Last reviewed: October 2026. We review our guides regularly to keep them accurate.
By Hagop Jaghlassian, CEO and Certified Financial Planner at Curemed. Reviewed by Roxanne Hurter-Ehlers, Director of People and Governance.
The KeyHealth increase for 2027 is not a single figure. Contributions on the six KeyHealth options rise by between 7.9% and 9.9% for the 2027 benefit year, which starts on 1 January 2027. Origin rises by 7.9%, Equilibrium, Silver and Gold by 8.5%, Essence by 9.3% and Platinum by 9.9%. A principal member on Essence pays R223 more a month and a principal member on Platinum pays R1,371 more. The tables below give every 2027 figure by option and for a family of four.
In short: KeyHealth increase 2027
- KeyHealth has not published an average increase. By option the 2027 rise is 7.9% on Origin, 8.5% on Equilibrium, Silver and Gold, 9.3% on Essence and 9.9% on Platinum.
- Principal member contributions for 2027 run from R2,616 on Essence to R15,211 on Platinum. Equilibrium and Gold totals include the medical savings account.
- A family of four pays between R561 (Essence) and R2,912 (Platinum) more each month in 2027, which is R6,732 to R34,944 more over the year.
- The same six options continue into 2027 with no option added or removed.
- For employer groups on the KeyHealth subsidy schedule, the 60% employer subsidy cap rises 4.8% to R6,066.23 a month, so the member share can rise by a larger percentage than the contribution itself.
What is the KeyHealth increase for 2027 by option?
Curemed compared the official KeyHealth 2027 contribution schedule with the official 2026 Monthly Premium Table, line by line. The six option names stay the same. The Equilibrium and Gold figures include the medical savings account, so each line is what the member pays every month.
| Option | 2026 principal | 2027 principal | Rand increase | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essence | R2,393 | R2,616 | R223 | 9.3% |
| Origin | R2,633 | R2,842 | R209 | 7.9% |
| Equilibrium | R3,296 | R3,575 | R279 | 8.5% |
| Silver | R5,857 | R6,352 | R495 | 8.5% |
| Gold | R8,675 | R9,409 | R734 | 8.5% |
| Platinum | R13,840 | R15,211 | R1,371 | 9.9% |
Adult and child dependants move by the same percentage as the principal member on each option. On Essence an adult dependant goes from R1,918 to R2,096 and a child from R862 to R942. On Platinum the adult rate rises from R9,704 to R10,665 and the child rate from R2,924 to R3,214. On Silver and Equilibrium, contributions are charged for a maximum of three child dependants. The round-up of 2027 medical aid increases places these figures alongside the other schemes Curemed has analysed.
What does a family of four pay on KeyHealth in 2027?
Percentages become real when they are added up for a household. The table takes a principal member, one adult dependant and two child dependants.
| Option | 2026 family total | 2027 family total | Extra a month | Increase | Extra a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essence | R6,035 | R6,596 | R561 | 9.3% | R6,732 |
| Origin | R6,227 | R6,721 | R494 | 7.9% | R5,928 |
| Equilibrium | R7,359 | R7,982 | R623 | 8.5% | R7,476 |
| Silver | R11,457 | R12,427 | R970 | 8.5% | R11,640 |
| Gold | R17,952 | R19,472 | R1,520 | 8.5% | R18,240 |
| Platinum | R29,392 | R32,304 | R2,912 | 9.9% | R34,944 |
The rand column tells a different story from the percentage column. Essence carries a higher percentage than Origin, yet the Origin family still pays R125 more a month in total contributions in 2027, because Origin starts from a higher base. The Platinum family pays R2,912 more a month, close to R35,000 more over the year.
Why do the six KeyHealth options rise by different percentages?
Curemed does not speculate on the pricing decisions of the scheme. What the figures show is that the percentage and the rand amount answer different questions, and option design explains the gap.
Essence is a hospital option. The 2027 booklet describes unlimited private hospital benefits subject to Scheme rules and the use of designated service providers, cover for the 26 conditions on the Chronic Disease List, and no general day-to-day benefit beyond preventative and listed benefits.
Origin adds day-to-day, dental and enhanced optical benefits and also covers 26 chronic conditions. Its 7.9% is below the other five options, and its rand increase of R209 is also below the other five.
Equilibrium and Gold include a medical savings account inside the contribution. For 2027 the Equilibrium savings portion is R260 a month for the principal member, R161 for an adult and R80 for a child. On Gold it is R827, R559 and R162. That part of the contribution funds day-to-day claims for the member rather than risk cover. Equilibrium covers 30 chronic conditions and Gold covers 44.
Silver covers 30 chronic conditions and adds extra child doctor visits. Platinum covers 55 chronic conditions and works with a self-funding gap and threshold. It starts from a higher base and carries a higher percentage than any other option, which is why its principal member increase of R1,371 is more than six times the Essence figure. Every option states unlimited private hospital benefits subject to scheme rules and DSP use.
How does the KeyHealth employer subsidy cap change for 2027?
