As from June 2017 Community Medical Aid Scheme (Commed) was placed under curatorship. Acting on the instructions of the Registrar, all Commed members were moved across to BONITAS. This was effective as from the 7th August 2017.

At first glance, the rules as to who qualifies as a dependant on a medical aid scheme might appear a little confusing. It is actually pretty straight forward and while pricing and certain conditions might differ from one provider to another, the basic rules are quite clear and apply to all South African medical aid schemes. The rules are dictated by the Medical Schemes Act and in short, state that no person dependant on a member may be refused admission to the plan.

Shopping around for the best medical aid for you and your loved ones is a daunting task. There are many factors to consider and it is an extremely important choice. Medical Schemes Act All medical aids in South Africa are governed by the Medical Schemes Act.

It is extremely important that medical aid members understand co-payments in order to avoid costly surprises. Medical aid plans have to have limits in place to control their business, calculate monthly contributions and avoid abuse. Private hospitals and specialists are free to charge what ever amount they choose for their procedures and services.

Caring for the health and comfort of those in their golden years is not always easy. Pensioners find themselves face to face with some tough issues when it comes to medical aid. In many cases, the elderly have limited financial resources at their disposal at retirement and due to their age, they need medical care for any chronic or other conditions they may have as they get older.

There are a number of widely believed myths about medical schemes in South Africa. This article will give you the truth behind the myths.

GEMS stands for Government Employees Medical Scheme. The medical aid is simple. You are covered for all the basic medical requirements provided that you use the dedicated general practitioner or hospital in that plans authorised list.

Momentum is currently the fourth largest provider of medical aids plans in South Africa. They have a member base of 90 000. Momentum Multiply is a wellness programme Adventure Boot Camp is targeted at the adult female and is four-week courses that offer health and fitness activities.

Medihelp offers medical aid plans for different life stages and different budgets. They have 200 000 members in just 20 years. All plans cover major medical services, screening tests and day-to-day doctor visits.

Liberty Medical Scheme (LMS) was a medical scheme service provider with more than 118 000 beneficiaries.

Oxygen medical scheme and Medshield Scheme merged in October 2010. They are now the fourth largest medical aid scheme in the country. They have a beneficiary base of 110000 principal members.

Genesis Medical Aid has been around since 1995. Genesis is rated in the top five medical schemes. The best value for money rating was given to the Private Choice option for the last 3 consecutive years.

Resolutions Health strives to provide South Africans with quality healthcare at affordable prices. There are 7 plans that Resolution offers, Foundation, Hospital, Progressive Flex, Progressive Flex Plus, Millenium Select, Millennium and Supreme. Foundation This package is recommended for the lower income bracket.

MedShield has been in operation since 1968 and their current membership is 191 000. They have received an AA-Global credit rate for 11 consecutive years. They have won numerous consumer awards and accolades for their speedy and accurate claims process.

Not getting the results you expect from your medical aid. Here is what you can do. Given the complexities of medical aid plans, the vast number of members many of them have and the multitude of medications and health issues, problems do occur.

Being self-employed means you are your own boss and there are many benefits associated with it. You have control over your business, how you plan your work schedule, daily routine and of course, your finances. The downside to being self-employed, however, is that the monthly income earned is not set and can fluctuate quite dramatically from month to month.

Always forgetting to get your chronic medication. You are not alone. It is essential that you take your chronic medication regularly, as prescribed.

Many South Africans are still confused about the difference between medical insurance and medical aid. They tend to use the terms interchangeably. Knowing the difference between the two can help you make the right decisions when it comes to your health care.

Medical aid has become somewhat of a non-negotiable expense for South Africans. There is a long list of medical aid options to choose from with a wide range of benefits to suit your needs. Finding the best medical aid cover for a family, especially a young family, can become quite an intricate decision.

Your medical scheme membership fees have increased once again. Should you think about taking out a hospital plan instead. This is a question on the minds of many young, healthy individuals who are already battling with bond and car repayments.