BestMed has been around since 1964 and is the largest self administered scheme in South Africa. Additionally, BestMed is the fourth largest open medical scheme and has over 200 000 health clients. The scheme offers a wide range of plans with varying coverage designed to cater to diverse needs and affordability levels. In this articles we’ll conduct a complete review of BestMed, its plans, reviews, prices and packages.
When selecting medical aid, it’s crucial to choose the right plan that suits your specific health needs and budget. Understanding your health coverage and how your medical aid works is essential. Being well-informed about your medical plan allows you to fully benefit from it. At Curemed, our team of independent Advisors works alongside a range of medical aid providers to ensure you have options to choose from. Not only do we provide comparative medical quotes, but we also take the time to ensure our clients are fully aware of the specifics of their health plan. For a complete list of the medical schemes we work with, please visit our blog: 8 of the best medical aids to join in South Africa.
Coverage and Benefits
BestMed offers a wide range of medical plans catering to various healthcare needs and affordability. BestMed plans include:
Beat 1, Beat 1 Network, Rhythm 1 (R0 – R9 000), Rhythm 1 (R9 001 – R14 000), Rhythm 1 (R14 001+), Rhythm 2 (R0 – R5 500), Rhythm 2 (R5 501 – R8 500), Rhythm 2 (R8 501+), Beat 2, Beat 2 Network, Beat 3, Beat 3 Network, Beat 3 Plus, Pace 1, Beat 4, Pace 2, Pace 3, Pace 4.
BestMed Coverage and Benefits:
The plans listed above can be categorised into the following groups: Hospital Plans, Income-Based Plans, Savings Plans and Comprehensive Plans. Each plan type is tailored for specific healthcare needs and financial situations.
Hospital Plans
Hospital plans cover the costs associated with hospitalisation, including surgeries, treatments and related surgeries during a hospital stay. It’s important to identify the percentage of the scheme tariff that your specific medical plan covers.
BestMed’s list of Hospital Plans:
- Beat 1
This plan provides in-hospital coverage at an entry level, making it a cost-effective option for those seeking basic hospital coverage.
- Beat 1 Network
Similar in-hospital coverage to the Beat 1 plan, but makes use of network hospitals to help reduce monthly premiums.
Income-Based Plans
Network Plans provide affordable healthcare solutions by offering services through a selected network of providers. These plans are ideal for individuals and families seeking cost-effective options, as they include reduced monthly premiums.
BestMed’s list of Income-Based Plans
BestMed’s income-based plans operate within a network of designated service providers and cover specific unlimited in-hospital treatments. BestMed offers two main income-based plans: Rhythm 1 and Rhythm 2. The level of coverage differs between these two categories, the subsets within each plan provide the same level of coverage.
- Rhythm 1 covers specified unlimited in-hospital treatments when network providers are used and has an overall annual limit for hospitalisation.
- Rhythm 2 includes unlimited cover for designated in-hospital treatments with network providers and has no overall annual limit for hospitalisation.
The premium varies according to the income bracket specified next to each plan name.
- Rhythm 1 (R0 – R9 000)
- Rhythm 1 (R9 001 – R14 000)
- Rhythm 1 (R14 001+)
- Rhythm 2 (R0 – R5 500)
- Rhythm 2 (R5 501 – R8 500)
- Rhythm 2 (R8 501+)
Savings Plans
Savings Plans offer hospital cover with a savings account which can be used for day-to-day medical expenses such as doctor visits, prescriptions, and other out-of-hospital services.
BestMed’s list of savings plans:
- Beat 2
Includes in-hospital cover with a limited savings account for general out of hospital expenses.
- Beat 2 Network
Similar in-hospital coverage as Beat 2 but uses network providers, offering reduced premiums with the benefits of a savings plan.
- Beat 3
Offers more in-hospital coverage and a larger medical savings account (MSA).
- Beat 3 Network
Provides similar in-hospital cover as Beat 3 and the same savings benefit at a lower cost due to designated network providers.
- Beat 3 Plus
The most extensive plan on the Beat series with added maternity benefits, basic optometry benefits, additional in-hospital cover and a generous savings account.
Comprehensive Plans
Brief explanation of comprehensive plans:
BestMed’s list of comprehensive plans:
- Pace 1
Hospital cover with added day to day benefits and access to savings.
- Beat 4
In-hospital coverage for specific healthcare needs and savings features.
- Pace 2
In-hospital cover with various out of hospital cover and added savings benefits.
- Pace 3
Flexible in-hospital cover, enhanced with added savings and certain day-to-day benefits for various out-of-hospital expenses.
- Pace 4
The highest medical aid plan available from BestMed. Offers comprehensive hospital cover at 100% of scheme tariff. Pace 4 includes additional day-to-day benefits and substantial savings.
