Contributions

This is a general three–month period after joining the Society during which a beneficiary is not entitled to claim any benefits. A waiting period may be imposed by the Society in specific circumstances and no claims will be paid for the registered beneficiary during this period. In cases where a condition–specific waiting period of twelve months has been imposed, the beneficiary is not entitled to claim any benefits related to the specific condition in question for a period of 12 months.

Late joiner penalties may be imposed on beneficiaries over the age of 35 depending on the number of years that they have not belonged to a medical aid. A late joiner penalty will be added to the member’s monthly contribution in respect of the beneficiary. It is based on the total number of years the beneficiary has not been a medical aid member since the age of 35 years and is calculated as a percentage of the contribution as shown in the table below.

Penalty bands	Maximum penalty
1 – 4 years	0.05 x contribution
5 – 14 years	0.25 x contribution
15 – 24 years	0.50 x contribution
25 + years	0.75 x contribution

 

For more information about late joiner penalties, please refer to the Society’s rules, available here.

• a Member’s Spouse or Partner who is not a member of another medical scheme or a registered dependant of a member of another medical scheme;
• a Member’s Child who is dependent on the Member and is not a member of another medical scheme or a registered dependant of a member of another medical scheme;
• a member of the Member’s Immediate family for whom the Member is Liable for family care and support; or
• any sibling of a Child dependant, if such Child dependant has been orphaned or if such Child dependant’s remaining parent does not qualify for registration as a Member and, as a consequence thereof, such Child dependant is registered as a Member in terms of rule 6.3.1, provided that such sibling was registered as a Dependant of the deceased Member at the time of the death of the Member and provided that such sibling;
• is under the age of 21; or
• is over the age of 21 but dependent.

• a Member’s natural child, stepchild or legally adopted child; and
• a deceased Member’s natural child, stepchild or legally adopted child who, on the death of the Member, is entitled to be registered as a Member in terms of rule 6.3.1 under circumstances where such child is orphaned or such child’s remaining parent does not qualify for Continuation Membership.

A dependent child who is under the age of 26.

• a child under the age of 21; or
• a Child over the age of 21 but who is dependent upon the Member.