Rising food and fuel costs are forcing South Africans to make radical financial decisions. Cutting back on fixed monthly expenses is often the only solution – and medical aid contributions are in the firing line.
Before cancelling medical aid benefits, it’s important to consider the alternatives.
The current state of public healthcare
The public healthcare sector in South Africa is underfunded and understaffed. It currently ranks 48th out of 95 countries participating in the 2022 Global Health Care Index.
Doctors, in particular, are in short supply in the public sector. The estimated doctor-to-patient ratio is one to 2,457.
Compare that to the one to 571 doctor-to-patient ratio in the private sector. It’s little wonder that long queues, poor-quality treatment protocols and extended delays to surgeries typify the patient experience at public hospitals and clinics.
The pressure on public healthcare professionals is having dire consequences on the quality of care. Medicolegal claims against the state, arising from medical malpractice and negligence, have doubled to R74 billion in the past five years.
The litigious environment has led to a mass exodus of qualified nurses, doctors and specialists to the private sector and abroad.
If state facilities are out of the question, can you afford to pay for private consultations, treatments and procedures?
Costs of private hospital stays
Private hospitals charge a premium for overnight stays. A bed in a general ward costs around R4,000 per night and escalates to R4,900 for a private ward.
Emergency stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) cost approximately R16,800 per night. If specialised ICU is required, the rate jumps to more than R19,900.
Even a simple operation, like an appendectomy, requires one to two nights’ recuperation in hospital.
Common age-related procedures, such as total knee replacement surgery and bypass heart surgery, can entail up to five and seven nights in hospital, respectively.
Costs of medical procedures and treatment
Medical procedures and treatments come with their own fixed rates. Diagnostic scans, for example, can cost upwards of R4,000. Surgical procedures can set you back tens of thousands of rands:
- laparoscopic appendectomy R32,400
- Caesarean section R28,545
- laparoscopic hysterectomy R52,330
- knee replacement R59,370
- hip replacement R61,875
- shoulder replacement R66,160
- bunion repair R28,575
- cataract removal R19,500.
Cancer treatments vary from R10,000 to R1 million per patient per year. Discovery Health has quantified the cost of new cancer biologics at R960,000 for a course of four treatments.
Without adequate healthcare cover, many of these interventions are unaffordable for the average South African.
Options if you can’t afford your current medical aid
There are ways to ensure that you and your family are adequately covered for unforeseen medical emergencies.
Options include downgrading to a more affordable plan, switching schemes or taking out a long-term health insurance policy.
Changing to a lower-cost medical aid scheme
Buying down to a more affordable medical aid option is a viable solution. All medical aid members are entitled to switch plans once a year.
In some instances, it may be beneficial to subscribe to a different medical aid scheme.
That said, it’s important to be aware of what changing medical aid schemes involves, especially as it pertains to the new scheme’s policy on waiting periods and exclusions.
Health Insurance
Health or medical insurance is a type of long-term insurance. It’s generally more affordable than medical aid and typically pays out a fixed lump sum for each healthcare event.
What we offer at IFC
At IFC, we offer informed, objective advice about what you should think about before cancelling your medical aid in South Africa. We can assist you in moving to or joining the scheme that best suits your needs and budget. Contact us for more information or to discuss your needs.
