Why premiums keep outpacing inflation
Medical schemes point to rising hospital tariffs, specialist fees and the overall cost of healthcare — medical inflation — as the driver, and it consistently runs ahead of the general inflation rate the Council for Medical Schemes recommends as a ceiling.
| Scheme | 2026 weighted average increase |
|---|---|
| Momentum Health | 9.9% |
| Fedhealth | 9.6% |
| Bonitas | 8.8% |
| Medihelp | 8.46% |
| Discovery Health | 7.2% |
| Bestmed | 6.8% |
What to actually compare
The premium increase percentage on its own doesn't tell you whether a plan still fits your household. It's worth comparing day-to-day benefit limits, chronic medication cover, and gap-cover exposure — not just the monthly contribution — before deciding whether to stay put or switch.
Is it worth switching medical schemes every year?
Not necessarily — but it's worth checking annually, since benefit structures and pricing shift each year and last year's best-fit plan may not be this year's.
What's gap cover and do I need it?
Gap cover pays the difference between what your medical scheme reimburses in hospital and what specialists actually charge — a shortfall that's grown as medical inflation has outpaced scheme tariffs.