A patient who has a condition that affects their breathing, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, or COVID-19, may benefit from oxygen therapy, which is a type of medical treatment that involves the administration of additional oxygen to the patient. Oxygen therapy can be administered in a variety of ways, including through the use of a nasal cannula, a face mask, or a portable oxygen machine for sale, among other options.
Depending on the plan and the provider, certain medical aids in South Africa provide coverage for oxygen therapy. Here are some of the medical aids that offer oxygen therapy benefits in South Africa:
Discovery Health Medical Aid Scheme
Discovery Health offers a range of medical aid plans that cover oxygen therapy. Coverage for oxygen therapy is subject to an overall annual limit, which depends on the plan type.
Discovery Health has different plans that cover oxygen therapy at different levels, such as the KeyCare plan, the Core plan, the Saver plan, the Smart plan, and the Comprehensive plan. The KeyCare plan covers oxygen therapy in the hospital at 100% of the scheme rate, while the Comprehensive plan covers oxygen therapy in the hospital and out-of-hospital at 300% of the scheme rate.
Discovery Health also offers a wellness program, Vitality, that rewards members for healthy living and gives discounts on various products and services.
Medshield Medical Aid Scheme
Medshield is a medical aid scheme that was formed by the merger of Oxygen and Medshield in 2010. Medshield offers various plans that cover oxygen therapy in different situations. For instance, the MediCore plan pays one hundred per cent of the scheme rate for oxygen therapy in the hospital, whereas the Premium Plus plan pays two hundred per cent of the scheme rate for oxygen therapy both in and outside of the hospital.
In addition, Medshield provides a medical guidance service that is available over the phone around the clock and promises to process all claims within one day.
Bonitas Medical Aid Scheme
The Bonitas Medical ID Scheme provides its members with financial assistance for oxygen therapy. The BonCap plan, the BonEssential plan, the BonSave plan, the Standard plan, and the BonComprehensive plan are some examples of the various plans offered by Bonitas that include oxygen therapy to varying degrees.
Other options include the BonSave plan and the BonStandard plan. The BonCap plan pays 100% of the scheme rate for oxygen therapy in hospitals, whereas the BonComprehensive plan pays 300% of the scheme rate for oxygen therapy in hospitals and outside of hospitals. In addition, Bonitas gives its members with access to a wellness programme known as Bonitas Wellness, which includes services such as health screenings, evaluations, and coaching.
Momentum Health Medical Aid Scheme
There are several medical assistance programmes provided by Momentum Health that include coverage for oxygen therapy.
These programmes include the Momentum Health Medical Scheme, the Momentum Health Multiply, and the Momentum Health Optimal.
There may be a yearly cap on the amount that your insurance will pay for oxygen therapy treatments, but this will vary from plan to plan.
Hollard Medical Aid Scheme
Hollard Medical Aid provides its customers with a variety of medical aid plans, some of which include coverage for oxygen therapy. These plans include Hollard Medical Aid Comprehensive, Hollard Medical Aid Preferred, and Hollard Medical Aid Executive.
There may be a yearly cap on the amount that your insurance will pay for oxygen therapy treatments, but this will vary from plan to plan.
Bupa Global Medical Aid Scheme
The Bupa Global Executive Plan, the Bupa Global Comprehensive Plan, and the Bupa Global Prime Plan are some examples of the types of medical assistance plans that Bupa Global provides that include coverage for oxygen therapy in South Africa.
There may be a yearly cap on the amount that your insurance will pay for oxygen therapy treatments, but this will vary from plan to plan.
Aetna South Africa Medical Aid Scheme
Aetna is an international medical scheme that delivers services in South Africa too. It provides customers with a selection of medical aid plans, such as the Essential, Prime, and Premier plans, that include coverage for oxygen therapy.
There may be a yearly cap on the amount that your insurance will pay for oxygen therapy treatments, but this will vary from plan to plan.
Choosing Your Plan
These are some of the medical aids that offer benefits for oxygen therapy in South Africa. However, there may be other medical aids that also cover this treatment, so it is advisable to compare different plans and providers before choosing one.
It is also always best to check with your particular medical aid to see what benefits are available in order to be sure you are getting the most out of it.
When selecting a medical assistance plan that includes benefits for oxygen therapy, the following are some additional considerations to take into account:
- The type of oxygen therapy that is covered (e.g., home oxygen therapy, portable oxygen therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy)
- The co-payment or excess that you will have to pay for oxygen therapy
- The annual limit on oxygen therapy benefits
- The claims process for oxygen therapy
