Sasolmed: a restricted scheme with income-based contributions in 2026

Sasolmed is not an open scheme. The CMS register lists it as restricted, and the scheme calls itself closed. You qualify only if you are a Sasol South Africa employee or pensioner (or, per the 2025 financial statements, an Enaex Africa employee), or a dependant of one. New membership applications go to the scheme's membership team, through the email in the contact table.

If you have no link to Sasol, this scheme is not available to you. See the list of medical aid schemes and best medical aid in South Africa for open options. Other closed schemes work the same way: see Bankmed for banking staff, Polmed for the police and GEMS for public servants.

• Sasolmed is a not-for-profit closed (CMS category: restricted) medical scheme registered under the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998; membership is limited to Sasol South Africa employees and pensioners (the 2025 financial statements also name Enaex Africa employees), so it is not open to the public. (sasolmed.co.za)
• 2026 contribution increase: Average increase of approximately 6.6% per member effective 1 October 2026 (Sasolmed's contribution year runs 1 October to 30 September); principal member increases range from 0.3% to 6.0% depending on income, and dependants pay 5 percentage points more as a share of the principal contribution. (sasolmed.co.za)
• Sasolmed announced an average contribution increase of about 6.6% effective 1 October 2026, covering 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027; principal member increases run from 0.3% to 6.0% depending on income. (sasolmed.co.za)
• From 1 October 2026 adult dependants pay 85% (was 80%) and child dependants 25% (was 20%) of the principal member's contribution, so families with dependants see larger increases than the 6.6% average. (sasolmed.co.za)
• Restricted Network Option members pay contributions approximately 15% lower than the Comprehensive Option from 1 October 2026 (an extra 5% on top of the existing differential of about 10%). (sasolmed.co.za)
• Sasolmed runs one benefit option, the Comprehensive Network Option, with the Restricted Network Option as its efficiency-discounted sub-option; it is not a multi-plan network/savings/comprehensive ladder. (sasolmed.co.za)
• Contributions are a percentage of income (Total Guaranteed Package, control amount or benefit value) between a minimum and a maximum income, not a fixed rand price per plan. (sasolmed.co.za)
• Sasolmed reported a solvency (accumulated funds) ratio of 41.6% at the end of 2025, after a 2025 insurance service deficit of almost R32 million driven by in-hospital claims. (sasolmed.co.za)
• Waiting periods can apply: a three-month general waiting period, a 12-month condition-specific waiting period, and late-joiner penalties for members or adult dependants over 35 with no prior cover. (sasolmed.co.za)
• 2027 benefit changes will accompany the contribution changes; the 2027 Benefit and Contribution Schedule and the choice between the two Network Options will be shared with members in the coming months. (sasolmed.co.za)
• Walk-in centres operate in Secunda, Sasolburg and at Sasol Place, Sandton. (sasolmed.co.za)

Sasolmed publishes 2 benefit options for 2026. Prices are the monthly contribution for a main member as published by Sasolmed, and income-banded plans show the band. Adult and child dependants pay extra. Checked on 29 September 2026.

Sources: sasolmed.co.za/...tion-changes-letter-2026.pdf.

Your contribution is a percentage of your monthly income, using your total guaranteed package, control amount or benefit value, between a minimum and a maximum income. The scheme's contribution year runs from 1 October to 30 September.

A worked example, using our own arithmetic on those published percentages and not a scheme price list: at the minimum income of R8 480 the rate of 17.85% comes to about R1 514 a month. At the maximum of R34 155 it comes to about R6 097. From 1 October 2026 the same calculation gives about R1 540 at R8 950 and about R6 202 at R36 035. As we read the rules, income above the maximum is not charged, so higher earners pay a smaller share of their income.

Dependants are where families feel the change. From 1 October 2026 an adult dependant pays 85% (up from 80%) of the principal member's contribution and a child pays 25% (up from 20%), so families see more than the average increase.

Checked on 29 September 2026 against Sasolmed's official website. Numbers change, so confirm on the linked page before you call. A scheme will not ask you to pay into a new bank account over the phone: hang up and call the official number if anything feels off.

Sources: sasolmed.co.za/portal/sasolmed/contact-us, sasolmed.co.za. All schemes' numbers are on our medical aid contact numbers page.

The Comprehensive Network Option is the scheme's benefit option. It gives hospital, chronic and day-to-day benefits through designated service providers (DSPs), with a preferred GP that you nominate. The 2026 benefits annexure shows no medical savings account.

The Restricted Network Option has the same core benefits at a lower price in return for restrictions: a restricted GP network, a restricted hospital network and specialists for non-emergency admissions, and designated providers for dentistry, optometry and renal dialysis. From 1 October 2026 members on it pay about 15% less than on the Comprehensive option, an extra 5% on top of a gap of about 10% that already existed.

The trade-off is choice against cost, so read network versus traditional plans and the designated service providers guide. The scheme says its 2027 Benefit and Contribution Schedule, and the choice between the two options, will be shared with members in the coming months.

Sasolmed covers Prescribed Minimum Benefit chronic conditions through its network formularies. We did not find a condition count in the documents we checked, so we have not stated one. See the prescribed minimum benefits guide and chronic disease benefits guide.

Hospital and out-of-hospital pre-authorisation goes to a dedicated email address, and chronic queries go to a separate one, both listed in the contact table. The pre-authorisation guide explains the process.

Members get a web app that you add to your phone's home screen. It shows your cover, tracks claims and limits, lets you nominate a preferred GP and find providers, and includes a virtual assistant called SasChat. There is also an "Ask Sasolmed" WhatsApp line. Walk-in centres operate in Secunda, Sasolburg and at Sasol Place in Sandton. Emergency medical services are provided by ER24.

The scheme reported a solvency ratio of 41.6% at the end of 2025, well above the 25% minimum, but with an insurance service deficit of almost R32 million in 2025, driven by in-hospital claims. Membership was 28 205 members and 74 284 lives.

The average increase from 1 October 2026 is about 6.6% per member. Principal members see between 0.3% and 6.0% depending on income, and dependants pay their larger share on top. For context, the CMS's assumption for restricted schemes' 2026 increases, based on scheme submissions, was 9.44%.

Because Sasolmed's year starts on 1 October, the increase for the year to 30 September 2027 is already set. 2027 benefit changes are still to be communicated. See our 2027 increases page for what other schemes announced.

Bankmed is a closed scheme for banking and financial services staff, also administered by Discovery Health. It has six plans, from income-based entry options to comprehensive ones, and a 7.4% average increase from 1 January 2026. See the Bankmed review.

Polmed is a closed scheme for SAPS employees with two options, Marine and Aquarium, and Medscheme as administrator. See the Polmed review.

GEMS is the largest restricted scheme, for public servants, with six options and a 9.5% weighted average increase from 1 February 2026. See the GEMS review.

Sasolmed's strengths are one clear option, a contribution linked to income, and Discovery Health administration. The weaknesses are that both options are network-based, there is no savings account, and members with dependants pay a rising share.

Waiting periods can apply: up to 3 months general and 12 months condition-specific, with late joiner penalties for members or adult dependants over 35 who have no proof of earlier cover. The waiting periods guide and late joiner penalty guide explain the rules, and the how to join guide lists the documents you will need.

Complain to Sasolmed first. It also runs a 24-hour confidential fraud and ethics hotline, listed in the contact table. If a complaint is not resolved, take it to the CMS at [email protected] or 0861 123 267. See how to complain to the CMS.