Why Students Need Both Day-to-Day and Hospital Health Cover

South African students, whether attending university, technical colleges, or other educational institutions, face distinct health and financial challenges. Balancing studies, part-time work, and often living away from home means unplanned health events can disrupt progress and drain savings. Medical insurance options designed for students can ease this burden, especially when they provide both routine care benefits (day-to-day) and important protection against larger in-hospital costs.

Key reasons combined health cover matters for students

• Routine care: Quick access to healthcare practitioners for colds, minor illnesses, stress-related issues, and contraception.
• Accidents and emergencies: Hospital admittance from sports injuries, appendicitis, or unexpected emergencies can be financially overwhelming for students without robust cover.
• Mental health support: Telephonic or digital mental health consultations can offer students much-needed assistance for anxiety or adjustment difficulties.

What is a combined health insurance plan?

Combined health insurance joins the strengths of day-to-day and hospital plans into a singular package. This means students won’t have to choose between seeing a healthcare practitioner for minor complaints and staying protected against significant hospital expenses. For many, this offers peace of mind at a manageable monthly rate.

Typical benefits included in combined plans

• Day-to-day: Paid-for GP consultations, scripts for acute medication, basic dental treatments, and eye tests.
• Hospital: Covers private ward and theatre fees, emergency medical response, and approved procedures during hospital stays.
• Helplines: Access to telephonic healthcare practitioners for advice and mental health support.

Explore Affinity Health’s Combined Health Plan for details on how benefits are structured for affordability and comprehensive support.

Monthly premium expectations

*Actual premiums will depend on age, specific range chosen, and whether you’re adding dependants. Accurate rates can be found via the current Affinity Health premium guide.

How to Select the Best Combined Health Solution as a Student

Choosing student-friendly cover involves considering lifestyle, study location, dependence on family finances, and level of risk exposure. Students living in urban centres may have different needs from those in remote areas, but both benefit from nationwide networks and predictable monthly payments.

Step-by-step planning guide

1. Assess routine healthcare needs: Estimate how many doctor or dental visits are likely during term. Look for plans with suitable consultation limits.
2. Think about emergencies: Consider the likelihood of illness, injuries, or mental health struggles that could require urgent hospitalisation or intervention.
3. Weigh plan flexibility: While you can't adjust benefit levels, choosing between available plan options lets you stay within a student budget while still covering basics.
4. Provider network: Having access to private healthcare providers near campus ensures timely appointments. Use the Affinity Health provider search to check network locations.
5. Hospital access: For sports injuries or emergencies that need hospital care, knowing which hospitals are covered is key. Find details using the hospital network lookup.

Why Affinity Health’s combined plans are suitable for students

• Standard Range combined options start at budget-friendly rates for 18-24-year-olds, aligning with most higher education age groups.
• Junior Range available for those under 18 still at school or in bridging courses.
• Partial coverage for acute medication and optometry supports student wellness all year.
• Helplines and online consultations reduce unnecessary trips, saving time and costs for students juggling busy schedules.

Detailed plan features for students are available in the Day-to-Day Cover overview and the Hospital Plan details.

Sources

• Affinity Health - Combined Cover
• Affinity Health - Plan Pricing
• South African National Department of Health
• Statistics South Africa - Healthcare expenditure data
• USAf - Student Support & Wellness