South Africans Face Major Medical Aid Price Hikes in 2025

Despite positive investor sentiment and a stronger rand, South African medical aid members are in for a financial shock in 2025.

Big medical aid providers, including Discovery, Bonitas, and Momentum, have announced steep price increases that could hurt the elderly and retirees the most.

Discovery will raise contributions by 7.4% to 10.9%, with an average hike of 9.4% for 2025. This increase is more than double the average salary increase of 4.8% in South Africa last year.

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With social grants also rising by only 4.8%, many citizens are being priced out of affordable medical aid options.

The major medical aid companies attribute these hikes to medical inflation and rising healthcare costs.

Momentum, while promising no double-digit increases, and Bonitas, with a 10.2% average hike, point to difficult industry conditions over the last year.

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Discovery has highlighted that the rise in chronic illnesses and the growing elderly population are major factors driving up costs.

Chronic illness beneficiaries have jumped from 15% to 33% in just 15 years. With unemployment still high, consumers are forced to make tough decisions about which medical aid plans they can afford.

Providers urge members to prioritize value over cost, as cheaper plans often come with fewer benefits and higher out-of-pocket expenses. As these hikes take effect in January 2025, it’s clear that all South Africans will need to be cautious when choosing their medical aid options.