Trying to choose the best medical aid for you is a tricky task, as you can’t predict what the future holds. Also, every family is different, with different budgets and different health needs. Don’t be swayed by fancy advertising or how many other people belong to a certain medical aid – what matters is that you’ve considered all of the below factors before deciding which medical aid is “best” for you:
- Current health and family situation
Do you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes or asthma? Are you planning on falling pregnant? Do you have elderly parents whose health needs you need to cover? Or, are you very healthy with no dependents? All of these will influence the type of cover you need, which in turn will have an impact on which medical aid provider you choose.
- Customer service and care
It’s all very well having top-notch medical cover, but when it comes to managing claims, dealing with queries, or providing advice and support to their members, you need to check that your medical aid provider will be there when you need it most. In order to do this, it’s worth speaking to other people you know who are with a certain provider and getting their feedback on their experiences. Bear in mind that online reviews can skew your perception, as consumers only tend to post unhappy stories, so do keep this in mind.
- Affordability
That all-inclusive comprehensive medical aid cover may seem like a very attractive option, but you need to check if your budget can cover the monthly contributions. Draw up a budget of your income and expenses each month and be realistic about how much you can afford, as there’s no point in taking out a policy you’re likely to default on. Many medical aids also offer interesting ways of cutting costs, like unlimited GP consults once you’ve reached your threshold level – so it’s important to weigh these up.
Deciding which medical aid is best for you is not a simple decision, but it is an important one. Weighing up the various factors above will help you choose a plan you can afford, which gives you and your family the unique cover that you need.
