THE CURSE OF THE MEDICAL AID CO-PAYMENTS

One of the key instigators of the rising cost of healthcare has been the system of co-payments – the extra payments that certain private health providers charge your medical scheme.

Despite the well-documented pressures associated with the rising cost of living in RSA, citizens are resolute in maintaining their medical aid cover as the prices of everyday consumables skyrockets each month. Heaven forbid, should anything unforeseen occur and you require immediate emergency treatment, The medical aid contributions will grant you access to the healthcare you need, saving your life in many instances. However, the reality is that medical aid premiums have become too expensive to maintain for most families. The concept is outdated and limited to the elite few. Here’s how you can make arrangements to avoid these hefty extra payments and help steer the tide in bringing down healthcare costs.

Get Accustomed to your Network Provider List

Check the medical aid scheme or insurance plan. Depending on the insurer and policy you are covered under, you will be encouraged to choose between a list of GP’s, hospitals, pharmacists and specialists with an agreement in place to prescribe their services without being liable to pay an additional co-payment. With relationships cemented between the healthcare provider and the medical aid or insurance companies, bills are often settled directly between the two parties, saving you the administrative headache of lodging claims and chasing refunds.

Always ask in Advance if you’re liable for Co-Payments

Although it may feel embarrassing to discuss finances with your healthcare provider, you’re perfectly entitled to enquire if a specific appointment requires a medical aid co-payment or additional tariff. It affords you the opportunity to shop around, should the cost be prohibitive. The 1 Doctor Provider Network,established by Day1 Health is a testament to how a strong and stable partnership with private practitioners nationwide can help drive costs down, keep your monthly premiums low while ensuring you receive quality healthcare without the fear of hidden extra costs.

Say Goodbye to Costly Co-Payments

While medical aid companies aim to incorporate as many network practitioners and clinics as possible under their umbrella, there is inevitably a percentage of doctors and specialists who operate outside any given medical scheme. By availing of one of Day 1 Health’s tailored Benefit Plans, members can choose from a nationwide network of GP’s and dentists with an additional allowance of three out-of-area visits per family per annum. The system of medical aid co-payments is coming to a close – you can end the cycle today by Applying Online today.

MEDICAL AID IMPORTANCE OF WELLNESS IN HEALTH INSURANCE

There is an old saying that goes “prevention is better than cure”. This applies not only to medical aid in South Africa, but to the entire human population as a whole. If citizens follow a holistic lifestyle, stick to a healthy diet and engage in regular exercise, the need for medical check-ups and the onset of chronic diseases can be minimized. Both medical aid and health insurance companies are fully aware of this – many having tailored ingenious wellness programmes designed to keep the population in good overall health while relieving the pressure on an already overburdened health system.

Take Care of Yourself – At Home, at Work and at Play

We hear these phrases everywhere we go – whether it is being reminded of the importance of a well-balanced breakfast, the intake of 8 glasses of water a day, or the brisk daily walk that keeps heart and cholesterol problems at bay. South Africa’s largest medical aid providers have taken wellness programmes even a step further by rewarding healthy living with a portfolio of benefits to their members. Discovery Vitality and Momentum Multiply offer members discounts on gym memberships, healthy food items and activity monitors by accumulating ‘points’. However, with the commercial lure of gimmicks and gadgets and despite the uptake to these wellness schemes, we are not seeing a lowering of medical aid premiums. Take a look at the alternative..

Health Clinics – The Secret to bringing down Healthcare Costs

For the majority of the population, medical aid in South Africa is just too expensive to afford and maintain, and seems to be merely sugar-coated with frills, gym-towels and Olympians to justify its costly monthly price tag. Day 1 Health has approached health and wellness in a simple and direct manner, with the intention of driving down the cost of healthcare while boosting the well-being of all its clients. The company has already launched its first clinic, offering primary health care benefits that clients need, when they need it. In addition, a weight-loss clinic has been successfully integrated into the clinic to monitor any clients with higher than normal BMI. With the overwhelming success of their flagship clinic in Mayfair, Johannesburg, plans are already in place to introduce similar facilities across South Africa. It’s time to say goodbye to that medical aid sponsored gym card that never gets utilised. With a host of primary healthcare and hospital cover plans starting from just R265 per month, leading a healthy lifestyle is no longer a luxury of the elite. Apply Online Today

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL AID – DISCOVER

South African Medical Aid membership has come under intense scrutiny in the current economic uncertainty that engulfs RSA. While the increasing cost of living in South Africa and slow growth shows no immediate signs of easing, tough choices are being made around the family table as to whether a household should retain their medical aid plans at exorbitant premiums. However, while cancelling your South African medical aid subscription is as simple as phoning your broker and waiting through your cancellation period, removing your healthcare plan completely can have devastating consequences, should an unexpected medical emergency present itself. You’ll be glad to know there is a far more cost-effective alternative to medical aid, which still provides a wide array of day to day and hospital cover for you and your family.

