Posted by An extremely important consideration when opting for a medical aid scheme is understanding how they operate. Medical aid schemes are actual non-for-profit organizations, where patients receive direct and timely assistance and money necessary to cover various healthcare expenses. The medical aid scheme then makes a generous contribution to the medical costs of the beneficiary. Patients have the right to claim money from the scheme if they require specialized healthcare services or operations. The funds are regularly returned to the beneficiary or the hospital, depending on the terms of the scheme.
The government introduced several medical aid schemes to support those who were unable to earn a living using their earnings. Providing medical aids is one of the easiest ways for the state to encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen its economy. The Medical Aid Scheme is administered by the South African Medical Association (SAMA). There are presently four schemes that the association offers to eligible members.
The Medical Assistance Scheme provides two options of income for members. Option One pays from the outset and Option Two requires premium payments from the month they join. Both options provide monthly income that meets the financial obligations of members. The Medical Assistance scheme also pays the balance amount to the beneficiary in case they require specialized healthcare services. The most common treatment areas for medical aids in South Africa are dental surgery, cardiology, diagnostics, and surgeries (read more here).
The Medical Benefits Scheme provides an opportunity for south Africans to utilize private healthcare, at a reduced cost. The Healthcare Loan Scheme is similar to the Medical Aid scheme. However, the loans offered are given to the named beneficiary only. The only difference between the two plans is that the scheme allows individuals to use private healthcare at a reduced cost. The primary difference between the two plans is that only the named beneficiaries can take advantage of the loan scheme.
Apart from these two schemes, there are several other schemes in South Africa. The Health Professions Development Scheme (HPD) helps young professionals to pursue their career ambitions. This scheme aims at enabling bright and eligible individuals to pursue their education and training in medicine or other healthcare fields at an affordable rate. The National Health System Plan (NHS) is another scheme that assists people who require urgent healthcare. There are also several other open medical schemes in South Africa including the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and the Private Health Insurance Plan (PHIP). Most of the private health insurance plans cover most of the medical expenses, but HMO and PHIP plans may pay a portion of the medical expenses that you may incur.
The open medical schemes in South Africa are not as popular as the two mentioned above. However, the schemes mentioned offer comprehensive healthcare needs to the needy. Therefore, if you are looking for healthcare needs assistance in South Africa, it would be best if you scout around the market for the best deals. You can also look up the World Wide Web for more information on different medical schemes in South Africa.
