Hi all,
I have a family member who is not on medical aid but has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I need help as to what the options are in this scenario.
I know that South African medical aid schemes can’t reject you based on pre-existing health conditions but there is a waiting period.
Has anyone out there been through the same situation or knows how we can move forward in the best way?
All help is greatly appreciated!!
– Jason
Good day
A medical aid can place a disease spesific waiting period or a general waiting period from 3 months to 12 months if you have never belonged to any medical aid.
Disease spesific means you cannot receive treatment for this condition in this waiting period but for any other problem, for example a car accident, broken bone or emergency operation will be covered.
My daughter was not on medical aid. they gave her a year waiting period. Thereafter she was fully covered. We are on discovery. You can take a cheaper package then upgrade after a year
Hi, our company has assisted many diabetics in getting the cover they need
Please feel free to contact me at Leigh@fledermans.com
I’ll do my very best to get fair affordable cover.
Thank you
Leigh
I had to wait for a year before Profmed would cover my Type 1 diabetes expenses! It was an expensive year, but my tax return was awesome. Make sure you keep all receipts for medical expenses so you can claim them back.
After a year of exclusion, no medical aid may refuse you, even if you change medical aids. I learnt this the hard way after switching to Discovery. They excluded me for a second year, and only afterwards did I learn that they were just taking a chance… cheeky
I’m 21 in September and i cannot be on my parents medical aid any longer, I’m a type 1 diabetic and i need a good medical aid because im on a chronic meds such as insolune.
Please help . . .
Hi Nicole,
Medical aids can’t refuse you based on an existing medical condition, as long as you don’t have a break in medical aid (i.e. as soon as you stop being on your parent’s medical aid you need to switch to your own, without a break of even a few days).
As a Type 1 diabetic, you are due Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) medication, which includes insulin etc – ask the medical aids you speak to about your PMB medication, you can get it even if you’re just on hospital plan.
Good luck!
Let us know how it goes?
Bridget
There are definitely options out there it depends which insurer you are with. The difficulty is finding one that will accept you and if you need a comprehensive plan or just a hospital plan. These two articles helped a family member for finding cover for their chronic health issues as well. http://www.hippo.co.za/blog/health/hospital-cover-vs-comprehensive-medical-health-cover/ and http://www.medicalaid.co.za/MedicalAid/HospitalPlanvsComprehensive.aspx