Having cover for you entire family should be considered a necessity but when you have a newborn baby, adequate medical aid cover should be one of your primary concerns. The fact is that newborn babies are at the most delicate stage of their lives and need quality medical care. Unfortunately in South Africa, the best medical care is often within the private health sector but these services are expensive. Should your baby be born premature, have some congenital ailment or just needs to spend a day or two in hospital for jaundice, the fact is that these services are not cheap in private hospitals. Even out-of-hospital care for your newborn baby can be expensive with some paediatricians charging as much as R700 or more per consultation. Then there are all the other doctors, therapists, tests and medication. Newborn baby medical aid cover has to be adequate or you will quickly find yourself in heavy debt.
Medical Aid for Children and Babies Only
Medical aids have a rule that the main member has to be over 18 years old since any younger person is a child and therefore a dependent. Not to confuse the issue though, a child of the main member that is older than 18 years and up to 26 years can also be considered a dependent if they are studying and are supported by the main member. A medical aid for children only can prove to be a major problem especially when there is divorce, remarriage or death of the parents with a guardian taking responsibility for the minor(s). Whether it is a full (comprehensive) medical aid or a medical aid hospital plan only, a child or children need to be under a main member who is 18 years and older. A person’s health status or employment does not matter. It’s a matter of the age of the main member.