Medical schemes and the
maternity benefits they offer
Motherhood and pregnancy are times of great anticipation and joy, and
you don’t want it to be overshadowed by financial concerns. We look
at the maternity benefits some of South Africa’s top medical schemes
offer families, but don’t forget to do your own homework. You also have
the option to use an independent broker who will help you choose
the medical aid plan best suited to your, and your family’s, needs.WHAT IS USUALLY COVERED
IN THE MATERNITY BENEFIT?
This differs from scheme to
scheme and according to the
plan you’re on. Bonitas pays for:
● Private room
● Maternity consultations
● 2D ultrasound scans
● Postnatal consultations
● Antenatal classes with a midwife
● Amniocentesis
● Newborn hearing screening
(in or out of hospital)
● Congenital hypothyroidism
screening for children
younger than one month
● Childhood immunisations
● Paediatric consultations.
The availability of these benefits
depends on the plan you have
chosen. Your delivery will be
covered by your hospital benefit.
BIRTH OPTIONS COVERED
● Medically necessary
C-sections on all plans.
● Home births.
BONITAS BABY BAG
All pregnant members can register
to receive a baby bag filled with
a range of useful goodies you’ll
need once your baby arrives.
BABYLINE
Babyline is a dedicated children’s
health advice line, available 24
hours a day, 365 days a year.
The service is run by paediatric
trained nurses who assist with any
queries related to your little one’s
health and wellness. The benefit
is available on all Bonitas plans,
for children under three years.It provides the following
home-care advice:
● Clinic/primary care/GP
referral for the same day.
● Clinic/primary care/GP
referral for the next day.
● After-hours care within
the next six hours.
● Immediate referral to
emergency room.
CHILD CARE BENEFIT
Bonitas also offer a separate benefit
for consultations with a paediatrician
for children under two as well as
additional GP consultations for
children under 12 years.
Visit bonitas.co.za.BONITAS MATERNITY AND CHILD CARE BENEFIT
22 | AUGUST 2019 | L&L
FEDHEALTH MATERNITY
BENEFITS
Fedhealth’s new flexiFED option range
was designed with members’ life
stage in mind and offers generous
maternity and childhood benefits
on their flexiFED 2 and 3 options. The
difference lies in the fact that they
cover many of their great benefits from
Risk – meaning the member doesn’t
have to exhaust their day-to-day
benefit during pregnancy and birth.WHAT IS COVERED IN THE
MATERNITY BENEFITS?
● All pregnant members can join
the Fedhealth Baby Programme
for a beautifully designed
Fedhealth baby bag filled with
baby goodies, and expert advice
that can be accessed 24/7.
● All members and dependants can
also register for the Fedhealth Family
Room online member portal and
join their Baby Bumps community
for interesting reads and rewards.
The following maternity benefits
are covered from Risk – depending
on the option. Any other maternity
expenses will be covered from the
member’s Savings and Wallet:
Depending on the option you
have chosen, they cover:
● Two antenatal scans and either eight
or 12 ante- and postnatal consults
with a midwife, network GP or gynae
● A doula benefit
● A postnatal midwifery benefit
● Private ward cover.
ONCE YOUR BABY IS BORN, THERE’S
ALSO GREAT CHILDHOOD BENEFITS
PAID FROM RISK, SUCH AS:
● Paediatric consults without referral
up to either 12 or 24 months
● An infant hearing screening test
● Childhood immunisations
● Childhood illness specialised drug
benefit for up to 18 years of age.
WHAT BIRTH OPTIONS ARE COVERED?
● On the myFED option there is a
R11 500 co-payment on the hospital
account for elective C-sections,
but on the flexiFED and maxiFED
option ranges there is no co-
payment for elective C-sections.
Members should just note that any
shortfalls caused by non Fedhealth-
network specialists charging
higher rates than the Fedhealth
rate, will be for the member’s own
account. A product like Sanlam
Gap Cover could be an affordable
way to cover these shortfalls.
● Home births are also covered as
well as the hiring of a water bath.
Visit fedhealth.co.za.