All medical aid societies have an open door policy, so no medical aid can decline your application.

Therefore, the medical aid societies need to assess the risks they are taking on. To do so, they apply the following risk equalizers during the assessment process.

On admission to membership a scheme may impose:

1. A 3 month general waiting period
2. A 12 month condition-specific waiting period, or
3. A waiting period on certain PMB’s (Prescribed Minimum Benefits)
4. A Late Joiner’s Penalty –LJP’s

The late joiner’s penalties are applied after the age of 35 as follows:

1-4 years (of break or not being insured):	5% loading on premium
5-14 years:	25% loading on premium
15-24 years:	50% loading on premium
25+ years:	75% loading on premium

Except:

1. A child born to a member.
2. Change between benefit options.
3. Termination of membership due to employment or employer changing schemes.

NEW PROVISION APPLICABLE TO WAITING PERIOD

CATEGORY	3-MONTH GENERAL W/P	12-MONTH CONDITION W/P	APPLICATION TO PMB
New applicants, or person not member for preceding 90 days	YES	YES	YES
Applicants who were members for less than 2 years	NO	YES	NO
Applicants who were members for more than 2 years	YES	NO	NO
Change of benefits	NO	NO	N/A
Child-dependant born during period of membership	NO	NO	N/A
Involuntary transfer due to change of employment or employer changing scheme	NO	NO	N/A

Some useful links on Medical Aid

How Medical Aid schemes in South Africa are differentiated.

Medical Aid in South Africa.

To contact us for more information about your medical aid requirements please use the below links:

Contact us via e-mail here

Request a call back form one of our medical aid experts.

Alternatively please feel free to telephone us on the below numbers:

+27 (0)21 424 2460
+49 (0)40 226 112 9625 (from Germany)
+44 (0)20 710 034 37 (from England)