Best medical aid schemes in SA

Bestmed offers 13 plan options for 2026, with single-member premiums from R1,736 to R12,572, spanning hospital-only, network and comprehensive cover options. Bestmed applied a 6.8% weighted contribution increase for 2026, the lowest of any major open scheme, with preventative care on every plan option.

Bonitas is one of South Africa's largest open medical schemes, covering more than 731,000 beneficiaries. It offers 16 plan options for 2026, with single-member premiums from R1,603 to R12,509. As of 1 June 2026, Bonitas moved its scheme administration to Momentum Health after 43 years with Medscheme. Most plans use a hospital network to manage costs, and all include maternity and preventative care benefits.

Discovery Health is South Africa's largest open medical scheme, covering around 2.7 million beneficiaries and more than half the open scheme market. It offers 25 plan options across 8 series, from KeyCare to Executive. Single-member premiums for 2026 range from R1,278 to R12,338, with preventative care on every plan.

Discovery Health is South Africa's largest open medical scheme, covering around 2.7 million beneficiaries and more than half the open scheme market. It offers 25 plan options across 8 series, from KeyCare to Executive. Single-member premiums for 2026 range from R1,278 to R12,338 with preventative care on every plan.

Fedhealth relaunched for 2026 with Sanlam, now covering more than 135,000 principal members and over 250,000 beneficiaries, with a 36.9% solvency ratio. It offers 8 plan lines, from myFED through sureFEDEssential, sureFEDPlus and flexiFED 1 to 4 to flexiFED Savvy. Premiums range from R1,155 to R19,393. Talks to merge with Medshield ended in November 2025; both remain separate schemes.

GEMS (Government Employees Medical Scheme) is restricted to public service employees, covering around 2 million members. It offers 6 plan options for 2026, from Tanzanite One to Onyx, with single-member premiums from R1,662 to R7,512. GEMS applied a 9.8% weighted contribution increase for 2026.

Genesis is a small, open medical scheme that any South African citizen or resident can join, with no employer or professional restrictions. It offers 3 plans for 2026: MED-100 from R1,680, MED-200 from R2,355 and MED-200 Plus from R3,400, priced flat regardless of income band, with cover at any private hospital.

KeyHealth provides cover for approximately 69,000 lives across 6 plan options, from Essence to Platinum. Single-member premiums for 2026 range from R2,393 to R13,840. Preventative care and a maternity programme are included via the Health Booster add-on, available at no extra cost on every plan option.

LA Health is restricted to Local Government employees and is administered by Discovery. It offers 6 plan options for 2026, from LA KeyPlus to LA Comprehensive, with total monthly contributions from R1,634 to R11,184 before any employer subsidy. LA Health has served the sector for more than 50 years.

Medihelp offers 8 plan options for 2026, covering more than 275,000 lives, from an entry-level Student plan through Hospital and Savings plans to Comprehensive cover. Single-member premiums range from R804 to R15,486. Medihelp has restored its solvency ratio to 27.01%, above the 25% statutory minimum.

Medshield offers 10 plan options for 2026, including MediCurve, MediPhila, MediSaver, MediPlus, MediBonus, MediCore and PremiumPlus. Single-member premiums start from R1,821 on MediCurve, rising to R9,489. Medshield holds an AA- credit rating from GCR Ratings, with a solvency ratio of roughly 56 to 60 percent, and remains a separate scheme after 2025 amalgamation talks with Fedhealth ended.

Momentum Medical Scheme offers 6 main plan options for 2026: Ingwe, Evolve, Custom, Incentive, Extender and Summit. Single-member premiums range from R645 to R16,469, with provider and hospital network choice affecting price within each option. Momentum also now administers Bonitas following the June 2026 transfer. The Health Platform Benefit includes maternity and preventative care.

Profmed is a restricted medical scheme for graduate professionals, covering approximately 71,000 lives. It offers 10 plan options, split between five Premium plans with any hospital of choice and five more affordable Savvy network options. Single-member premiums for 2026 range from R2,477 to R14,634.