Health insurance or medical aid?

There are few more complex industries than the healthcare industry and the financial services industry. Filled with jargon, legalese and difficult to understand communication, these industries intimidate many, with important information often flying over heads, in one ear and out the other, causing eyes to glaze over and even eyelids to droop.

But it is vitally important information and it is equally important that we understand it completely so that there is no misunderstanding in critical times; times when you or your family are in desperate need of healthcare or financial assistance.

This article aims to demystify this world, highlighting the key differences between health care insurance and medical aid and thereby empowering you to decide which is best suited to you and your family’s needs.

Medical aid schemes are governed by the Council for Medical Schemes and health insurance is governed by either the Long Term Insurance Act (as in the case of Essential Med) or the Short-Term Insurance Act. What this means is that the laws governing the plans or policies and the laws protecting the members or policyholders are different. It is important to familiarise yourself with these laws.

Most medical aids pay out according to the National Health Recommended Price List (NHRPL) a nationally formulated and regulated price list for all in- and out-of- hospital medical services. Only a few pay out based on the South African Medical Association (SAMA) according to which many healthcare professionals charge. This results in the member having to pay the difference between the two rates.

A health insurance policy pays out at a set rate for every day that you are in hospital. What you use this reimbursement for is up to you; it can be used to assist with the cost of medical treatment or the daily expenses you cannot service while in hospital.

It is important to note that a health insurance policy does not offer the same amount of cover that a medical aid does. But in most cases it is a practical and sensible means to ensure that you and your family have access to quality private healthcare when you need it.

Many South Africans, who simply cannot afford medical aid, think they have to rely on the public healthcare system and cannot access quality private healthcare. This is not the case. Health insurance is ideal for those who cannot service substantial monthly medial aid contributions yet can contribute a lesser amount every month to ensure that he / she and his / her family can access private healthcare when it is needed most.
Health insurance is also a great complementary product to traditional medical aids. It can service the shortfall in payouts from medical aids i.e. the difference between NHRPL and SAMA rates or used to assist with the cost of living while providers are in hospital.

In addition to hospital cover, Essential Med offers a day-to-day benefit that gives policyholders access to consultations, medication and treatment for out-of-hospital needs. These services are available from over 3000 network-registered healthcare professionals throughout South Africa.

Original Source: Essential Med

The Benefits of Having Personal Insurance

The majority of South Africans do not have personal insurance plans as the monthly payments and premiums are simply too expensive. However, with companies such as Prime Meridian delivering personal cover to the majority of South Africans who cannot afford these high rates, many families are able to reap the benefits of having personal insurance plans.

While there are hundreds of benefits that come with having personal cover, here are some of the most loved and enjoyed features of having a personal insurance plan with Prime Meridian:

• Affordable and cheap cover from as little as R2 a day. This is an incredibly offer in comparison to the fortune many have to spend with other insurance companies.
• Cash benefits of up to R270 000 are guaranteed should the cover be paid out.
• Individuals with personal insurance will receive immediate cover for death through both accident and illness.
• To obtain this personal insurance plan, no medical examinations are required. Individuals simply need to contact one of the agents and sign up. This is an incredibly plus and opportunity as many other insurance companies would prefer their clients to be fit and healthy when obtaining personal cover.
• It’s impossible for anybody to be turned down from obtaining personal cover. Rather, all individuals of all ages, classes and living circumstances qualify and can be covered by Prime Meridian.
• Cash benefits are all tax free, ensuring that the amount you receive is the amount that you have been promised. This is a great benefit as the amount that will be paid out when claimed can be up to R270 000 – an amount that would normally be heavily taxed, resulting in only a percentage of the actual pay out.
• For just an extra amount every month, Prime Meridian offers family plans which will also cover your spouse and up to four children.
• A popular benefit of having a personal insurance plan is that all debts will be able to be paid out in the event of an untimely death. This is a huge help to family members as they won’t have to feel the pains of having a vehicle or home repossessed, or being chased by a debt collector.
• Financial support for dependents. The death of a bread winner can be devastating to a family. While grieving the loss of a loved one, they’re also have to find a way to cope with having to find the money to pay the bills, put food on the table and clothe the children and send them to school. With a personal insurance plan, the payment benefit will be able to take care of the day to day expenses of a family while making sure that their lives aren’t completely uprooted due to the loss of their main financial provider.

Prime Meridian’s personal cover, Prime Living Legacy, is a sure way to prepare for the future and ensure that your loves ones will be looked after financially in the event of an untimely death.

Original Source: Prime Meridian

Choosing a Life Insurance Company - Common Mistakes

Getting life insurance could be the best thing you ever do for your family as well as your own peace of mind. You can approach death knowing that your family will have the money they need when you aren’t able to pay for their tuition, holidays and luxuries. While many life insurance companies in South Africa are waiting to help you do this, FRANK can empower you to make an informed choice.

Don’t be the person making mistakes when it comes to this important insurance because an oversight or untruth could leave your beneficiaries without a payout. You wouldn’t take it out if you didn’t want your family or friends to benefit from it and you won’t have another chance to get it right once you’re dead.

How to get whole of life insurance all wrong

No one can be expected to fully understand life insurance plans straight off the bat. This is why we want to explain some of the mistakes people make when buying life insurance and why these should be avoided:

1. They go through a broker – Why pay for a broker when you can get insurance directly from FRANK without a middleman? Skipping the middleman means you can go straight to the source if you have any questions.

2. They leave it until the last minute – Some things are too important to postpone. The older you get the higher your premiums will be. If you were us, would you give life insurance to someone who was going to die soon? Probably not.

3. They rule themselves out before checking – If you’re an older person, you may feel like there’s no point in taking out life insurance. While putting it off for too long can be to your detriment, you may not be as much of a risk as you think. Speak to one of our agents to check whether you qualify for Life Cover.

4. They get put off because they don’t want to face death – No matter who you are, you’re going to die. Make sure your family is financially protected when you do.

5. They get restricted on their number of beneficiaries – Many insurance companies limit the number of beneficiaries you’re allowed to choose. FRANK lets you have up to 5. This way, you don’t have to choose between your family, friends and pets if you love them all equally. 

Original Source: FRANK.NET