Health insurance in South Africa
Before you leave for South Africa, make sure you take out a South Africa health insurance policy!
South Africa, while blessed with breathtaking scenery and immense cultural wealth, can present challenges when it comes to health. Indeed, the protection offered by health insurance in South Africa is an essential investment to guarantee your peace of mind throughout your South African journey.
At Mondassur, we understand that each individual’s medical coverage needs are unique. That’s why we offer a range of flexible, customized options. These are designed to meet all your requirements. Whether you’re an expatriate or an international student, we have the right health insurance solution for you.
Student insurance South Africa
The insurance that covers your stay for your studies in South Africa.
From
27€
- Worldwide coverage
- Maximum age: 35
- Covers emergencies and accidents
- Covers hospitalization and routine medical care
- Up to €250,000 per year
- Standard dental and optical expenses up to €550
- Contraception coverage + vaccines
- Maternity care
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Repatriation assistance
- Civil liability
- Individual protection
Expatriate insurance South Africa
Health insurance to cover your expatriation to South Africa.
From
93€
- Worldwide coverage
- Minimum age: 14
- Maximum age: 65
- Covers hospitalization and routine medical care
- Up to €1,500,000 per year
- Maternity coverage up to €4,000
- Coverage of assisted reproduction up to €1,500
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Coverage of pharmaceutical costs up to €370
- Optional dental and optical care
- Maternity plus option
- Prevention and well-being as an option
- Optional repatriation assistance
- Optional third-party liability
Travel insurance South Africa
Health insurance to cover your trip to South Africa.
From
30€
- Worldwide coverage
- Maximum age: 85
- Covers emergencies and accidents
- Up to €500,000 per trip
- Covers loss, theft or destruction of baggage
- Repatriation assistance
- Travel assistance
- Civil liability
Any questions? Need some advice?
Information about health insurance in South Africa
Political system: Republic
Capital: Pretoria
Surface area: 1,219,912 km²
Population: 57 million
Languages spoken : Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga, Swati, Venda.
Currency: Rand
South Africa's healthcare system
South Africa’s healthcare system is divided into a government-funded public sector and a fast-growing private sector. South Africa is considered one of the world’s most dynamic healthcare markets. South Africa has 422 public and 203 private hospitals. It is also one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for medical devices. As a result, 9% of GDP is devoted to the health sector.
How does South Africa's healthcare system work?
Dirstly, the South African healthcare system is a mixed one. Indeed, 80% of the population opts for public-sector care, as costs are much lower than in the private sector. What’s more, 40% of the Department of Health’s expenditure is incurred in the public sector. The government is also committed to universal health coverage, accessible to all citizens. Fees in this sector are therefore very low. However, they vary according to the patient’s salary and the number of medical staff in charge. The private sector is therefore the best option for you, as it is more efficient, more technologically advanced and has excellent, reputable doctors.
As an expatriate, you are free to choose the insurance that will cover you once you are in France. In fact, there is no obligation to take out local South African insurance. If you are employed in South Africa, your company is under no obligation to finance your insurance.
What vaccinations should I have before moving to South Africa?
First of all, before your expatriation to South Africa, you need to take stock of all the vaccinations you’ll need before you leave. In fact, the WHO, the National Travel Health Network and we ourselves strongly recommend that you get vaccinated for :
- Hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever
- Rabies and Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Cholera
And if your children are under a year old, they’ll need a measles vaccination. You should also ask your doctor to prescribe medication or antibiotics for illnesses you might catch in South Africa. Dengue fever and chikungunya are present in many African countries. You are therefore not immune to contracting one of these diseases during your stay in South Africa.
How can I consult a general practitioner or specialist in South Africa?
In South Africa, there are several options for consulting a doctor. Firstly, you can contact them by telephone and book a consultation. Make very few home visits except in emergencies. In the public sector, consultations cost between 30 and 60 rand, equivalent to between 1.50 and €3. In the private sector, doctors charge much higher fees than the government scale. A service with a general practitioner can cost 300 rand, or around €15, and 700 rand for a specialist, or around €35. In the case of a private doctor, it could be e try to prescribe more medical procedures than you need. So don’t hesitate to negotiate the price of the consultation in advance.
Access to cell phones for the local population is growing exponentially. Equally important is the development of healthcare applications to overcome the crucial lack of access to care. These phone applications will enable you to consult doctors online, making it easier for you to answer a wide range of questions without spending hours in public hospital queues. For example, with these applications, you’ll be able to locate the nearest medical center most suited to your needs, as well as identify counterfeit drugs. You’ll also be able to get more regular follow-up if you’re undergoing medical treatment. Simply send a message to your doctor and he or she will get back to you promptly, so you don’t have to book a consultation.
How do you care for your child in South Africa?
To book a consultation with a pediatrician in South Africa, use health apps or websites.
You can also get recommendations for pediatricians from other expats in South Africa. You can find these through forums. The cost of a consultation with a paediatrician averages between 500 and 1000 rand, equivalent to between €25 and €50.
Dental consultations in South Africa
In South Africa, the average cost of a dental consultation is between 300 and 500 rand (€15 and €30). Fees vary from practice to practice.
- The cost of a dental X-ray starts at 350 rand (about €17).
- A dental crown costs an average of 3,000 rand (around €150).
- A tooth extraction can cost around 350 rand (about €17).
- The average cost of a dental implant is between R20,000 and R200,000 (€1,000 and €10,000).
- Standard braces cost between 15,500 and 31,000 rand (€780 and €1,560). On top of this, there are additional initial costs ranging from 10,000 to 35,000 rands (between €500 and €1,760).
