Although most women living in urban areas may opt for a hospital setting with a gynecologist and obstetrician overlooking the delivery, there is a growing trend among mothers to give birth at home or opt for a water birth and use the services of a midwife. It was a common practice in the past and is once again favoured by some mothers who wish to be in familiar surroundings, with the support of family and friends at hand. However, one has to consider the financial implications of having a home birth or delivery by a midwife. It really depends on what type of hospital cover you are looking at – medical aids pay for a midwife and homebirth but a hospital cash back plan does not cover home births.
Hospital Plan for Pregnancy and Already Pregnant Women
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.