To get the most value from your medical aid, follow these tips:

Use network GPs and specialists

We negotiate special rates with doctors and specialists on the network so you receive quality care at lower rates. This stretches you to avoid co-payments and helps your savings and day-to-day benefits further.

Get advice from your pharmacist

Pharmacists can provide sound medical advice on problems such as rashes, colds and minor ailments. You buy over-the-counter medicine and treat less serious illnesses yourself.

Check for benefits paid from Risk

Benefits paid from Risk are additional to your other benefits. They give you more value for money, without using your savings or day-to-day benefits. On most plans, you can receive maternity consultations, wellness benefits, preventative care benefits and dentistry paid from Risk by us.

Manage your chronic medicine correctly

Register your chronic condition with us so payment of your medicine can be made from Risk and not your savings. Try to use the medicine on your plan’s formulary and obtain this from a network pharmacy or a designated service provider.

Get with the programme

Join one of our managed care programmes related to your condition. These programmes have been specifically created to help you manage serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. They help you use your benefits correctly to get the best of care.

Pay for over-the-counter medicine

If you can, try to pay for over-the-counter medicine out of your own pocket and not out of your medical savings account. This way, your savings will go further to cover more of your medical costs.

Pre-authorise your hospital stay

Pre-authorisation is needed for all hospital admissions so your hospital stay will be covered. Ask if there are any co-payments or sub-limits that will apply and what you can do to avoid these. Call 0860 002 108 or email hospital@bonitas.co.za to get a pre-authorisation number.

Call Bonitas SOS in an emergency

Bonitas SOS is our medical emergency services with Europ Assistance being the designated service provider. In an emergency, please call 0861 555 505. Place the Bonitas SOS stickers (available at our walk-in centres or through your broker) on the window of your car so that you can get assistance in case of an emergency. The Bonitas SOS number is also shown on your membership card.

Boost your benefits

To unlock the Benefit Booster, simply complete an online wellness questionnaire through the Bonitas app or get a physical wellness screening at a Bonitas wellness day or participating pharmacy. You’ll get access to additional benefits to use for out-of-hospital claims including acute medicine, GP consultations and non-surgical procedures such as wart removal.

Use generics

A generic is the exact copy of brand-name medicine. They have the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, proven safety and strength as the original. But they are much cheaper than the originals - on average between 30 and 80% less. Ask your pharmacist about generics next time you have to fill a script.