The emergency department in South Africa
The emergency number in South Africa is 107, so your call will be redirected to an emergency call center and will involve the fire department, the police and the ambulance service.
The 112 emergency number can be reached by calling from a cell phone. This is a second emergency number that also works in South Africa. As a result, it will transfer your line to a center that will connect you to the nearest emergency service.
To call an ambulance in South Africa, dial 10177. A service will then take your call and dispatch an ambulance.
What are the top cities for medical treatment in South Africa?
Medical tourism is also practiced in South Africa. Here, we’re talking about foreigners who come to South Africa for medical treatment, demanding quality care. Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban are 4 major South African cities renowned for the quality of their medical treatment. Access to care is simpler, follow-up is more professional and healthcare staff are more qualified. In fact, these hospitals boast world-renowned doctors. They are also ultra-modern, with state-of-the-art technology.
Some examples of popular hospitals in South Africa
As an expatriate, you don’t know which hospital to go to for fear of receiving care that falls short of your expectations? Evaluated on the following criteria, here is a list of popular private hospitals ranked among the best in the country:
Criteria :
- Clear information for patients
- Efficiency of health personnel
- Rate at which the hospital responds to patient requests
- Patient well-being
Hospitals :
- Ahmed Al-Kadi (Durban)
- Busamed Hillcrest (Durban)
- Busamed Gateway (Umhlanga)
- Busamed Modderfontein (Johannesburg)
- B. aardevlei (Cape Town)
Examples of average prices for medical care in private hospitals in South Africa
- Appendicitis operation: R37,000 (approx. €1,850)
- Breast cancer treatment: at least 23,000 rand (approx. €1,158)
- Average daily surgical service: between R12,000 and R15,000 (€600 and €750)
- Consultation with a gynecologist: 1,400 rand (approx. €70)
- Pediatric service (for children under 12): 500 to 800 rand (between €25 and €40) for a consultation, 7,500 rand (approx. €375) for surgery.
Pregnancy and childbirth in South Africa
If you’re an expatriate and you’re pregnant in South Africa, your pregnancy can be managed in a hospital, by a gynecologist or obstetrician. Mondassur strongly recommends that you turn to the more competent private medical sector. To find your obstetrician or gynecologist who will follow you throughout your pregnancy. We also recommend that you get in touch with other expatriates who have given birth in South Africa. They’ll be able to give you contacts you can trust and advice on choosing the right doctors.
Your choice of gynecologist and obstetrician will determine the hospital or clinic in which you give birth. If you prefer to choose the hospital where you give birth, you will automatically be affiliated with a doctor or gynecologist.
In South Africa, Caesarean section is more common than natural childbirth. So you’ll almost certainly be offered a Caesarean section, and don’t hesitate to specify that you’d like to give birth naturally (if that’s your choice).
Examples of average maternity-related costs
- Delivery (private hospital): R14,000 (approx. €700)
- Delivery (private) + 3-day hospital stay: R25,000 (approx. €1,260)
- Caesarean section (public hospital): R17,800 (approx. €900)
- Caesarean section (private hospital): R40,000 (approx. €2,000)
Is it necessary to take out international health insurance for an expatriation to South Africa?
If you are planning to expatriate, or are thinking of expatriating to South Africa, you need to take out health insurance in South Africa. First of all, there’s a huge difference in price between the public and private healthcare sectors. In the public sector, care is of low quality. As a result, care and waiting times for appointments are long and far apart. In the private sector, you’ll be treated by highly qualified doctors. Moreover, waiting times are very short, and you’ll receive top-quality care. Taking out private insurance will cover your costs at unbeatable rates. What’s more, this insurance will enable you to receive treatment in private establishments without breaking the bank.
Which private health insurance for South Africa and for whom?
Whatever your profile, taking out health insurance is highly recommended if you are planning to stay in or expatriate to South Africa.
- If you are planning to visit South Africa as a tourist, we recommend that you take out travel insurance. This will cover your private-sector healthcare costs during your stay. Avoid relying on the public sector if you need treatment. Waiting times and possible medical complications will ruin your vacation.
- Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a digital nomad or an expatriate employee, it’s essential that you take out health insurance in South Africa as soon as you obtain your work visa! This way, you’ll be covered in the private sector in your destination country, but also abroad and in the event of medical repatriation to another country. So if you need to undergo an operation that is not possible in South Africa, you can do so with Mondassur health insurance.
- Are you a student planning to spend a semester, an internship or part of your studies in South Africa? Taking out health insurance before you leave is essential. A student health insurance plan like GoldStudent, which offers 3 cover options, can be adapted to your profile! It will enable you to benefit from private health care abroad. You’ll also be entitled to medical repatriation without breaking the bank in the event of a problem.
Private health insurance Gold Expat for South Africa?
Mondassur recommends that you take out GoldExpat private health insurance private health insurance as soon as you leave for South Africa. This insurance covers 100% of actual hospital costs. This means you can access private-sector care without paying outrageous sums. In fact, your insurance will cover 100% of your healthcare costs.
As a result, up to 90% of your day-to-day medical expenses will be covered. Although local medicines are inexpensive, they are not necessarily 100% reliable, whereas imported medicines are much more expensive. So take out a health insurance policy that can cover all your medical expenses.
GoldExpat guarantees repatriation cover in the event of serious hospitalization, such as the death of a family member. Your civil liability is also covered by GoldExpat.
Don’t waste any time, get a free quote on our website and/or contact us by e-mail or telephone for more precise information based on your situation.
