Over the past years, South Africa’s private healthcare sector has seen a steady increase in benefit utilisation, largely driven by an ageing membership and the growing prevalence of chronic conditions. This combined with a weakening Rand and resultant medical inflation well exceeding CPI, the cost of medical care and of medical aid contributions increase seemingly exponentially.
With membership numbers remaining stagnant, medical schemes are now faced with covering higher costs from reducing inflows. The result. Contributions increase while benefits are gradually reduced each year.
On average, members will need to cover between 8% to 10% more of their healthcare costs in 2026; this includes co-payments for hospital procedures, limited specialist visits, and reduced chronic medication benefits.
At Wealth and Asset Advisors, we market and advise on five of South Africa’s leading medical schemes. Here’s a summary of their 2026 updates:
Discovery Health
- Market share: 58% (SA’s largest open medical scheme)
- Solvency ratio: 31.6% (sound and stable and well above the required 25%)
- Weighted average contribution increase: 7.2% — effective 1 April 2026 (this has been deferred for 3 months due to the scheme’s elevated solvency ratio)
- New additions:
- Smart Saver Plan launched
- Added benefits to the FlexiCare Product
- Discovery offers 17 plan types
BestMed
- Solvency ratio: 33.48%
- Annual increase: 6.8% across all plans
- Enhanced benefits:
- Expanded female health cover (contraception, IUDs)
- Broader cancer screening options under preventative care
- BestMed offers 11 plan types
Bonitas
- Market position: SA’s second-largest open scheme
- Annual increase: 8.8% for 2026
- New plans launched:
- Includes a digitally enabled hospital plan for young adults (ages 22–35). Starting at R1,275.00 per beneficiary per month
- Bonitas offers 16 plan types.
MediHelp
- Annual increase: 8.46%
- New partnership: Collaboration with Old Mutual
- New plan: MedReach for employer groups
- Enhanced hospital networks for MedVital, especially in Cape Town
- Additional flexibility:
- Children under 18 can now be on their own plan (principal member rates apply)
- Grandparents can add grandchildren without proof of dependency (child/minor rates apply)
- MediHelp offers 11 plan types
Momentum Health
- Average weighted increase: 9.9%
- Solvency ratio: 30.3%
- Enhanced benefits on Health4Me:
- Increased emergency booster and casualty cover
- Added benefits for MRI & CT scans, prosthetics, assistive devices, and rehabilitation services (subject to clinical approval)
- Momentum offers 6 plan types.
Gap Cover Update — Turnberry
Even the best medical aid plans leave room for costly shortfalls. Doctors often charge more than medical aid rates, and hospitals may impose co-payments not covered by plans leaving members with substantial out-of-pocket expenses.
Our preferred Gap Cover partner is Turnberry.
- Annual average plan increases: 9.5%
- Turnberry has launched a new plan, the Dynamic Plan for 2026.
- Designed for: Younger healthcare consumers seeking flexibility and affordability
- Premiums start at: R180.00 per month (ages 0–29)
- Turnberry offers 6 plan types.
In summary
Choosing the right plan is more important than ever, and remember, members can only upgrade once a year in the window period between October and early December. If you’re unsure whether your current plan still suits your healthcare needs, now is the time to review your cover.
Contact your Wealth and Asset Advisor today to schedule your 2026 Medical Aid Review.
