In short
- There is no single price: cost depends on the plan type, the number of dependants, your age when you join, and the scheme.
- Hospital and network plans are the most affordable tier; comprehensive plans are the most expensive.
- SARS Medical Scheme Fees Tax Credit for 2026/2027: R376 a month for the main member, R376 for the first dependant, and R254 for each additional dependant.
- Join a scheme before age 35 to avoid a permanent late joiner penalty.
- An accredited broker costs you nothing extra; the contribution is the same as going direct.
Last reviewed: July 2026. We review our guides regularly to keep them accurate.
Short answer: there is no single price for medical aid in South Africa. What you pay depends on the type of plan you choose, how many people you cover, your age when you join, and the scheme itself. This guide explains what actually drives the cost, how the medical tax credit reduces it, and how to work out a realistic budget, without the sales spin.
By Martin Janse van Rensburg, Sales Manager and Financial Advisor at Curemed. Reviewed by Roxanne Hurter-Ehlers, Director of People and Governance.
The honest answer: cost follows cover
Medical aid is priced on the cover you choose, not on a flat monthly fee. A basic hospital plan sits at the bottom of the price range, and a full comprehensive plan with rich day to day benefits sits at the top. Everything in between, savings plans, network plans and hybrid options, is a trade between what you pay every month and what the scheme pays when you claim. The wider the cover and the bigger the hospital and provider network, the higher the contribution.
This is why two families can pay very different amounts and both be getting fair value. The right number is the one that buys the cover you actually need.
What actually drives your monthly contribution
The plan type you choose
Hospital plans cover you mainly for admissions and emergencies. Savings or saver plans add a medical savings account for day to day costs like GP visits and medicine. Comprehensive plans add generous chronic, specialist and above threshold cover. Each step up adds cost.
How many people you cover
You pay a contribution for the main member, usually a different rate for an adult dependant such as a spouse, and a lower rate for each child. Most schemes cap the number of children they charge for, so a larger family does not always pay per child without limit.
Your age when you join
This is the factor most people miss. If you join a medical scheme for the first time after age 35 without proof of prior continuous cover, the scheme may apply a late joiner penalty. That is a permanent loading added to your contribution for as long as you stay a member, and the longer you delay, the higher the penalty band. It is set out in the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998 and its regulations.
Income, on some schemes
Some schemes, including the closed scheme GEMS and certain entry level options, set contributions by income band, so lower earners pay less for the same option. Most open scheme plans charge a flat contribution per option regardless of what you earn.
The cover floor every scheme must provide
By law, every registered scheme must cover the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) on every option, a defined list of conditions, chronic diseases and emergencies. Richer plans add cover above that legal floor, which is part of what you pay more for.
The main plan types, and roughly what you get
| Plan type | Mainly covers | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital / network plan | In hospital treatment and emergencies, plus PMBs, often through a restricted hospital network | Younger, healthy members who want protection against big costs at the lowest contribution |
| Savings / saver plan | Hospital cover plus a medical savings account for day to day claims | Families who want some day to day cover and can manage a savings pot |
| Comprehensive plan | Hospital, large day to day and chronic cover, and above threshold benefits | Members with chronic conditions, young families, or anyone wanting the widest cover |
The medical tax credit lowers the real cost
SARS gives every taxpayer on a medical scheme a Medical Scheme Fees Tax Credit. It is a fixed amount taken straight off the tax you owe, not a deduction off your income, so it is worth the same whatever you earn. For the 2026/2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027) the credit is R376 a month for the main member, R376 for the first dependant, and R254 for each additional dependant. For a family of four that works out to R1,260 a month, or R15,120 a year, back in your pocket. Because the amount is fixed, it reduces the real cost of a cheaper plan proportionally more than an expensive one.
So how much should you budget?
There is no fixed rule, and a responsible Advisor will not quote you a number before understanding your situation. As a planning starting point, the better question is not how cheap a plan can be, but how little you can pay for cover that still protects you against the costs you are most likely to face. For a young, healthy single person that may be a hospital or network plan. For a family with young children or a chronic condition, a savings or comprehensive plan usually works out better value despite the higher contribution, because the day to day and chronic cover does real work. A written needs analysis is what turns that question into an actual figure.
Scheme contributions are reviewed and published every year, usually with effect from January, so any rand figure you see online dates quickly. The only price you can rely on is a current, personalised quote.
Common and costly mistakes
- Buying on monthly price alone, then finding the cheap plan excludes your hospital or doctor from its network.
- Delaying cover past age 35 and triggering a permanent late joiner penalty.
- Downgrading to a hospital plan while on chronic medicine, and losing the chronic benefit that paid for it.
- Assuming a hospital plan covers everyday GP, dentist and optometry visits. It usually does not.
How an independent broker keeps the cost honest
Using an accredited broker costs you nothing extra. Broker remuneration is regulated and already built into the scheme contribution, so you pay exactly the same whether you go direct or through an Advisor. What you gain is someone who compares options across schemes, factors in the tax credit and any penalty, and puts a recommendation in writing after a needs analysis under the FAIS Act. Curemed has done this as an independent, FSCA licensed brokerage (FSP 44098) since 1992.
Frequently asked questions
How much does medical aid cost per month in South Africa?
There is no single price. It depends on the plan type, the number of people covered, your age when you join, and the scheme. Hospital plans are the most affordable tier and comprehensive plans the most expensive. The only accurate figure is a personalised quote based on your needs.
What is the cheapest type of medical aid?
A hospital or network plan is usually the lowest cost option, because it covers mainly in hospital treatment and emergencies, often through a restricted hospital network, rather than day to day expenses.
Does the tax credit really reduce what I pay?
Yes. The SARS Medical Scheme Fees Tax Credit is deducted directly from the tax you owe. For 2026/2027 it is R376 a month each for the first two members and R254 for each additional dependant, and it applies regardless of income.
Is medical aid cheaper if I go direct instead of through a broker?
No. Broker remuneration is regulated and already included in the contribution, so the price is identical. A broker adds independent comparison and advice at no extra cost.
Want to know what it would actually cost you?
Get a free, independent comparison across schemes, with the tax credit and any penalty factored in. Same price as going direct, with advice on your side.
New to this? Start with our pillar guide on how to choose a medical aid in South Africa, and if you already have a plan, read about closing the shortfall with Gap Cover.
Martin Janse van Rensburg
Sales Manager and Financial Advisor | Curemed Health and Wealth Consultants