Finding the affordable Substitute to Medical Aid

If you find you can no longer afford conventional South African medical aid cover, take the time to go through the range of affordable medical insurance plans that can offer practical and affordable health insurance solutions which are tailored to meet your specific needs. By choosing an appropriate benefit plan, you are striking a balance between, living within your financial means without sacrificing the reassurance of adequate healthcare in the event of an accident or illness. Medical Insurance premiums are not inflated by the compulsory addition of PMB conditions which are placed upon medical aid companies by the Council of Medical Schemes. With a stated benefit offering specific day to day and hospital cover, you and your family are financially protected in the case of unexpected illness or injury.

Discover your corridor to affordable Healthcare

You can’t predict how much a medical procedure or hospital stay will amount to, but with the right medical insurance plan, you can protect yourself from the financial burden. Day1 Health was established in 2003 to address the needs of those who cannot keep up with the spiralling costs of medical aid cover. Whether you are looking for a combined hospital and day to day plan (Value Plus Plan) or more comprehensive Executive Plan, Day 1 Health offers an array of stated benefit insurance options to meet your healthcare needs at a monthly premium that doesn’t stretch your budget. Apply Online Today and emancipate yourself from overpriced healthcare.

SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS STAND, IN TERMS OF MEDICAL AID

There is no doubt that South African Medical Aid has been very prominent in the news lately, primarily centred the NHI and Medical Schemes Amendment Bill drafted by the Health Department and currently sitting with Parliament. Truth be told, this is long overdue and is set to shake up the healthcare in South Africa, and for the better. South African Medical Aid premiums have been spiralling out of control, to the stage where affordable healthcare has become unobtainable to the masses. With this inequality finally being addressed, we ask, what does it mean for the medical aid industry, and will it make healthcare affordable to everyone?

Protect your Family’s Health in the Meantime

Similar to the Land Reform Act, the NHI Bill will take time, deliberation and amendments before South Africans know where they stand, in terms of affordable medical aid. Family Health is simply too important to be deferred! Affordable healthcare already exists in this country in the form of medical insurance with generous waiting periods for primary healthcare and hospital cover that payout from your first day of admission. The alternative to South African medical aid is both affordable, obtainable and a critical choice for safeguarding your families healthcare access in these testing times.

Stated Benefit Plans – a ‘Medical Aid-like product for all’

Finding a doctor, dentist or credible hospital when in need, should not be compromised by the daunting financial implications of such a visit. South Africans’ can enjoy comprehensive Day to Day and hospital cover, from as little as R265 per month. Day 1 Health, founded in 2003, addresses the needs of the working class who cannot afford conventional medical aid cover with a solid alternative. RSA citizens can choose between a number of tailored benefit plans at exceptional value for money. Offering a stable network of doctors and dentists, Day 1 Health operates nationwide and represents you and your families’ ideal healthcare solution. Apply Online Today

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL AID CO-PAYMENTS

One of the key instigators of the rising cost of healthcare has been the system of co-payments – the extra payments that certain private health providers charge your medical scheme.

Despite the well-documented pressures associated with the rising cost of living in RSA, citizens are resolute in maintaining their medical aid cover as the prices of everyday consumables skyrockets each month. Heaven forbid, should anything unforeseen occur and you require immediate emergency treatment, your South African medical aid contributions will grant you access to the healthcare you need, saving your life in many instances. However, the reality is that medical aid premiums have become too expensive to maintain for most families. The concept is outdated and limited to the elite few. Here’s how you can make arrangements to avoid these hefty extra payments and help steer the tide in bringing down healthcare costs.

Get Accustomed to your Network Provider List

Check your medical aid scheme or insurance plan. Depending on the insurer and policy you are covered under, you will be encouraged to choose between a list of GP’s, hospitals, pharmacists and specialists with an agreement in place to prescribe their services without being liable to pay an additional co-payment. With relationships cemented between the healthcare provider and the South African medical aid or insurance companies, bills are often settled directly between the two parties, saving you the administrative headache of lodging claims and chasing refunds.

Always ask in Advance if you’re liable for Co-Payments

Say Goodbye to Costly Co-Payments

While medical aid companies aim to incorporate as many network practitioners and clinics as possible under their umbrella, there is inevitably a percentage of doctors and specialists who operate outside any given medical scheme. By availing of one of Day 1 Health’s tailored Benefit Plans, members can choose from a nationwide network of GP’s and dentists with an additional allowance of three out-of-area visits per family per annum. The system of South African medical aid co-payments is coming to a close – you can end the cycle today by Applying Online today.

