Medical aid waiting periods – What you need to know
5 March 2025
No Comments
Navigating medical aid waiting periods is essential for making informed healthcare decisions. In this guide, we explore:
- Why waiting periods exist – Protecting medical schemes from financial risk while ensuring fairness for all members.
- How reserves are maintained – Understanding how member contributions sustain the risk pool and prevent rapid depletion.
- Types of waiting periods – From general waiting periods to condition-specific exclusions and how they impact cover.
- Waiting periods when switching medical aids –What happens when you move between schemes and whether previous waiting periods carry over.
- Dependants and waiting periods – When family members may face their own waiting periods, even if the main member has completed theirs.
- Disputing or waiving a waiting period – Situations where waiting periods may not apply and when they can be challenged.
