Here’s a scary statistic: according to an article in Business Tech and in recent reports, medical aid contributions have surged at a rate double that of inflation, and the forecast for 2025 is looking dire.
With inflation predicted to be around 4.5% – 5.5% in 2025, the disparity means that while everyday expenses grow for South African households, medical aid contributions are surging, and citizens are being stretched thin.
The Impact of Rising Medical Aid Costs
Consider this as an example of the rise in medical aid costs over the last few years. A Discovery Classic Comprehensive plan has seen a massive 86% increase from 2017 to 2024, while inflation rose by 40%. This rise reflects how healthcare is slipping further out of reach for the ordinary South African.
To grasp these medical aid increases, imagine if the cost of your monthly groceries doubled from R3000 a month in 2017 to R6000 a few years later. If this happens to you, the normal reaction to changes will have you rethink your budget and what to cut or pull back from.
According to BusinessTech in 2024, medical aid monthly contributions were raised by 8 – 9%, in line with recommendations from the Council for Medical Schemes. However, some other medical aid plans experienced steeper price hikes like Discovery saw increases ranging from 3 – 13%. For more comprehensive coverage plans, this seems to be the trend.
Next year, predictions from the Reserve Bank forecast inflation to average around 4.4% and 4.5% in 2025 and 2026.
accidentANGELS: An affordable accident plan for private healthcare
So, what can you rely on in your household budget? accidentANGELS can step in as a practical and affordable solution in case you’re injured or need treatment after a road accident. Without a safety net in place, emergency services will take you to state hospitals where many individuals are faced with a lack of facilities, lack of staff, and overcrowding.
Private hospitals don’t have to stretch your budget too thin. From only R149pm, you can sign up for accidentANGELS and guarantee a private hospital bed and emergency outpatient and inpatient funds so you can be treated by quality doctors and nurses.
In these challenging times, having a reliable and affordable healthcare option like accidentANGELS is a necessity. We give you peace of mind on the roads, allowing you to focus on what matters – your safety and future.
