As a student in South Africa, you’ve got a lot on your plate! The world is your oyster, and you’re likely juggling academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities with your newfound social life. In the midst of this busy lifestyle, it’s easy to overlook the importance of prioritising your health. You may feel like you’re young and well, so you don’t need health coverage, but this is the wrong attitude to have. Now is the time to take charge of your well-being and ensure that you have the necessary support in place should you fall ill or get into an accident. That’s where medical aid for students comes into play to offer peace of mind and access to essential healthcare services when you need them most.
Difference Between Medical Insurance & Medical Aid for Students
Though they are often spoken about as the same thing, medical aid and medical insurance are not the same. Medical aid helps students access a wide range of health care services. Medical aid helps cover everything from hospital stays and long-term meds to mental health support and preventative care. The Medical Schemes Act regulates medical aid schemes and ensures that all students that join get their fair share of essential benefits as outlined in the medical aid purchased.
On the other hand, health insurance or medical insurance is a risk-based product. Medical insurance narrows the focus to specific what-if scenarios like accidents or needing hospital care, with clear limits on what they’ll pay out and a focus on covering you in the short haul. Health insurance plans cover a list of preselected benefits with a monetary value attached to each. It’s not about providing comprehensive health services, but rather that you are insured for specific events. You can learn more about the difference between medical aid and medical insurance here.
Why Students Should Consider Medical Aid
While pursuing your studies, you are exposed to unique health risks despite being young and fit as a fiddle. Engaging in social activities such as drinking and partying can expose you to potential dangers, including the risk of being spiked or involved in car accidents. Additionally, the college environment may also increase the likelihood of exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies. We always think these things will never happen to us, but it can happen to anyone, so it’s best to have quality healthcare cover for peace of mind.
Mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, are also prevalent among students due to academic pressure, financial stress, and social challenges. Addressing these health risks and vulnerabilities requires comprehensive medical aid coverage that provides access to preventative care, mental health support, and emergency services. By taking out medical aid cover geared towards students, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have the necessary support and resources to address your health needs during your academic journey.
A Proactive Approach to Your Health
In addition to addressing immediate health risks, it’s crucial for students to adopt proactive health management strategies to support your overall well-being. This includes prioritising regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and managing stress effectively. By incorporating these healthy habits into your lifestyle, you can strengthen your immune system, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and enhance your overall resilience.
Taking advantage of preventive healthcare services such as vaccinations, health screenings, and counselling can help you stay proactive in managing your health. With ProActive Plus, students have access to a comprehensive range of day-to-day healthcare services and resources to support proactive health management efforts, empowering you to thrive academically and personally.
Our Medical Aid for Students: ProSelect & ProActive Plus
ProSelect and ProSelect Savvy plans are medical options that require the use of hospital networks. This means reduced contributions to better suit your pocket. The ProSelect and ProSelect Savvy is the ideal solution for young students in South Africa choosing medical aid for the first time.
ProActive Plus and ProActive Plus Savvy is our medical aid for students and young professionals that offer hospital benefits and extra day-to-day benefits. This medical aid plan offers a comprehensive medical aid scheme designed to meet your specific requirements. With unlimited in-hospital benefits and a stand-alone day-to-day benefit, ProActive Plus ensures that students like you have access to quality healthcare without breaking the bank.
In-Hospital Benefits:
Unforeseen medical emergencies can arise at any time, and having access to comprehensive in-hospital benefits is essential for students. ProActive Plus offers unlimited in-hospital benefits, providing coverage for hospital stays, surgeries, and specialist consultations. Whether you’re facing a sudden illness or injury, you can rest assured knowing that your medical expenses are taken care of so you can get back to college life ASAP.
Day-to-Day Benefits:
In addition to in-hospital coverage, ProActive Plus offers a stand-alone day-to-day benefit that covers a range of healthcare services. From consultations with general practitioners to medication, dentistry, and cover for prescribed minimum benefits, this benefit ensures that you have access to essential healthcare services on a day-to-day basis. Whether you need a routine check-up or require treatment for a minor ailment, ProActive Plus has you covered.
Additional Health Benefits
- Hospitalisation
- Preventative Care
- Contraceptives
- Chronic medication
- Trauma, and HIV Assistance Programme
- Tums2Tots Baby and Toddler programme
- WHISPA Gender Based Violence Support Programme
- International Travel Medical Assistance
- Healing@home provides medical treatment in the comfort of your home
- Profmed WellBeing, a benefit that supports you on your mental health journey
- Doctors’ consultations
- Acute medication
- Radiology and pathology
- Out-of-hospital MRI and CT scansNEW
- Over-the-counter medication
- Optometry
- Dentistry
- Maternity programme
The Takeaway
Medical aid for students plays a crucial role in ensuring access to quality healthcare and peace of mind. If you’re a student juggling academic responsibilities, having the right medical aid coverage in place is essential for your health and well-being. With ProActive Plus, Profmed, students can rest assured knowing that their healthcare needs are taken care of, allowing them to focus on what matters most. Reach out to one of our skilled consultants today on degree@profmed.co.za, or simply fill in this contact form here: https://profmed.co.za/contact-us/profmed-for-students/