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL AID – WELLNESS IN AND HEALTH INSURANCE

There is an old saying that goes “prevention is better than cure”. This applies not only to the South African medical aid industry, but to the entire human population as a whole. If citizens follow a holistic lifestyle, stick to a healthy diet and engage in regular exercise, the need for medical check-ups and the onset of chronic diseases can be minimized. Both medical aid and health insurance companies are fully aware of this – many having tailored ingenious wellness programmes designed to keep the population in good overall health while relieving the pressure on an already overburdened health system.

Take Care of Yourself – At Home, at Work and at Play

Health Clinics – The Secret to bringing down Healthcare Costs

For the majority of the South African population, medical aid is just too expensive to afford and maintain, and seems to be merely sugar-coated with frills, gym-towels and Olympians to justify its costly monthly price tag. Day 1 Health has approached health and wellness in a simple and direct manner, with the intention of driving down the cost of healthcare while boosting the well-being of all its clients. The company has already launched its first clinic, offering primary health care benefits that clients need, when they need it. In addition, a weight-loss clinic has been successfully integrated into the clinic to monitor any clients with a higher than normal B.M.I count. With the overwhelming success of their flagship clinic in Mayfair, Johannesburg, plans are already in place to introduce similar facilities across South Africa. It’s time to say goodbye to that medical aid sponsored gym card that never gets utilized. With a host of primary healthcare and hospital cover plans starting from just R265 per month, leading a healthy lifestyle is no longer a luxury of the elite. Apply Online Today .

SOUTH AFRICAN HOSPITAL PLANS YOU CAN AFFORD

Section 27 of the South African Constitution states that ‘it is everyone’s fundamental human right to be able to access quality healthcare’. However, for millions of RSA citizens, excessive premiums combined with employment uncertainty means that even the most basic South African hospital plans unobtainable. If this is the reality that your family faces, bear with us, as there are encouraging signs that the tide has shifted, with the emergence of low-cost hospital benefit options that place people before profit! By focusing away from the dominant players in the market, progressive South African hospital benefit plans have enhanced the value of their healthcare benefits for every South African, kept operating costs down, while passing the savings on to their members.

Finding a Plan you can Comfortably Remain On

Did we already mention that price is the key factor in choosing to remain on a healthcare package in RSA? The 2016 Healthcare Consumer Survey reported that 41% of survey respondents who left their medical scheme did so as it was no longer affordable.The availability of tailored South African hospital plansand hospital cash plans at cost-effective monthly contributions allow ordinary individuals to save on their medical bills while vastly improving health outcomes across the board. Such plans are also inclusive of private hospitals and practitioners, ensuring that you get the best medical attention available without being encumbered with crippling medical bills.

No longer the Luxury of a Select Few

The provision of affordable healthcare offerings to the public with equal access for all is a basic human right. This is the underlying focus of the new National Health Insurance bill which is being drafted before coming into effect. Day 1 Health represents the perfect working model of this framework, adopting a non-discriminatory entrance to its stated benefit plans combining a solid hospital plan alongside a generous allowance of primary healthcare services at a low monthly premium. From just R385 per month for a Value Plus plan, South African citizens can utilize a hospital plan that assists in covering your expenses from your first day of hospitalization. Our Executive Plan, the perfect substitute for a medical aid scheme, offers extended benefits while reducing healthy customers with an annual reducing premium. Apply Online today to enjoy the benefits of affordable and quality hospital cover. Should the unforeseen ever occur., you’re in safe hands.

SOUTH AFRICAN HOSPITAL PLANS – FACTORING IN THE POTENTIAL CO-PAYMENTS INCURRED

When considering basic healthcare coverage to protect you and your family, South African hospital plans are the quintessential low-cost options which help to offset the financial costs of hospitalization. Healthcare is something we simply can’t compromise on, yet the steady increase in medical aid premiums has put increasing strain on household finances. The source of these rising premiums is partly related to the co-payment system This often crippling extra bill, is an amount you must pay above what is determined by your medical aid provider to utilize a specific hospital or specialist. This can be easily overseen when reading the initial T&C’s for various South African hospital plans. Read further to learn how you can avoid these nasty bills and make the most of your hospital plan.

The Importance of Designated Service Providers

A reliable medical aid or insurance provider is one that has established and continues to maintain a network of reputable GP’s, clinics and specialists to its networks (commonly known as Designated Service Providers – DSP’s). Through the agreements put in place, co-payments are not applied and members can enjoy the peace of mind of transparency while they focus on recovery. Should you need an in-hospital procedure, it is equally important to query whichSouth African hospital plans offer the most extensive network of facilities. In the majority of cases, you won’t incur co-payments and enjoy easier admission, treatment and effective rehabilitation. It is highly advised to prioritize network hospitals as much as you can.

Hospital Cover that pays out from the day you are admitted.

