Last Updated on July 19, 2021
Genesis Hospital Plan
Genesis’ Affordable Hospital Plan was rated #1 in South Africa. Read more about their plans here.
What Does a Genesis Hospital Plan Cover?
A Genesis hospital plan is often recommended to those who have no life insurance or other form of protection. Those without insurance are often unsure about what to do in the case of an accident or major illness and hospitalisation can be a very expensive time. Hospital plans can provide relief and a safety net in situations where insurance may not be enough. If you need hospital treatment and have no cover, you should contact your plan provider to find out more about hospital plans in South Africa.
Hospital cash out plans is a kind of insurance where you are paid a cash day-to-day medical cost (usually in a lump sum, usually less than the average wage) if you stay in hospital for a day or longer. Unlike the hospital plan, however, a hospital plan only covers the expenses of emergency or in-patient treatment you might need. The amount you receive will also depend on your income and family circumstances. You will probably also need to pass a health examination. This means that you will have to get a full physical examination within 24 hours of the doctor ordering it. There will then be a pre-operative consultation where your health status is determined and you will be advised of any relevant treatments.
One of the benefits of having a hospital plan is that it provides cover for your outpatient treatment. However, it is important to understand that most providers only offer cover for a limited number of days. In the event of your being admitted to the hospital for an extended period, you may not be covered at all. This means that you have to plan your treatment adequately for when you are admitted.
Part of your hospital plan will cover out-of-hospital expenses such as visits to the dentist and chiropractors. You should take into account any specialised treatment you require at the time of your visit as this could incur a cost. Some dental services such as braces or caps can be very expensive, so you should consider if this is something you require regularly. Your provider will usually provide a list of services you are eligible for upon your initial assessment. This means that you will need to research the different types of coverage to find which ones are offered at your level of cover.
One of the main benefits of Genesis hospital plans is that they can often provide cover for more in-patient days than those provided by out-of-hospital policies. You will generally have six months’ cover if you are admitted to the hospital for an average stay of six days or less. The amount of out-of-hospital costs you will be covered will depend on the level of hospitalisation you require. If you are admitted to the hospital for a lengthier period, you will usually need a longer period of cover to ensure that you have the resources to meet all your in-patient and out-of-patient healthcare requirements. If you are discharged from the hospital and need to stay in the community for longer, you may also have to take out a longer hospital plan or a more flexible outpatient plan.
When you take out a hospital plan, you will typically have a choice of how much towards your out-patient and in-patient care you would like to have. Depending on the level of your cover, you can choose a maximum out-of-pocket amount towards this. You may also have a choice of how long you wish to take out your policy. The majority of providers will allow you to pay for up to a year’s hospitalisation costs and then make up any difference that you have already paid. However, some companies will allow you to take a year out of the policy and still keep the same amount towards your out-of-pocket expenses should you require them.
Next company: FNB