

Medical aids are there for when you need medical treatment and don’t want to rely on state healthcare provision. You have to sign up to a plan which will provide a certain level of coverage for your healthcare needs. Clearly, medical aids have to be paid for and so you might think that you cannot afford to pay for private treatment. However, you don’t have to be extremely rich to afford a health plan, though you may have to look a bit harder to find the right deal for you. You may not be able to afford a plan which will pay for everything, but you should be able to find one that will help with your medical expenses.

Medical aids are open to people from all backgrounds and so it doesn’t matter what kind of job you have or the lifestyle you lead. The chances are that whatever your situation, you will be accepted to whichever plan you decide to go with. However, it is worth bearing in mind that certain aspects of your life could count against you. If you are over 50 and have had health problems in the past, you will probably face paying higher premiums than a young, vivacious twenty-something. Consequently, it makes sense to take care of your health, even when you do have a health plan.

Medical aids come with different terms and restrictions, which is why it is vital that you do enough research into each particular scheme. You need to know what you’re signing up for, as otherwise you could end up paying more than you should or find that the costs you thought were going to be paid for will actually have to be paid for by you. Luckily, it isn’t too difficult to find out everything you need to know online. You can easily search online for quotes from different companies and for reviews of various medical aid providers.

Medical aids are popular in South Africa for a reason. Basically, people know how important their health is and so are willing to pay a little bit extra to receive treatment that will cure them or rehabilitate them sooner rather than later. Relying on state healthcare provision is all well and good, but you don’t know when you will be seen by a doctor or whether your doctor will even give you enough attention to come up with the correct diagnosis. When you’re worried about your health, you don’t want to be treated by an overworked, stressed-out doctor who could miss vital clues about the state of your health.

Even if you don’t have much money, it might be a good idea to put any extra you do have to good use by taking out a medical aid plan. You might not think you need one, but if you do become seriously ill or have some kind of accident, you may regret not having planned ahead. When you come to use healthcare facilities you want to be reassured that they are up-to-date and that you are not going to receive substandard care.

For more information, go to Medical Aid Quotes

Friday, March 23, 2012

Medical Aids in South Africa

It is easy to find medical aids in South Africa, as there are many schemes competing for business. Despite a universal healthcare system, most South Africans are not prepared to put up with the substandard level of care that patients often receive. Consequently, they end up going private and medical aids in South Africa are generally seen as the best way to ensure that all of their medical care is paid for. Although the state healthcare system may not cost South Africans anything directly, since it is funded through taxation, this also means that hospitals have very few resources, which have to be divided up between large numbers of patients.

Medical aids in South Africa enable South Africans to access better quality hospitals and treatment, which is why they are so popular. Some are able to access these schemes because the company they work for pays contributions to a health plan. Not all employers are prepared to do this, though, and so many South Africans find themselves looking at different medical aid providers online and searching for the best deals. They would rather pay a monthly contribution to ensure that they can get a decent standard of care than take a gamble and rely on state healthcare provision.

There are many medical aids in South Africa, but don’t let that put you off. With so many different schemes to choose from, it simply means you have a greater chance of getting the right deal for you. If one medical provider offers you a quote that seems too high, you can simply move on to another provider and see how much they want to charge you. It doesn’t take that long to search for online quotes and at least by comparing the different schemes and prices, you can feel reassured that you have saved yourself some money in the long run.

You will discover that the Medical aids in South Africa offer a variety of different options. Some will cover any medical expenses you encounter while in hospital and even when you visit your doctor. Other medical aid plans will be more limited and cover your hospital expenses only, so that medication and any other additional treatment will have to be funded by you. Clearly, if you expect to have all your costs covered, you will have to pay for this in terms of monthly contributions. If you’re on a limited income you may have to be more selective in the policy you choose.

What matters is that you find a medical aid plan which offers you as much protection as you and your family can afford. Sometimes, you would like to be able to afford a greater amount of coverage, which is why it is worth looking around at different plans available, as you may discover that some plans offer you more coverage for less money. You need to assess what your health needs are likely to be in the future and to find a plan that you feel comfortable with, so that you don’t have to worry about your health care.



