The Importance of Maternity Scans and What Health Insurance Includes

Maternity scans are crucial during every stage of pregnancy, allowing healthcare practitioners to closely monitor the mother’s health and the baby’s development. For families and expecting parents in Soweto, understanding how health insurance supports these key scans can help ensure you’re covered for both routine and more complex prenatal care needs.

What counts as a maternity scan?

• Early pregnancy ultrasounds (usually 6-12 weeks)
• Fetal anomaly scans around 18-22 weeks
• Growth and wellbeing assessments later in pregnancy
• Specialist referrals for high-risk pregnancies

These scans can identify possible complications and support ongoing management for healthier outcomes. In South Africa, access to private care is especially valued for shorter waiting times and consistent monitoring.

How Affinity Health supports maternity scans

• Plans with in-hospital maternity protection may cover scans performed during admissions or related complications.
• Out-of-hospital day-to-day cover may include a set benefit for standard maternity care, but routine top-up scans or advanced imaging may be outside of standard allowances.
• Members can use the provider search tool to find a participating healthcare provider offering maternity scan services.

Impacts of reliable scan coverage

• Reduces out-of-pocket costs for essential prenatal tests
• Provides peace of mind throughout pregnancy
• Supports early detection for improved care and simpler treatment decisions

Overview of Affinity Health cover options

Depending on your age and needs, choose from these plan groups:

• Junior Cover (for 0-17 dependants)
• Standard Day-to-Day and Hospital Cover (for adults 18-54)
• Combined Plans for comprehensive protection

For families in Soweto, this ensures accessible prenatal healthcare as personal circumstances and needs change through life stages.

What do health insurance premiums look like?

Typical monthly premiums for plans with day-to-day and hospital benefits (including maternity-related cover) can range from R599 for an adult on day-to-day cover to R1,169 for a combined adult plan. Children and additional dependants are charged at lower rates. All pricing is consistent nationally. Full details are available on the policy rates page.

Selecting the Right Cover for Pregnancy in Soweto

Choosing a suitable plan hinges on considering your stage of pregnancy, anticipated health needs, and whether you may need hospital admission for high-risk scenarios. Below we explore how to assess your options.

Step-by-step guide to evaluating your coverage

1. Review what scans are medically advised during your pregnancy journey (early viability, anatomy, growth, and specialist scans).
2. Check your plan documentation for in-hospital vs out-of-hospital scan cover and respective limits.
3. Use the provider search tool to identify a local Soweto facility familiar with Affinity Health arrangements.
4. Keep a record of referrals and scan reports, as these are often needed for hospital-related benefit claims.

How do plans compare in terms of maternity scan cover?

Plan Type	Out-of-Hospital Maternity Scans	In-Hospital Maternity Scans
Day-to-Day	Limited, may cover routine GP-ordered scans to a set annual benefit	Only if hospital admission is required
Hospital Plan	Not covered	Covered if performed during admission for complications
Combined Plan	As per day-to-day limits	Full maternity-admission scan cover included

For those anticipating complex pregnancies or wishing for maximum reassurance, a combined plan option may provide the broadest protection and limit large bills from unexpected hospital-based scans and specialist services. Review your anticipated needs with a healthcare practitioner to support informed decisions.

Real-world considerations for Soweto families

• Urban settings often have high demand for ultrasound services. Booking in advance using the provider network helps manage waiting times.
• Comparing limits for diagnostic imaging is especially useful for first-time parents and those with pre-existing health risks.

Additional resources for support

Learn more about how plans work by reading the Affinity Health Combined Plan, and use the hospital provider search tool to find locations near you in Soweto.

Sources

• Affinity Health - Combined Plan Information
• Affinity Health - Current Policy Rates
• National Institute for Communicable Diseases
• National Department of Health South Africa