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.
Medical Protection Plans in HIV
Living with HIV can be expensive, especially if you want access to private health care in South Africa. Doctors, medication, blood tests and hospitals bills can be an ongoing expense as HIV is incurable. Even if you have managed to keep your CD4 count up and viral load down for years, the reality is that someday you will greater medical care as the disease progresses more rapidly. Medical aid is the only protection from the health care bills in living with HIV and AIDS.
A medical aid hospital plan only may suffice but ideally an HIV positive person should look at comprehensive cover with out-of-hospital benefits as well. If a hospital plan is all that you can afford, then you still have significantly more protection than a person without a medical aid. There is the initial waiting period if you join the medical aid when already diagnosed with HIV. This will be for a period of one year after which you will qualify for cover for all your HIV-related medical bills.
As a person living with HIV, you need to be aware of exactly what a medical aid hospital plan will pay for once you pass the waiting period. Firstly most medical aids have an HIV/AIDS program like the Aid for AIDS managed health care option. This ensures that your scheme can control your medical expenses and prevent over-servicing by doctors who are not appropriately managing your condition. Ultimately it benefits the patient with HIV as it ensures that you are accessing and utilizing the right medical services.
Personal Protection Plans in HIV
A medical aid protects you against the cost of medical care for HIV/AIDS as with any disease. However, for your personal financial protection you will need a hospital cash plan. These insurance policies pay you for each day that you stay in hospital. Yes, it also covers HIV and AIDS but you need to read the fine print. The reality is that being HIV positive means that you will be hospitalised frequently – if not now then definitely in the future. It will also mean longer hospital stays as your ability to recover from illnesses is diminished and you are more likely to experience complications from these diseases.
A hospital cash plan puts cash in your hand for each day that you are in hospital. You can use these payouts for your medical bills or to supplement your income when you cannot work. For the HIV positive patient, it can be somewhat of an essential form of financial protection. As the disease progresses and your sick leave days are used up, you may have to take unpaid leave for when you are too ill to work. Should you be in hospital during these times, the hospital cash plan will pay you for the loss of income.
HIV Benefits
Since the hospital cash plan and a medical aid hospital plan are two different financial product, the benefits in HIV/AIDS also differs.
Medical Aid
- Hospitalisation for HIV complications
- Fees for doctors and other health practitioners treating you in hospital for HIV-related conditions.
- Medication and surgery for HIV-related ailments.
Since medical aid hospital plans also have a chronic medication benefit, you will also have cover for :
- Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs)
- Medicines to treat and manage HIV complications
- Prophylactic treatment (preventative) if you are at risk of developing HIV diseases.
Cash Plan
- Money for each day that you are in hospital for HIV related complications.
- Acceptance of patients who are already HIV positive
- Restrictions for HIV related claims and high policy prices are some of the drawbacks. Regular monitoring of immune status may be necessary as well as proof of appropriate medical treatment and management.