Government Employees Medical Private Health Insurance Government Employees Medical
R950 /mo
Compare Private Health Insurance in South Africa
Compare the top private health insurance providers in South Africa — see cover, features and typical rates side by side.
Live offers
20 live offers compared from 20 providers, from R950 /mo. Updated daily.
Gems Medical ZA Private Health Insurance Gems Medical ZA
R1000 /mo
CompCare Wellness ZA Private Health Insurance CompCare Wellness ZA
R1050 /mo
Bestmed ZA Private Health Insurance Bestmed ZA
R1050 /mo
Key Health ZA Private Health Insurance Key Health ZA
R1050 /mo
Bonitas Medical ZA Private Health Insurance Bonitas Medical ZA
R1100 /mo
Fedhealth ZA Private Health Insurance Fedhealth ZA
R1100 /mo
Umvuzo Health ZA Private Health Insurance Umvuzo Health ZA
R1100 /mo
BestMed Pace ZA Private Health Insurance BestMed Pace ZA
R1100 /mo
Medihelp ZA Private Health Insurance Medihelp ZA
R1150 /mo
Sasolburg Medical ZA Private Health Insurance Sasolburg Medical ZA
R1150 /mo
Discovery Health ZA Private Health Insurance Discovery Health ZA
R1200 /mo
Profmed ZA Private Health Insurance Profmed ZA
R1200 /mo
Momentum Health ZA Private Health Insurance Momentum Health ZA
R1250 /mo
GEMS Medical Aid ZA Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS)
R1300 ZAR/mo
- Monthly Premium (est.): From ~ZAR 1,300/month (Beryl option)
- Cover Level: Hospital + basic day-to-day
- Network: GEMS network
- Key Benefit: Government Employees Medical Scheme; affordable options; employer contribution subsidy
Bestmed Medical Scheme ZA Bestmed Medical Scheme
R1450 ZAR/mo
- Monthly Premium (est.): From ~ZAR 1,450/month (Beat 1)
- Cover Level: Hospital cover
- Network: Bestmed preferred network
- Key Benefit: Open scheme; Beat 1 competitive entry-level plan; wellness benefits
Medihelp Medical Scheme ZA Medihelp
R1500 ZAR/mo
- Monthly Premium (est.): From ~ZAR 1,500/month (Dimension Hosmed)
- Cover Level: Hospital cover
- Network: National network
- Key Benefit: Established open scheme; 24/7 emergency helpline; oncology cover included
Bonitas Medical Fund ZA Bonitas Medical Fund
R1600 ZAR/mo
- Monthly Premium (est.): From ~ZAR 1,600/month (BonStart)
- Cover Level: Hospital + limited day-to-day
- Network: Bonitas network
- Key Benefit: Value-for-money focus; BonStart hospital plan for young families
Momentum Health ZA Momentum Health
R1800 ZAR/mo
- Monthly Premium (est.): From ~ZAR 1,800/month (Ingwe Primary)
- Cover Level: Hospital + doctor visits
- Network: Preferred hospital network
- Key Benefit: Multiply wellness rewards; maternity programmes; network GP benefit
Discovery Health Medical Scheme Discovery Health Medical Scheme
R1900 ZAR/mo
- Monthly Premium (est.): From ~ZAR 1,900/month (KeyCare Core)
- Cover Level: Hospital + day-to-day (higher options)
- Network: Discovery Health network
- Key Benefit: SA's largest open medical scheme; HealthyFood® programme; Vitality integration
What is Medical Aid in South Africa?
Medical aid — formally medical scheme membership — covers your private healthcare costs, including hospital admissions, specialists, chronic medication and day-to-day treatment, in exchange for a monthly contribution. It is distinct from health insurance: a medical scheme is a not-for-profit member fund regulated under its own Act and must cover a defined set of Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Plans range from hospital-only cover to comprehensive options with generous day-to-day and medical-savings benefits, making medical aid the primary route to private healthcare in South Africa.
How the South African market works
Medical schemes are regulated by the Council for Medical Schemes and operate on community rating, meaning contributions cannot be based on your health status or age at entry, with open enrolment so schemes must accept you. Members choose a plan tier, and many schemes are run by large administrators. Health insurance products such as gap cover and hospital cash plans sit alongside but do not replace a medical scheme. Late-joiner penalties and condition-specific waiting periods can apply to new members.
