Medical 2013

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ChrisF
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Medical 2013

Post by ChrisF »

A bit of a preview (with a bit of a review).

A number of medical aids have published their 2013 rates. 2 or 3 new packages as well.


DISCOVERY:
average increase - 10 to 12 %
This applies to rates and savings cover in equal measure.
{from 2010 to 2013 the average increase is 29 to 32%)

there is a new Classic Delta Comprehensive Zero MSA package for 2013. Best hospital cover, Best chronic cover, with ZERO day-to-day cover.


FEDHEALTH:
averag increase - 8 to 10% increase
However, savings cover only increases by 5% ...
OHEB (type of extra day to day cover) increase by 11% for ONE package, increases by 6% for TWO packages and DROPS by 30 to 35% for FOUR packages !!
Safetynet - same story, up by 6% for three packages, down by 8% for four packages ...

Looking at the period 2010 to 2013 the picture repeats somewhat.
Premium increase from 122 to 136% depending on the package.
For a 36% increase the savings went up by 11%, OHEB by 12%, and the safetynet by 18%. (these figures differ per package)


MEDIHELP:
their figures are only released later in October ....


MEDSHIELD:
7,5% increase from 2012 to 2013, same for savings.

sadly dont have their 2010 data.


MOMENTUM
11 to 12% increase, same for savings.

2010 to 2013 the premiums increased an average of 35,5 %. Interesting to note that Adult dependents premiums increased by 6% MORE than principle members and that kids premiums increased by 6% LESS than principle members.
Premium and savings rose by the same percentage.




so it would appear that 10 to 12% premium increase is the norm for 2013. Anything less and your benefits seems to erode.


DISCLAIMER: I am NOT medical aid broker. This is NOT aimed at helping you choose a medical aid !! It is merely a compilation of publicly available data. To get the REAL picture you have to look even closer at sub limits for various procedures etc. Not to mention the NEED to get a suitably qualified broker to assist you in selecting a package that actually is BEST SUITED to YOUR NEEDS.
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Re: Medical 2013

Post by Thunder02 »

Chris,from your point of view what do you think the best option for a family of 4 would be,i'm only asking because it seem's that you have put some research into the matter.
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ChrisF
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Re: Medical 2013

Post by ChrisF »

Neil I am NOT an accredited medical aid broker and can land in HOT water for dishing out advise.

That having been said, there are a few BASICS which should guide a user in choosing a package:
- What level of day-to-day cover do you want/need ? (medical aid regulations regulate the MAXIMUM day-to-day cover, as a percentage of the package cost. But you get a series of packages offering LESS than the maximum caover to reduce the package costs. Many packages have NO day-to-day cover, normally refered to as hospital plans)
- What level of hospital cover do you want/need? (the cheaper plans provide hospital cover at "medical aid tarrifs", the top plans provide cover at up to 3 times the medical aid tarrif - problem is that most specialists now charge 3 times medical aid tariff ... Most medical aids now also offer plans for "networked hospitals" - this concept means that you pay a lower premium, but get FULL hospital cover as long as you only use a "network hospital" for PLANNED procedure.)
- Chronic cover needed ???? THIS is a major item, for some users. ALL medical aids MUST cover a set numbe of conditions, knows as the prescribed minimum benefit. Some have figured out how to provide MINIMUM cover, while others provide "proper" cover - HERE your medical aid broker needs full details to properly advise you. Then there are a long list of (EXPENSIVE) other chronic conditions. Only a very select list of packages provide cover for these conditions, with a host of rules and conditions attached.

These are the BASICS.

Then the different medical aids also approach their business models differently .... Discovery gives you a set "savings account", you use this as you see fit (well almost). Others give a smaller savings amount but additional FIXED NUMBER of GP, dentist, etc visits. Now IF you use each visit you get more "bang for your buck", but if you dont need the dentist and optitian then you actually have less $$$ cover .... so the choise is never THAT EASY ....


NOTE: Medical aid premiums INCLUDE a broker fee. So DO get yourself a broker, and get PROPER advise without any increase in premium !! :) (I can only help you with a good broker down here in the Cape)
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Re: Medical 2013

Post by george »

(I can only help you with a good broker down here in the Cape)
I can vouch for her.Excellent service :thumbup:
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Re: Medical 2013

Post by ChrisF »

George and as you can deduct from this post, she is ready with the 2013 data. :)

expect a call soon.
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