Benefits of a Full Medical Cover for Couples

Reliable health insurance is essential for couples who want security and peace of mind across all life stages. Whether you are planning for the future, expecting a new addition, or simply safeguarding each other’s health, having both day-to-day and hospital protection means you are covered for regular medical needs as well as major events.

Key Features of Complete Medical Insurance

• Day-to-day benefits: Routine healthcare expenses including GP consultations, prescribed acute medicines, basic dentistry, and optometry.
• Hospital benefits: In-hospital procedures, accident admission, planned surgeries, maternity events, and necessary scans while admitted.
• Emergency services: After-hours medical advice and access to private hospital networks in urgent situations.

Comparing Cover for Couples: What to Consider

• Assess your expected outpatient healthcare use (general check-ups, dental, eye care).
• Factor in risks for hospitalisation, such as chronic conditions, pregnancy, or sports injuries.
• Review benefit caps, waiting periods for certain procedures, and how exclusions may impact your needs.

Cost Overview for Couples

Standard combined plans for adults aged 18-54 are available from R1,518 per adult per month. For couples, this equates to starting premiums of R3,036 per month, depending on plan selections. These options strive to make private healthcare more accessible without sacrificing important benefits.

Customising Your Health Protection

• Choose a plan range that suits your life stage: Standard (18-54), Senior (55+), or Innovator for modern healthcare needs.
• Upgrade to a higher benefit level if you anticipate increased healthcare requirements.
• Adjust excess options to balance lower premiums with manageable out-of-pocket payments during hospital admissions.

Affinity Health offers Combined Plans so you don’t have to compromise on protection. For those seeking only routine or in-hospital benefits, separate day-to-day or hospital plan options are available.

Understanding Plan Options and Choosing What Fits

Selecting medical cover as a couple means considering your shared health profile, professions, and lifecycle events. For young working couples, essential outpatient cover and lower excesses may be attractive; for those planning a family, maternity and hospital benefits are crucial; while older couples may need increased limits for chronic and hospital care.

Overview of Plan Ranges Suitable for Couples

How Provider Networks Add Value

Utilise Affinity Health’s extensive network of private providers for smooth claims and access to healthcare practitioners. You can locate a suitable doctor or hospital using:

• Find a Provider tool for day-to-day care.
• Find a Hospital Provider tool for admissions and emergencies.

Practical Steps for Couples to Get Started

1. Discuss anticipated healthcare needs for the next year (routine, emergencies, maternity, chronic management).
2. Review combined and separate plan benefits and match to your requirements.
3. Calculate your budget, considering both monthly premiums and likely out-of-pocket expenses based on excess options.
4. Check waiting periods for surgical procedures or maternity where relevant.

Why Couples Prefer Private Health Insurance

• Shared access to private hospitals for improved recovery and outcomes.
• Faster appointment scheduling for joint visits and family healthcare needs.
• Budget-friendly options compared to unmanaged private costs or state facility queues.

Sources

• Affinity Health: Premium Rates and Plan Options
• Affinity Health: Combined Health Plans Explained
• Affinity Health: Senior Cover Overview
• National Department of Health (South Africa)
• Statistics South Africa: Healthcare Usage