Benefits
Private healthcare — access to private hospitals, specialists and your choice of doctors.
Prescribed Minimum Benefits — every scheme must cover a defined list of conditions in full.
Chronic cover — ongoing medication for registered chronic conditions is funded.
Savings and day-to-day — higher plans include medical savings for everyday expenses.
Family cover — dependants can be added under one membership at additional contribution.
How to choose
Match the plan to your health needs and budget: hospital-only plans are cheapest, while comprehensive plans add day-to-day and savings benefits for regular medical users. Check the hospital and provider network, whether you must use designated service providers to avoid co-payments, and the chronic and specialist limits. Consider adding gap cover to bridge the shortfall between scheme rates and what specialists actually charge, and watch for late-joiner penalties if you join later in life.
Leading providers in South Africa
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is the largest scheme, followed by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), Bonitas, Momentum Health, Medihelp, Bestmed and CompCare Wellness. Schemes differ on plan design, network restrictions, reserves and financial strength, so it pays to compare the specific option and plan tier rather than judging by the brand name alone, since one scheme can offer very different plans. Employer group schemes and GEMS for public servants can also offer better value than the open market, so check whether you qualify for a subsidised or restricted scheme before choosing an open plan.
What it costs
Monthly contributions for a single member typically range from around R950 for entry-level hospital plans to R1,900 or more for mid-tier options, with comprehensive plans and family cover costing considerably more. Income-based plans and network restrictions reduce the price for those who qualify. Contributions rise annually with medical inflation, and adding gap cover costs a small extra premium on top of your scheme contribution.
Protections and regulation
Medical schemes are regulated by the Council for Medical Schemes under the Medical Schemes Act, which enforces community rating, open enrolment and Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Health insurance products such as gap cover are regulated separately by the FSCA as insurance. Complaints can be taken to the Council for Medical Schemes, which adjudicates disputes between members and their schemes independently of the administrator.
Common questions
Is medical aid the same as health insurance? No — a medical scheme is a regulated member fund, while health insurance like gap cover supplements it. Can I be refused? Schemes must accept you, but waiting periods and late-joiner penalties can apply. What are PMBs? Prescribed Minimum Benefits are conditions every scheme must cover in full.
The cheapest Private Health Insurance in South Africa is R950 /mo from Government Employees Medical.
Private Health Insurance in South Africa — FAQ
How much does private health insurance cost in South Africa?
Giraffy tracks 5 private health insurance products across Government Employees Medical,Gems Medical ZA,CompCare Wellness ZA,Bestmed ZA,Key Health ZA insurers in South Africa. The lowest tracked monthly premium is R950 /mo. Premiums depend heavily on age, health status, level of cover, and excess chosen.
What does private health insurance typically cover?
Core cover usually includes: inpatient hospital treatment (surgery, overnight stays), specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, and sometimes cancer care. Many policies exclude mental health, dental, and optical as standard — these can be added as upgrades. Always check the specific policy schedule for exclusions.
What is excluded from most private health insurance policies?
Common exclusions include: pre-existing conditions (at least at first), chronic long-term conditions, cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment, organ transplants (often), and treatments abroad. Exclusions vary significantly between insurers — compare the policy wordings, not just the headline price.
What is an excess on a health insurance policy?
The excess (or deductible) is the amount you pay towards each claim before the insurer covers the rest. A higher excess lowers your monthly premium. Set your excess at an amount you could comfortably afford to pay in a year — this balances premium savings against out-of-pocket cost if you need to claim.
Can I get private health insurance with a pre-existing condition?
Yes, but most insurers will exclude your pre-existing condition from the policy, or apply a 'moratorium' — where the condition is excluded until you've been symptom-free for 2+ years. 'Full medical underwriting' lets you know at outset exactly what's excluded, giving more certainty than a moratorium.
Does private health insurance cover mental health treatment?
Mental health cover is increasingly included in standard policies, but terms vary significantly. Check whether inpatient psychiatric care, therapy sessions, and psychiatric medication are covered, and whether annual session limits apply. Some insurers offer digital mental health support as a standard perk.