There are more than 150 'open' medical schemes in South Africa. These are schemes that any member of the public is allowed to join subject to the rules of the scheme.

Medical Aid is often sold as a simple idea: you contribute monthly, and your healthcare is covered. That’s the theory, anyway. In practice, it’s the benefits that shape your real experience – and those can differ much more than people expect. If you’re reviewing your options or signing up for a Medical Aid for the first time, it helps to look beyond what’s included and focus on what those benefits actually mean in real terms.

With only ± 15.5% of the South African population having Medical Aid and noting that a small minority pay cash for private healthcare, there is still a vast majority of South Africans without Medical Aid.

After figuring out all the levels to finding the right Medical Aid for you and your family, the “final boss” is Gap Cover. While Medical Aid can be crucial for covering private, specialist healthcare, many plans fall short of paying the full amount. With medical costs consistently rising, Gap Cover is your "all bases covered" solution to make sure you’re not caught short and have to pay out of pocket when specialists charge above Medical Aid rates.

While Hippo.co.za is widely known as a trusted, free, online comparison platform for Insurance, Medical Aid and other financial services, it is also an authorised financial services provider offering Medical Aid advisory services to clients. These awards reflect the advisory work Hippo’s team carries out on behalf of its clients throughout the year.

According to the Council of Medical Aid Schemes, only 14.6% of South Africans had medical aid in 2024. Medical aid offers financial protection when health issues arise and medical bills pile up.

Medical cover has a funny way of feeling trivial right up until the moment you really need it. One minute you’re healthy, busy and telling yourself you’ll “look into it later”. The next, you’re staring at an emergency room bill that feels like an April Fool\s joke and wondering how things escalated so quickly.

Medical Aid can be one of the most important monthly expenses in many households. If you’re looking for Medical Aid, taking the time to understand what you really need can help you avoid paying for benefits you don’t use or, worse, finding yourself undercovered when you need the support.

Medical gap cover is an insurance that will fill in the difference, should the specialist's charges be higher, rather than leaving you with what could be a large bill.

If you’re planning your 2026 budget, brace yourself before opening your medical aid statement. Most major schemes have announced their increases for the year, and while the percentages differ slightly, one thing’s certain: healthcare is getting more expensive—again.

So, you’ve finally decided to join a medical aid. Maybe you’ve landed a full-time gig, started a family, or just realised that private hospital bills are no joke. Whatever your reason, welcome! But if you’re joining a little later in life or after being uncovered for a while, you might bump into two confusing terms: waiting periods and late joiner penalties.

While you may have some form of medical aid plan, depending on its structure, more often than not the scheme will not cover all the doctor and other specialist fees, or all procedures in hospital. Medical gap cover pays the difference between the medical aid rates and the higher actual cost charged.