Many South African hospital plans pay their members a stated benefit from only their third day of hospital admission. Don’t settle on this shocking waiting period! Day 1 Health as the name proclaims, cushions the costs and subsequent income less of hospitalization, by providing generous cash payouts from your first day of admission (*Benefits vary according to plan option)

Join the health insurance provider that is unrelenting in their mission to negotiate discounted rates with private specialists to avoid co-payments. Apply Online today.

SOUTH AFRICAN HOSPITAL PLANS – WELLNESS

As you read the title of this article, you’re probably asking yourself, “What would health and wellness have to do with South African hospital plans?”. Quite a lot, actually! With the exception of unforeseen accidents and emergencies, leading a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in protecting your health and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.

Rather than scaring you into undertaking a drastic lifestyle overhaul, consider the essentials of wellness while improving your chances of living to 100! With the support of adequate hospital cover, RSA citizens are protected against the medical costs associated with many chronic conditions. Always approach South African hospital plans from the perspective that they are a safeguard against expensive medical bills – not a license to live fast and hard. The long-term savings you can make towards your medical treatments is dependant on your mindset of “healthy body – healthy mind”. Add a few of these important life-hacks. Some may already be second-nature to you.

Exercise Regularly – While we tend to lead busy lives, making time for some moderate exercise – even a brisk lunchtime walk around the office park – can do wonders for your cardiovascular health. Not to mention improving your focus and helping you achieve a good night’s sleep.

Eat plenty of Veggies, topped up with Water

This basically means eating everything your mother told you to eat while you were growing up. Vegetables and fruit contain the majority of essential nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins we need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay on top of our game. Aim to supplement your “five a day” with at least 8 glasses of water – it combines to keep your weight in check, maintains a positive cholesterol level and keeps reliance on your South African hospital plansconfined to last-case scenarios.

Don’t Smoke! – no further explanation needed. If you are struggling to quit, try these techniques, compiled by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)

Protect yourself with the benefit of South African Hospital Plans

Taking control of your wellness and health recognises that ‘prevention is better than cure’, and it all starts with a strong, motivated mindset and a positive approach to your body. With the benefit of comprehensive hospital cover from Day1Health, policy-holders can enjoy generous cash payouts upon admission to offset the costs of treatment. View our Plan Options to find a benefit plan tailored to your families’ needs. Apply Today .

SOUTH AFRICAN HOSPITAL PLANS – REACTIVATING YOUR COVER

South African Hospital Plans are a necessary expense which can save you substantial costs and stress in the event of an unforeseen emergency or treatment. Due to a wide range of economic reasons, many South Africans face no alternative but to cancel their hospital plan at a certain stage. When the outlook improves and you are in a more comfortable situation to reactivate your hospital cover, you need to be aware of what to expect. Restoring your hospital cover is not as simple as unfreezing a gym membership – restrictions will inevitably apply!. What can you expect if you want to reinstate your hospital plan? Let us guide you through the process.

Why do most people cancel a Hospital Plan/Cover Scheme?

The alarming rate at which RSA citizens have been dropping off their hospital schemes is one of the main factors motivating the urgent reform of SA’s healthcare system and the drafting of the NHI Bill. In order to get a better understanding of why so many citizens opted out of healthcare coverage, the Department of Health, alongside StatsSA uncovered the following primary reasons for hospital plan cancellations, captured in the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey.

Reason for leaving South African Hospital Plans	Percentage
Hospital Plan was no longer affordable	41%
I/my partner changed jobs.	11.6%
I/my partner became unemployed	11.2%
Was on a parents’ medical scheme but then left home	9.3%
I was a Hospital Plan member through a previous employer. When I changed employment, the contributions then became unaffordable	13.1
Other	13.8%

Unsurprisingly, affordability remains the key factor in maintaining South African hospital plans. The survey also highlighted the reliance of employer medical contributions to many policyholders.

Reactivating your Hospital Plan/Cover. What’s different from before?

Being able to reactivate your essential hospital plan takes a massive burden off your family’s plate. If you’ve been there and managed to reinstate your cover, we salute you! The most important factor you must realise, is that waiting periods will be reset to zero and apply to you once again. Even though you may have previously been a member, you are now considered a “new member”. Depending on how long you have gone without hospital cover, you will be subject to waiting periods ranging from 3 months up to 12 months for certain specified conditions and treatments.

What Hospital Plans are out there when I’m ready to resume my healthcare cover?

With both large medical aid schemes and medical insurance companies offering a diverse array of hospital plans/cover options, it is worth your while to assess what benefits you cannot compromise on, while eliminating any add-ons you don’t necessarily need.

If you are looking for quality healthcare, an extensive network of hospitals and GP’s, Day 1 Health is your perfect partner to ease the transition back to healthcare coverage. Offering a range of primary healthcare, hospital cover, and combined options, with the added assurance of shorter waiting periods on many benefits, reactivating your hospital plan/cover need not be a painful process. Apply Online Today to make sure you are covered and to restore peace of mind.