There is sometimes some confusion around the distinction between hospital plans and medical aid. Theoretically, a hospital plan is a form of insurance as opposed to a medical aid however , many people choose to forgo medical aid and rely solely on a hospital plan as his or her medical cover. A friend of mine has chosen to go this route. He maintains he is young and healthy and does not get sick often, so he doesn’t need a comprehensive medical aid with all the costs that it entails, preferring as an alternative to have a hospital plan just in case he’s injured or contracts a serious illness or something like that. There are numerous hospital plans on the market, and even though they are specifically intended for the purpose of hospitalization, a number of them have extras that allow them to bridge the gap between conventional medical aid and basic hospital insurance. With their hospital plan Clientele is doing exactly that.

This insurance company offers a hospital plan that gives cash back. The client is able to choose the cash reward they want and use it for anything they wish. For example, you should use the cash portion of the hospital plan Clientele provides you with to pay medical bills in a similar fashion that a medical aid would, or in order to make up for lost income during hospitalization. It can help pay for a vacation to hurry your recovery but its true value is that it provides you with the peace of mind that your family will be looked after while you are in hospital. Other features of this hospital plan would be the inclusion of maternity benefits and accidental disability benefits as well as coverage for pre-existing conditions with the exception of HIV/Aids.

In addition to their cash back hospital plan Clientele offers an enhanced cash return plan which is in the premium class. This premium hospital money back plan can pay back an amount equal to six premiums after 60 premiums have been paid. This plan also includes an ICU benefit where the policyholder gets a cash benefit for every day spent in intensive care. Other benefits include an accidental death benefit and a dread disease benefit with all the added advantage that medical examinations are not required. Of course, the monthly fees are higher for that enhanced hospital plan compared to the basic hospital plan however the daily payment while you’re in hospital amounts to R2000 more.

It is understandable that my friend would select a hospital plan like the ones outlined above instead of spending money on a pricey medical aid he never uses, particularly as he is still young and fit. Besides, he says a hospital plan is all he can afford right now but that he intends to take out medical aid cover additional to his hospital plan when he is older and earns a higher salary because by that time he might need it. In fact, many insurance providers offering hospital plans stress that a hospital plan is a form of insurance but not a medical aid and suggest that hospital plans be purchased in addition to medical aid.

The site http://www.clientelelifeinsurance.co.za, is for hospital plan clientele