Insurance plans can either be comprehensive, covering a range of services, or more basic, serving as backup in the case of an emergency. Most local health insurance providers in South Africa require that claims be pre-authorised a stipulation which makes it necessary for people to keep their medical aid card in their wallet. Local providers offer various schemes and charge monthly premiums on a progressive scale. Although it's possible to pay per treatment, medical costs can quickly add up.Įxpats should take out private health insurance to protect against the hefty bills that accompany emergency situations, repeat consultations and specialist treatment.Īn assortment of local medical aid providers and international health insurance companies are available to expats in South Africa. That said, private healthcare in South Africa comes at a price, especially for those earning a local salary. The medical tourism industry has shown steady growth and many foreigners travel to South Africa for plastic surgery and dental work. The standard of treatment in South African private hospitals is some of the most highly regarded on the continent, and in the opinion of many expats, on par with that of Europe. Most cities and towns have a good selection of clinics, hospitals and general practitioners. In contrast to the public health sector, South Africa's private health sector is excellent. Expats will find minimal creature comforts, and will likely come across long queues, dingy exam rooms and overworked staff members. Public hospitals, though usually manned by highly qualified professionals, are often poorly maintained. The system is not yet universal, although fees are charged according to a patient's income and number of dependants. Much of the South African population uses the public healthcare system, which is heavily affected by a lack of resources and funding. It's strongly recommended that expats take out health insurance and opt for treatment in private facilities, which generally provide world-class levels of care. The public healthcare system mainly serves a lower income bracket while those who can afford it use the private healthcare system. A massive gap in quality exists between the private and public sector and, in practice, these systems cater to different populations. Healthcare in South Africa is very much divided along socio-economic lines.
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