Pricing Structure
BestMed Pricing:
The premiums for BestMed’s medical aid plans vary based on the level of coverage and the plan type. For income-based plans, premiums are determined by the member’s income bracket. A range of premiums cater to different financial situations, ensuring affordability while maintaining access to private healthcare. BestMed’s medical aid plans include a monthly premium, which may be adjusted annually. Depending on the specific plan, additional costs can include co-payments for certain services, out-of-network provider fees, and fees for non-essential treatments.
Comparison of plans and pricing
Below is a comparison table of different medical aid plans and pricing tiers offered by BestMed. The precise monthly premium and additional costs may vary depending on specific details provided by BestMed and the main member, such as age, family size, and selected options within each plan.
| Comparison of BestMed’s Medical Aids and Pricing | ||
| Plan Name | Coverage Type | Monthly Premium |
| Beat 1 | Hospital Plan | R2,082 |
| Beat 1 Network | Hospital Plan | R1,873 |
| Rhythm 1 (R0 – R9 000) | Income-Based Plan | R1,432 |
| Rhythm 1 (R9 001 – R14 000) | Income-Based Plan | R1,670 |
| Rhythm 1 (R14 001+) | Income-Based Plan | R2,983 |
| Rhythm 2 (R0 – R5 500) | Income-Based Plan | R2,100 |
| Rhythm 2 (R5 501 – R8 500) | Income-Based Plan | R2,523 |
| Rhythm 2 (R8 501+) | Income-Based Plan | R3,027 |
| Beat 2 | Savings Plan | R2,545 |
| Beat 2 Network | Network Savings Plan | R2,289 |
| Beat 3 | Savings Plan | R3,724 |
| Beat 3 Network | Network Savings Plan | R3,352 |
| Beat 3 Plus | Savings Plan | R4,300 |
| Pace 1 | Comprehensive Plan | R6,059 |
| Beat 4 | Comprehensive Plan | R5,061 |
| Pace 2 | Comprehensive Plan | R7,212 |
| Pace 3 | Comprehensive Plan | R8,280 |
| Pace 4 | Comprehensive Plan | R10,343 |
Visit other pricing comparisons of medical aids here:
- Bonitas vs Momentum Health: Comprehensive Comparison, Packages, Prices, and Reviews
- Momentum Health vs Discovery Health:Comprehensive Comparison, Packages, Prices, and Reviews
- List of Medical Aid Schemes in South Africa
Member Reviews and Satisfaction
BestMed Member Reviews:
“4 Stars, 30 July 2024
Medical Aid
Best medical aid I’ve been on in years. Never had an instance where they unwilling to pay for a valid claim. They can work a bit on their communication skills, with providers, customers and inter department alike.”
“2 Stars, 14 March 2024
Joining Delayed
I’ve been trying to switch to Besmed since November 2023 and if it isn’t the broker not doing their job, it’s Besmed being absolutely ridiculous with requirements and forms and certificates and this and that and what not. I’ve been a member of medical aid since 1997 and my father (a dependent on my medical aid) since 1979, but some of the medical aids he was on doesn’t exist anymore. It is understandable that Bestmed requires previous membership certificates and / or an affidavit stating such. And, when you provide them thereof, they still penalise you. All my colleagues are happy with Besmed and I thought that it must be time to switch, but it doesn’t look like Bestmed really want my business.”
“1 Star, 23 August 2024
Hard to reach
Very hard to reach. I spent 15 min trying to get through to a consultant today and eventually had to drop the call. Never had these types of issues with other medical aids before.”
Customer reviews of BestMed vary, as they do with other medical aids, with experiences ranging depending on the specific plan.
As an independent Advisory Firm, we understand that health needs vary for each person, which is why we offer guidance and assistance throughout the often overwhelming process. Curemed’s Medical Aid Advisors are dedicated to ensuring you select the right plan for your health needs and that you understand all aspects of it.
Summary of key points discussed in the comparison.
Overall, BestMed offers a variety of medical aid plans designed to meet various healthcare needs and affordability. As previously mentioned, BestMed’s plans can be categorised as: Hospital Plans, Income-Based Plans, Savings Plans, and Comprehensive Plans. Due to the level of coverage ranging between these plans, the pricing and premiums vary accordingly.
Curemed offers personalised guidance to help you navigate the complexities of selecting the right medical aid plan for your individualised needs and suited to your pocket. Our assistance doesn’t end there, we’re #alwaysthereforyou with dedicated administrative services and ongoing health support.
Overview of BestMed:
BestMed is a popular medical scheme in South Africa, serving over 200 000 health clients since it started in 1964. BestMed offers a variety of plans, starting from entry level options to comprehensive plans satisfying a large range of needs.
Disclaimer: Terms and Conditions apply. This blogpost and the information contained within it is intended for information and consumption purposes only and does not by any means supersede the Rules of the Scheme. In the event of any discrepancy between this article and the Rules of the Scheme, the Rules of the Scheme will prevail. Curemed is a licensed financial service provider with the FSCA, FSP 44098