Health care issues are front page news almost every day. As health care costs continue to climb, new shortfalls in the national health plan are revealed, and the gap between what people can afford and the health care that they require continues to grow. More and more families are trying to survive with less and less of the services and treatments that they really need.

The only option available to many are the medical aids in South Africa, which can help to provide the coverage to pay for the services required to maintain the family’s health.

• National Health Care:
The country’s national health care service does its best to provide for the health care needs of each citizen, and many try to meet their health care needs with this scheme. But any national plan has inherent limitations:
o National Health Care must try to meet the needs of the millions who live in South Africa, many of which are not sufficiently employed to be making a significant contribution to the scheme.
o Due to the financial problems facing the entire world, revenue is down, putting a strain on the National scheme’s financial reserves.
o The cost of medical care continues to blossom, rising faster than any other major sector of the economy. And with no signs of slowing down.

• Closed Medical Aids Schemes:
Among the first of the medical aids in South Africa were the close schemes which were only available to people working in specific industries. These include the medical aids available to government workers and police. To help attract superior employees, business in South Africa began working with medical aids providers to set up schemes for their employees. Since in either case, the employer pays into the plan on behalf of the employee, these schemes are very cost effective. But less than 5% of the South African workforce has access to these closed medical aids schemes.

• Open Medical Aids:
The open Medical Aids in South Africa are trying to close the gap in health care coverage. These plans are available to anyone, regardless of where they are employed. If you can pay the rates, you can participate in the scheme.

• Limitations of Open Medical Aids in South Africa:
Since the providers of these services are looking to make a profit themselves, these schemes are not cheap. In fact, many are still beyond the reach of most segments of the South African population. But there are ways that you can find a plan with rates that you can afford:
o Check out several plans. Each provider has its own approach to structuring medial aids schemes. Some are better at covering certain types of medical needs than others. Make sure the scheme that you choose excels in the areas of greatest need for your family.

o Many offer coverage options that can save you money. If you are young, and your family is in generally good health, you may opt for a hospitalization only plan. This allows you protection should you, or a family member, becomes injured, contracts a serious illness, or develops a chronic condition that will require extended treatment or therapy to combat.
On the downside, you will have to pay for the regular doctor’s visits, many of the prescription medications that you need, and other items from your own pocket.

For more information, go to Medical Aid Quotes

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Medical Aid Comparisons

A medical aid comparison is worth doing if you want to get a plan which covers you for all the medical expenses you require for a realistic amount of money. There are plenty of medical aid providers that are prepared to charge high fees in the knowledge that some people don’t bother to do a medical aid comparison. Thus, instead of signing up to a medical aid provider as soon as you decide you require medical aid, it might be an idea to take your time and consider your options. If you agree to the first plan you come across, you may later regret it.

By conducting a medical aid comparison you will discover just how many providers there are available. Some are obviously tailored towards providing coverage for families, while others may be more suitable for single people; some are aimed at older people, while others may have an age limit. Indeed, your family situation and your age are too major determinants of the fees you can expect to pay. If you have lots of children, you will have to pay higher fees to ensure that they are covered as well. If you’re older the chances are you are more likely to have a family and you may not be as healthy as you used to be.

Consequently, the older you are, the more you have to pay. There are other factors which will affect the quotes you get, such as your family’s health history and your own history; your lifestyle and whether you have had any health problems. Any indication that you could require medical treatment in the future will obviously count against you, and so you will be asked to pay to contribute more to your health fund. Even though all these variables stay the same, you may discover that by doing a medical aid comparison you can actually get a better deal from certain providers, in which case you are more likely to go with them.

Cheaper usually means less cover, though, and so you should check all your options thoroughly to ensure you get a medical aid plan which actually meets your needs. The amount you will be charged each month is not the only issue you need to consider, since when doing a medical aid comparison you may learn that some companies are more responsible and reliable than others. By reading reviews from other customers you will get a sense of whether certain companies are likely to let you down.

This is important, because you’re already in a vulnerable state when you’re ill; the last thing you need is to get embroiled in a fight with your medical aid provider. A medical aid comparison will give you reassurance that you are making the right choice when it comes to medical aid and that you won’t have to worry about paying for treatment if you do ever require medical attention in the future. It may require time and patience, but making the effort to do some research will be worth it in the end.

