Choosing a plan
List of medical aid schemes in South Africa for 2026
By MedicalAidZA editorial team · 6 min read · Updated 29 September 2026
South Africa has two kinds of medical scheme: open schemes, which must accept anyone who applies, and restricted schemes, which only employees of a particular employer, industry or profession (and their families) may join. The Council for Medical Schemes counted 71 registered schemes in its 2024/25 annual report (16 open, 55 restricted). This list covers 16 open schemes and 12 restricted schemes, checked on each scheme's website on 29 September 2026.
It also lists brands that people search for as "medical aid" but that sell health insurance, not medical scheme cover. Health insurance can be useful, but it is regulated differently and does not have to pay prescribed minimum benefits.
Open medical schemes in 2026
Anyone can join an open scheme, although it may apply waiting periods and a late joiner penalty.
| Scheme | Administrator | 2026 options | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bestmed | Self-administered | 14 | Over 250 000 members |
| Bonitas | Momentum Health | 16 | 369 186 principal members and 792 330 total lives covered at the end o |
| Cape Medical Plan | Self-administered: CMP runs its operations in-house from one office in Tygervalley, Cape Town | 2 | - |
| CompCare | Universal Healthcare Administrators | 8 | 36 600 beneficiaries |
| Discovery Health | Discovery Health | 25 | Over 2.7 million members |
| Fedhealth | Medscheme Holdings | 10 | 61 589 principal members and 108 182 beneficiaries at 31 December 2025 |
| Genesis | Self-administered | 3 | 9,224 members and 19,362 beneficiaries at 31 December 2025 |
| KeyHealth | PPS Healthcare Administrators | 6 | 35 037 principal members and 73 946 beneficiaries at end of 2025 |
| Makoti | Universal Healthcare Administrators | 2 | - |
| Medihelp | Self-administered | 11 | 193 744 beneficiaries, including 89 836 main members |
| Medimed | Momentum Thebe Ya Bophelo | 4 | 14 224 beneficiaries |
| Medshield | Self-administered | 8 | 74 702 principal members and 145 592 beneficiaries at 31 December 2025 |
| Momentum | Momentum Health, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited | 6 | Over 293 000 beneficiaries |
| Sizwe Hosmed | Self-administered since 1 September 2026 | 8 | 8 662 principal members and 17 394 beneficiaries |
| Suremed | MomentumTYB | 4 | 628 principal members and 1 150 beneficiaries at 31 December 2025 |
| Thebemed | Momentum Thebe Ya Bophelo | 4 | 13,666 principal members and 26,436 beneficiaries at 31 December 2025 |
Restricted medical schemes
You can only join a restricted scheme through your employer, industry or profession. If you qualify, compare it with open schemes: restricted schemes often cost less for the same cover because their members are younger or healthier on average.
| Scheme | Who may join | Administrator |
|---|---|---|
| Anglo Medical Scheme | Restricted scheme: membership is by appointment only and exclusively for employees, retirees and continuation members of participating emplo | Discovery Health |
| Bankmed | Bankmed is a closed medical scheme, established in 1914 for the South African banking industry and owned by its members; membership is throu | Discovery Health |
| CAMAF | CAMAF is a restricted (not open) scheme, established in 1951: membership is for people who hold or held a listed accounting qualification (C | Self-administered |
| GEMS | GEMS is a restricted (closed) medical scheme for qualifying public service employees and their dependants, registered on 1 January 2005; des | Metropolitan Health Corporate |
| LA Health | LA Health (CMS registration number 1145) is a restricted scheme accredited by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council to cover | Discovery Health |
| Netcare | There is a registered Netcare Medical Scheme (registration number 1584) but it is a restricted scheme for Netcare Limited employees, pension | Discovery Health |
| Platinum Health | Restricted (closed) scheme: only employer groups operating in the platinum group metals and chrome mining industries may join, so it cannot | Self-administered |
| Polmed | Polmed is a closed medical scheme (CMS registration number 374) open only to SAPS employees and their dependants. | Medscheme Holdings |
| Profmed | Profmed is a restricted medical scheme open to professionals who have a tertiary qualification and relevant professional experience (with th | PPS Healthcare Administrators |
| Remedi | Restricted scheme: membership is only for employees of Remgro Limited and its associated or formerly associated companies, so the public can | Discovery Health |
| Sasolmed | Sasolmed is a not-for-profit closed (CMS category: restricted) medical scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998; membersh | Discovery Health |
| Umvuzo | Umvuzo Health is a restricted (closed) medical scheme registered with the CMS on 1 July 2004; membership is only through employer groups and | Self-administered |
Health insurance brands that are not medical schemes
These are insurance products. They pay fixed amounts or cover a set list of services, can refuse or load applicants, and complaints go to the National Financial Ombud, not the Council for Medical Schemes. Read medical aid vs health insurance before you choose one.
| Brand | What it is |
|---|---|
| Affinity Health | Affinity Health is a health (medical) insurance product underwritten by Affinity Life Limited, a registered life insurer (FSP 49986); it is not a registered med |
| Dis-Chem Health | Dis-Chem does not run a medical scheme. Dis-Chem Health sells health insurance (MyHealth Core and MyHealth Plus day-to-day cover), Accident Cover and Gap Cover, |
| Kaelo | Kaelo is a healthcare and financial-solutions group and insurance administrator, not a medical scheme. Its Kaelo Health day-to-day and accident products and Kae |
| OnePlan | Oneplan is not a medical aid. Its Health Insurance and Gap Cover are short-term (non-life) insurance products underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited (F |
| Sanlam and Old Mutual | Neither Sanlam nor Old Mutual runs a medical scheme. Sanlam sells Gap Cover (insured by Centriq, FSP 3417) and Primary Care health insurance, and points people |
How to choose between them
- Decide what you need covered: hospital only, or hospital plus day-to-day and chronic care. See hospital plan vs comprehensive cover.
- Check whether you qualify for a restricted scheme through your work.
- Compare 2026 prices for the plan type you want on how much medical aid costs.
- Check the network: many cheaper plans only pay in full at network hospitals and GPs.
- Read the waiting periods and late joiner rules in waiting periods and exclusions.
Frequently asked questions
How many medical schemes are there in South Africa?
The Council for Medical Schemes' 2024/25 annual report counts 71 registered medical schemes: 16 open and 55 restricted, covering about 9.13 million beneficiaries. This page lists the open schemes and the larger restricted schemes people search for.
What is the difference between an open and a restricted scheme?
An open scheme must accept anyone who applies. A restricted scheme only accepts people linked to a particular employer, industry or profession, and their dependants.
Which is the biggest medical aid in South Africa?
Discovery Health Medical Scheme says six in every ten open-scheme members belong to it, and reports over 2.7 million members. GEMS, the restricted scheme for government employees, says it covers over 2.4 million people. Each scheme's published size is in the tables above.
Is Dis-Chem or OnePlan a medical aid?
No. They sell health insurance products, which are regulated as insurance and do not have to cover prescribed minimum benefits. The table above explains what each one is.