This section applies to members in employer groups on the KeyHealth employer subsidy schedule, not to every KeyHealth member. The 2027 schedule states that the employer contribution is a 60% subsidy up to a maximum of R6,066.23 a month. The 2026 equivalent, the KeyHealth Local Government Table 2026, stated 60% up to R5,791.15. The cap therefore rises by 4.8%.
The arithmetic matters. Every option rises by 7.9% or more, while the cap rises by 4.8%. Where a family contribution is high enough for the cap to apply, the rand cost above the cap falls entirely on the member, so the member share can rise by a larger percentage than the total contribution.
Members on a subsidy should check three things on the first 2027 payslip: the total contribution, the employer subsidy actually applied, and the member deduction. If the deduction has risen by more than the percentage for the option, the cap is the likely reason.
How does the KeyHealth increase compare with other schemes for 2027?
A caveat first. The schemes quoted below have published weighted averages, while KeyHealth has published only per option contributions and no average, so the comparison is between a range and averages and is not like for like.
With that said, an IOL article of 2 October 2026 reported the following 2027 figures: Discovery Health Medical Scheme between 7.4% and 8.9% by plan with a weighted average of 8.2%, Bestmed a weighted average of 7.35%, Medihelp a weighted average of 7.5%, Momentum Medical Scheme an average of 7.9% and Medshield 7.9%. The article also mentions a Council for Medical Schemes benchmark of 3.8%. KeyHealth is not covered in it.
Against those figures, Origin at 7.9% sits within the range of the other schemes. Equilibrium, Silver and Gold at 8.5% sit above every average quoted but inside the Discovery plan range. Essence at 9.3% and Platinum at 9.9% sit above every average quoted and above the top of the Discovery range. All six options rise by more than double the 3.8% benchmark published by the Council for Medical Schemes.
What can KeyHealth members do before the 2027 benefit year?
Start with your own line in the tables, not with a scheme average that does not exist. This article covers contributions only, and benefit changes against 2026 have not been compared here, so read the 2027 benefit brochure on the KeyHealth website for the option you are on and the option you are considering.
Next, test option fit. A member on Platinum who rarely reaches the threshold, or a member on Gold who does not use the savings account each year, may be paying for a structure that does not match the claims pattern of the household. A member on Essence with growing day-to-day costs may find the step up to Origin smaller than expected, since the two 2027 principal rates are R226 apart. Members may change option at the annual window set out in the rules of the scheme. Our guide on how to choose a medical aid in South Africa sets out the questions to ask.
Finally, compare beyond the scheme. The Curemed medical aid comparison places KeyHealth options next to other schemes at similar price points. A move between schemes can carry waiting periods and late joiner penalties under the Medical Schemes Act, so compare carefully first.
If you would like help with your 2027 KeyHealth options, a Curemed Advisor can compare your current option with the alternatives inside and outside the scheme, work through the subsidy arithmetic for an employer group, and show where Gap Cover may help with co-payments and shortfalls, depending on the policy. A member with another intermediary can move to Curemed as Advisor of record without changing option or scheme. Curemed has advised members since 1992 across all nine provinces, with no obligation attached to a conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the medical savings account part of the KeyHealth increase?
Yes, on Equilibrium and Gold. The 2026 and 2027 totals in this article include the medical savings account, so the percentage increase applies to the full amount the member pays each month. For 2027 the savings portion is R260 a month for an Equilibrium principal member and R827 for a Gold principal member. Essence, Origin, Silver and Platinum have no savings account.
Does a fourth child on KeyHealth cost extra in 2027?
On Silver and Equilibrium, contributions are charged for a maximum of three child dependants, according to the 2027 options booklet. A family with four or more children on those two options therefore pays for three child dependants. This article does not cover the position for Essence, Origin, Gold and Platinum, so confirm it with the scheme or an Advisor.
Who claims the tax credit when a parent pays the KeyHealth contribution?
The taxpayer who paid the contributions claims the medical scheme fees tax credit, not automatically the person named as the member. If a parent pays for a child who is the principal member on KeyHealth, the parent claims the credit provided the child is a dependant of the parent for tax purposes. The same contributions may not be claimed by two taxpayers.
Do waiting periods apply if I move to KeyHealth from another scheme?
Possibly. Section 29A of the Medical Schemes Act allows a scheme to impose waiting periods, and late joiner penalties can also apply. A member who moves without a break of more than 90 days has creditable coverage, which limits what can be imposed. An applicant with no cover in the preceding 90 days may have prescribed minimum benefits excluded during a waiting period, so check before resigning from an existing scheme.
Does this article cover KeyHealth benefit changes for 2027?
No. It covers the 2027 contributions and the employer subsidy cap only. Benefit changes against 2026 have not been compared. Members should read the 2027 benefit brochure for their option, and an Advisor can explain how any benefit change interacts with the new contribution.
Hagop Jaghlassian
CEO and Certified Financial Planner | Curemed Health and Wealth Consultants
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