The Importance of Scan Benefits for Maternity and Children’s Health

Scan benefits are a crucial element of healthcare coverage for families in South Africa. During pregnancy and throughout early childhood, access to diagnostic scans enables healthcare practitioners to monitor development, detect risks early, and ensure the best possible outcomes for mother and child. Many South African families seek clarity about how medical insurance can support scan costs, what types of scans are involved, and which plan options best align with these needs.

Types of Maternity and Paediatric Scans Covered

• Prenatal (Antenatal) Ultrasounds: Used to monitor foetal growth, check due dates, and assess maternal health during pregnancy.
• Foetal Anomaly Scans: Conducted to detect possible congenital conditions or structural abnormalities.
• Routine Growth Scans: Repeated throughout pregnancy for high-risk cases or complications.
• Paediatric Scan Benefits: Cover for routine or diagnostic scans (e.g., X-rays, ultrasounds) if medically necessary for children.

Private Health Insurance and Maternity/Children’s Scans

While state facilities offer certain maternity scans for free, private healthcare provides faster access, shorter wait times, and greater flexibility in provider choice-making health insurance an essential financial safeguard for many. Affinity Health offers plan options for families, children and expecting mothers, tailored to ensure common pregnancy and paediatric scan needs are accessible and affordable.

When Are Scans Typically Required?

• Prenatal: First-trimester dating scan, mid-pregnancy anomaly scan, additional scans as advised by healthcare practitioners.
• Children: Scans for injury, persistent symptoms, or chronic conditions, as referred by a healthcare provider.

Affinity Health: Cover Across Ages and Needs

Compare plan pricing and benefit levels for children and families to better understand included scan benefits.

Scan Benefit Details: What to Know Before Choosing a Plan

Common Questions About Scan Cover

• Coverage typically applies to scans for diagnostic, not screening, purposes-i.e., scans requested by a healthcare provider for a defined medical need.
• Referral by a registered healthcare provider is almost always required for claims approval.
• Benefit limits may apply per event/year, so reviewing plan documents is essential.
• Hospital-based scans (conducted during an admission) are usually included in day-to-day plus hospital combination plans.

Key Considerations for South African Families

• Check which providers are in-network for scan cover-use the Provider Finder for up-to-date locations nationwide.
• Combined plans often bundle day-to-day (non-hospital) and in-hospital scan cover for children.
• Maternity scan benefits are included in many family-oriented health insurance offerings, supporting affordable private screening.

Accessing Scan Benefits for Children

1. Schedule an appointment with a registered healthcare provider for evaluation.
2. Upon referral, select an approved provider, ensuring that your plan includes the type of scan recommended.
3. Submit claims and pre-authorisation as required by your health insurance policy.

Plan Comparison: Affinity Junior vs Combined Plan

Find details on both the Combined Plan and children’s dedicated options to ensure you select the most suitable scan cover for your family’s needs.

Sources

• Affinity Health - Junior Health Cover
• Affinity Health - Combined Plans
• South African Government - Child Health Services
• MedicalBrief - Antenatal Screening in SA