For more information, go to Medical Aid Quotes

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Medical Aid Quotes Online

Your health has to be a priority, since without it your quality of life can suffer. It therefore makes sense to take steps to ensure that your health will be taken care of if you ever need some kind of medical treatment. Usually, you find that as you get older you have to take more trips to the doctor and that sometimes a hospital stay is unavoidable. Although you may have access to the national health system, the staff and the hospitals are not always that great. With private health care, the quality of staff and treatment is high, since you have to pay extra for it. That is why it is worth looking into different medical aid plans.

After all, it is simple and very quick to access medical aid quotes online. All you have to do is decide which medical aid providers interest you and go to their sites. You may find a general breakdown of the types of plans on offer and the costs, but if you are serious about finding a medical aid plan, you will probably want something more specific. Consequently, you can ask for a quote from each company and they will ask you to provide certain details which will affect the amount you could be charged each month.
When searching for medical aid quotes online it pays to be honest, as otherwise the quotes you receive will be inaccurate. You may get a lower quote, but if you have lied about a particular health condition or your lifestyle, this could come back to haunt you when you later require medical treatment. If you lie
when you sign up to a medical aid plan, you may not actually be covered and so you’re left with no kind of provision when you really need it. Thus, when comparing medical aid quotes online you should be upfront about your situation.

You will find that when asking for medical aid quotes online you will have to provide details about your state of health, your family’s health history, your gender, your lifestyle, your age and your family circumstances. If you’re married and you want your spouse covered she may have to provide details about her health, while if you have children, you may have to include information about them to ensure that your family is covered.

With so much information required, it can take time to whittle down the providers and plans which interest you. However, it is much quicker to compare medical aid quotes online than it is to phone up every single company to ask for a quote. Plus, you can take your time to make a decision, without being persuaded into making the wrong decision for you and your family. You can see where the best deals are and decide what level of coverage you can actually afford, so that you don’t end up struggling to keep up with your monthly contributions. In the end, it is worth taking a little bit of time to do some research if it saves you money and ensures your health needs will be looked after.

For more information, go to Medical Aid Quotes

Monday, March 12, 2012

Finding the best Medical Aid Quotes

Although everyone has access to universal health care in South Africa, the reality is that the system is under a great amount of pressure. There are too many people trying to access services and, consequently, the quality of care is not always as good as it should be. Clearly, your health is important and so is your family’s which means you either have to rely on a health system which is flawed or else look elsewhere for private health care. This may not be the cheapest option, but at least you know that if your health deteriorates you will be able to access the best hospitals and staff that are available.

Medical aid is useful because it covers the host of a hospital stay, but it can prove expensive if you don’t shop around, which is why you should get a number of medical aid quotes before deciding what you should do. By asking for some medical aid quotes you will at least have an idea of how much you will be expected to each month. When you see how much you will have to pay every month, you can then set about finding the best plan for the amount of money you can afford.

There are certain variables that will affect the medical aid quotes you get including your state of health, your lifestyle habits and your family history. Clearly, there are certain things you can’t do anything about, as is the case if cancer runs in your family, but there are others which you can change and which will affect the medical aid quotes you receive. If you’re overweight and never exercise, you will probably be charged more than if you are a healthy weight, which may give you an incentive to lose a few pounds if it means you can get access to health care for less money.

If you’re generally healthy you may not feel the need to get an in-depth plan that covers the payment of every kind of possible health care you could need. However, if you would prefer to have too much coverage than too little, you may decide to find a more comprehensive plan, especially if you have a family as well. By looking at medical aid quotes you are in a position to see where you could save yourself money, which means that when you do choose a plan, you know you are getting the best deal.

There are many different medical aid plans available and it can sometimes be hard to distinguish between them, which is why it is always a good idea to either phone up medical aid providers and ask for a quote, or otherwise look online for medical aid quotes, as this will enable you to come to a decision more quickly. If you discover that some plans are out of your price range you can simply look at what other medical aid providers have to offer and choose a plan which fulfils your requirements and that you can actually afford.

For more information visit our website, Medical Aid Quotes