Medical aid for families

MEDICAL aid is not a one-size-fits-all product, as benefits differ along with plan structures and premiums.

Just as you probably wouldn’t buy a sports car with no back seat for a family of six, in the same way you need to consider a medical aid that will meet a family’s requirements. Here are a few things to consider: ý Extended child rates – legally from age 21 you are classified as an adult and many schemes will immediately start billing adult rates for anyone over the age of 21, but what about full-time students?

Or the children who are still financially dependent on their parents past the age of 21?

Some medical schemes will allow child rates for fulltime students up to age 28 and financially dependent children up to age 26.

The difference between a child rate and an adult rate could be anything from R700 up.

If you are paying university fees, I’m sure a continued child rate would be a huge help.

ý Are all children billed for? – especially important for families who have three or more children under the age of 21.

Some schemes only count a maximum of three children when they work out the monthly premium.

In the case of a family with five children, this would mean that two are covered for free.

Some schemes will further only bill for the first two children when all the children are under the age of 18.

ý Casualty benefits – an absolute must for kids who are sporty and prone to injury!

Many medical aids don’t offer separate casualty benefits.

This would mean that a trip to the emergency room will either be paid from available day-to-day benefits or not covered at all on a hospital plan.

Look for a medical aid that has a separate casualty benefit and check to see whether the benefit is for trauma only or whether it will also cover illness.

A trauma casualty benefit is great for active, accident-prone kids but won’t help the kids whose temperatures soar at 2am.

Consider who you are as a family, decide which benefits are important to you and then try to find the option that will best suit your family’s needs.