Rising Demand for Medical Gap Cover in South Africa

Gap cover is a supplementary insurance product that helps pay the difference between what medical schemes cover and what healthcare providers charge when in hospital, and it is designed to protect patients from unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.

Although Gap cover is not a new concept by any means, the South African Healthcare industry has observed a drastic surge in interest for this type of benefit. The CEO of Sirago, Martin Rimmer, has also stated that individual gap cover payouts have increased from an average of between R6 000 & R12 000 to R50 000 plus over the past three years.

There are various factors that could be driving this surge, including:

• Rising healthcare costs: Medical inflation consistently outpaces general inflation in South Africa.

• Shortfalls in medical aid coverage: Many schemes have reduced benefits or increased co-payments.
• Specialist fees: Many specialists charge rates well above medical aid tariffs.

• Economic pressure: Consumers seek additional financial protection amid economic uncertainty.

The surge in gap cover interest highlights the evolving healthcare landscape in South Africa. As consumers become more aware of potential shortfalls in their medical coverage, the demand for supplementary insurance products is likely to continue growing. Recognizing this growing need, Cedar Healthcare has developed a tailored gap cover package designed to address the concerns of South African healthcare consumers.

Cedar Healthcare’s gap cover offering aims to bridge the financial gap between medical scheme benefits and actual healthcare costs, providing peace of mind and financial security to its clients. With our deep understanding of the local healthcare landscape and the challenges faced by consumers, Cedar Healthcare is well-positioned to offer a product that meets the evolving needs of South Africans.

Don’t leave your healthcare financial security to chance. Contact Cedar Healthcare today to enquire about our gap cover package and take the first step towards comprehensive medical coverage.

Call us on 083 450 0390 or send an email to [email protected] to appoint us as your Healthcare Advisor and experience the difference of personalized member care with Cedar Healthcare.