The Essentials of Combined Medical Insurance

Combined medical insurance brings together two crucial pillars of health cover for South Africans: everyday healthcare (such as GP visits and prescribed medication) and in-hospital treatment for illness or accidents. This approach is especially valuable for families, young professionals, and retirees who seek both predictable access to care and financial security against unexpected health emergencies. Affinity Health, established in 2011, is a leader in providing these accessible and reliable solutions across the country.

How Combined Medical Insurance Works

• Day-to-day benefits handle general medical needs - GP consultations, basic dentistry, optometry, and acute medicines.
• Hospital cover ensures that major costs, like surgeries or prolonged admissions, don't threaten your financial stability.
• Combining these in one plan streamlines administration and brings cost efficiencies.

Unlike “hospital only” or “day-to-day only” options, a combined plan covers both areas, simplifying your health management. For detailed overviews of these plan types, see the Day-to-Day Cover page and the Hospital Plan guide.

Who Should Consider Combined Cover?

• Families needing both routine care and protection from big medical bills
• Young professionals managing out-of-pocket costs for GP visits while safeguarding against serious accidents
• Older adults and retirees, especially if concerned about hospitalization or chronic/acute health management

Key Benefits of Choosing Combined Medical Insurance

• Comprehensive protection across common healthcare needs
• Fixed, budget-friendly monthly premiums
• Nationwide access to a broad network of GPs, pharmacies, and hospitals (Find a Provider)
• Telephonic consultations with healthcare practitioners when needed

Premiums at a Glance

What Is Included in a Combined Plan?

A typical combined plan merges both day-to-day benefits - like GP consultations, basic radiology and pathology, acute medication, and preventative care - with hospitalisation benefits for events such as accidents, scheduled surgeries, or maternity stays. This approach ensures fewer out-of-pocket surprises and improved health outcomes thanks to easier access to regular healthcare. Review the full benefit breakdown on the Combined Plan info page.

Why Affinity Health’s Combined Cover Stands Out

• Wide provider reach: Extensive network of participating healthcare practitioners
• Emergency medical response: 24/7 telephonic assistance and ambulance dispatch in emergencies
• Easy access to telephonic healthcare advice (including after-hours)
• Maternity, dental and optometry included at defined benefit levels (varies by age group)

How to Choose the Right Combined Medical Insurance Plan

1. Assess personal or family health needs: anticipated routine care, chronic medication requirements, or hospitalisation risks
2. Compare plan groups by age - Junior, Senior, Standard Range - as each addresses specific life stages
3. Weigh potential out-of-pocket exposure versus monthly premium; combined cover often reduces annual costs versus splitting plans
4. Check for added conveniences such as telephonic practitioner consultations for minor issues

Practical Scenarios for South Africans

• A two-parent household maximises routine paediatric check-ups for children while staying protected from hospitalisation after everyday accidents.
• A single young adult in Johannesburg benefits from acute medication and affordable GP consultations, plus peace of mind for emergencies.
• A retiree couple values the balance of regular healthcare access with major event protection, all under a consolidated premium.

Finding the Right Providers

With Affinity Health, you can search for approved hospital and day-to-day providers with tools like the Find a Hospital Provider service. National networks make it easy to access care whether you're at home, travelling for work, or living in a remote area. Learn more about network reach and policy structure on the Affinity Health homepage.

Summary: Why Choose Combined Medical Insurance?

• Better health management: Regular check-ups catch issues early, while hospital coverage shields against major expenses
• Single premium, clear benefits: Simplified monthly budgeting and less confusion
• Designed for all ages, with dedicated plan options for every life stage

Sources

• Affinity Health - Combined Plan Overview
• Affinity Health - Current Plan Premiums
• Council for Medical Schemes - Annual Reports
• Statistics South Africa - Health Survey Data