A medical savings account is the part of your medical aid contribution set aside for day-to-day claims, capped at 25% by Regulation 10 and advanced in full each January. This guide explains repayment, carry-over, payouts when you leave, the 2027 savings amounts by scheme and how savings affect your tax.
A legitimate medical aid broker is accredited by the Council for Medical Schemes and licensed by the FSCA for health service benefits. How to check both registers, what a broker may be paid, what you must receive in writing, and where to complain.
Section 29A of the Medical Schemes Act caps what a medical scheme may impose when you join or switch. Here is how the three month and 12 month waiting periods work for a 1 January 2027 move.
Four Gap Cover providers have published 2027 premiums. Curemed compares the 2026 and 2027 rate sheets of TRA, Stratum, Discovery and Momentum: increases of 0% to 9.1% at TRA, 9.4% to 9.7% at Stratum, 8.9% to 9.8% at Discovery, and 9.3% to 25.3% at Momentum, with every premium by product and band.
TRA has published its 2027 Gap Cover premiums. Curemed compares the 2026 and 2027 brochures: Basic Cover 300 individual unchanged at R99, Vital Cover Plus up 6.4% to 6.6%, Super Cover Plus and Absolute Cover Plus up about 9%, with the benefit limit changes.
Medshield states a weighted average increase of 7.9% for 2027, but by option it runs from 5.9% on MediCurve to 9.9% on PremiumPlus, MediBonus, MediSaver and MediCore. Curemed sets out every 2026 and 2027 contribution, the family of four cost, the new child dependant age of 24 and the 31 December option change deadline.
Bonitas will raise contributions by an average of 8.7% across all plans for 2027, with increases from 7.3% to 11.5% by option. Every 2026 and 2027 figure, family costs, BonCap bands and what is known about Standard Select are set out here.
Bestmed will raise contributions by an average weighted 7.35% for 2027, as reported by Moonstone and FAnews. All but one option rise by 6.5% to 8.5% for a principal member, while Rhythm2 members face up to 17.0% after an income band change. Option changes must be received before 31 December. Every 2026 and 2027 figure is set out here.
KeyHealth states an 8.5% overall weighted increase for 2027 and launches a seventh option, Core, at R1,460. On the six existing options the rise runs from 7.9% on Origin to 9.9% on Platinum, with every 2026 and 2027 contribution, a family of four example and the employer subsidy cap set out here.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme contributions rise by a weighted average of 8.2% from 1 January 2027, within a range of 7.4% to 8.9%. Curemed compares the official 2026 and 2027 contribution tables for all 21 existing plans, the 14 KeyCare income bands and the new Active Core plan.
