Immediate Cover Hospital Plan with No Waiting Period

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In this day and age of consumerism, we expect everything to happen at the click of a button and the moment we pay for it. However, the insurance industry does not work like this. Whether you are taking on a medical aid or a cash back policy, the reality is that immediate cover on a hospital plan does not exist. Do not be fooled by false promises as some unethical brokers may advise differently. There are specific waiting periods both for a medical aid and cash back plan that is in place to protect you and other members of the scheme or clients of the insurance industry. It is important to understand how these waiting periods work and what exactly they mean.

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Hospital Plan for Pregnancy and Already Pregnant Women

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Pregnancy is a special time in every woman’s life. While there is often some degree of worry about the upcoming delivery but excitement about the new member in the family, there are many considerations that a pregnant woman has to bear in mind. Probably the most important of these is financial protection. Hospital plans are not affordable for every South African but can make a massive difference in easing the financial stress and accessing quality medical care. Women should ideally have a hospital cover before falling pregnant – both a medical aid, either full cover or hospital plan only, and a hospital cash plan. These are different products and one cannot replace the other. However, this is not always possible or affordable and it is then important to carefully consider your individual needs.

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Medical Aid Hospital Plan Only

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Medical aids have different plans to suit the range of needs and affordability of its membership. The plans can be broadly divided into full medical aid which has both out-of-hospital and in-hospital benefits, or a hospital plan only. The latter is often cheaper and has become a preferred option among South Africans. With hospitalisation costs being exorbitant in South Africa, a medical aid hospital plan only provides cover for the more expensive medical bills. These hospital plans also have a chronic medicine benefit which covers the cost of treatment for chronic diseases. However, the day-to-day benefits are not available on a medical aid hospital plan only and patients will have to settle these bills in cash.

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Hospital Plans for HIV Positive People

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HIV and AIDS are a growing concern for South Africans. Not only does the country have one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world, but the strain and ultimately drain on medical resources due to HIV/AIDS has been affecting both private and public health care systems. HIV positive people need the best financial protection that they can afford. The reality is that HIV is incurable and will lead to death eventually. A person living with HIV will also fall ill more often and need medical care on a frequent, if not continuous, basis. A hospital plan, both in terms of a medical aid hospital plan only and hospital cash plan, are ideal financial tools to protect HIV positive people.

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What is a hospital plan in South Africa?

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The term ‘hospital plan’ is often confusing for most South Africans. There is talk about medical aids and insurance companies, getting cash for being in hospital and a host of jargon that flies above the head of most consumers. However, it is not all that confusing when you know the basics. A hospital plan usually refers to a type of medical aid plan or a type of insurance policy with cash payouts. In fact the financial products should more appropriately be referred to as a medical aid hospital plan or a hospital cash plan.

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