Understanding the Value of Combined Medical Insurance

For South African families, accessing both everyday healthcare and emergency hospital treatment is crucial to protect loved ones without incurring overwhelming costs. Combined medical insurance brings together the benefits of routine outpatient cover and robust protection for major health events - offering true peace of mind and budget-friendly solutions for all stages of life.

What Does Combined Cover Include?

• Day-to-Day Benefits: GP consultations, prescribed acute medication, basic dental procedures, and access to optometry services.
• Hospital Benefits: Private hospital admission, theatre and ward fees, approved medical professional costs, and selected scans while admitted.
• Support Services: Telephonic advice, emergency medical response, and after-hours assistance.

Affinity Health offers several plan options for families - ensuring children, young adults, and seniors receive appropriate care. Popular family options include the Standard Combined Plan for adults aged 18 to 54, as well as dedicated Junior and Senior Combined Plans for children and retirees, respectively.

Why South African Families Choose Combined Insurance

• Predictable monthly costs make family budgeting easier.
• Immediate medical attention from a nationwide network of providers when you need it most.
• Reduced out-of-pocket expenses for hospitalisation and preventive care.

Benefit Breakdown - At a Glance

Benefit	Day-to-Day	Hospital
GP Consultations	Included (limits per year apply)	Only as part of admission
Acute Medication	Covered (subject to formulary)	Not standard; see hospital formulary
Ward/Theatre	Not included	Covered for approved admissions
Dental/Optometry	Included (limits per annum)	Only if procedure in hospital

Explore the specifics for Combined Plan details, and compare with dedicated Day-to-Day Cover or Hospital Plan options.

Selecting the Best Combined Plan for Your Family

The right combined cover depends on factors like family composition, dependants’ ages, healthcare priorities, and monthly affordability. Below is a straightforward process to help families decide:

Step-by-Step Family Selection Guide

1. Review each family member’s current medical care - frequency of GP visits, recurring dental or vision needs, and likelihood of hospital admission.
2. Balance routine care (for children, chronic needs, occupational health) with the potential for serious events (accidents, major illness, surgical procedures).
3. Check policy documents for benefit limits, exclusions, and waiting periods, particularly for maternity or chronic cover.
4. Estimate your total family premium. For example:
   • 1 adult (Standard Combined): R1,099 per month
   • 1 child (Junior Combined): R879 per month
   • 1 senior (Senior Combined): R1,349 per month
5. Confirm nationwide access to providers: Find a network healthcare provider for check-ups or scheduled treatments, and a hospital network for emergencies.

Practical Insights for South African Families

• Young parents often choose higher day-to-day limits for childhood immunisations and frequent check-ups.
• Adults with chronic illnesses benefit from combined plans to streamline costs of routine and in-hospital care.
• Seniors can opt for dedicated plans that prioritise essential chronic, dental, and optical care along with hospital admission protection.

Comparing Affinity Health’s Combined Options

• Junior Combined Cover - for ages 0-17, includes day-to-day and in-hospital events with child-friendly limits.
• Standard Combined Plan - for adults age 18-54, offering balanced cover for those with dependants or busy lifestyles.
• Senior Combined Cover - for individuals 55+, focused on core benefits for retiree and elder care needs.

A combined approach enables South Africans to manage rising healthcare costs and ensure ongoing protection, from minor colds to hospital emergencies. Explore these options to see which matches your family’s needs best.

Sources

• Affinity Health - Combined Plan Details
• Affinity Health - Pricing and Premiums
• MedicalBrief - Healthcare Expenditure in South Africa
• National Department of Health - South Africa
• Statistics South Africa - Health and Demographic Indicators