Cover on a tight budget is possible, but the trade-offs are real: a fixed hospital network, a nominated clinic or GP, and little to no day-to-day benefit pool. Below are every option in our 2026 data set with an entry contribution under R2 000 a month, ranked cheapest first — with income-banded plans shown at their lowest published band.
One entry per scheme: its lowest-priced 2026 option in our data set. Ranked by the cheapest main-member contribution we can source from the scheme's own brochure.
#1 cheapest entry point
R645 /month, main member
Income-banded: R0 – R1,550 is the lowest published 2026 band.
Network · Restrictive network (Connect / Ingwe Network / Any hospital (member's choice)) · covers 26 chronic conditions.
See full plan detail#2 cheapest entry point
R804 /month, main member
Network · Comprehensive network (Medihelp National Hospital Network) · covers 27 chronic conditions.
See full plan detail#3 cheapest entry point
R1 155 /month, main member
Hospital Plan · Comprehensive network (Fedhealth GRID Network (120 hospitals)) · covers 27 chronic conditions.
See full plan detail#4 cheapest entry point
R1 275 /month, main member
Network · Restrictive network · covers 28 chronic conditions.
See full plan detail#5 cheapest entry point
R1 278 /month, main member
Income-banded: R0 - R10,950 is the lowest published 2026 band.
Capitated · Restrictive network (KeyCare Start Regional Network) · covers 27 chronic conditions.
See full plan detail15 of the 95 options in our 2026 data set start below R2 000 for a single main member. Dependants add their own contribution on top.
| Plan | From /month | Adult / child | Type | Hospital access | Chronic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Momentum: Ingwe OptionIncome-banded — lowest band: R0 – R1,550 | R645 | R645 / R645 | Network | Restrictive network — Connect / Ingwe Network / Any hospital (member's choice) | 26 conditions |
| Medihelp: MedMove! Student | R804 | R0 / R0 | Network | Comprehensive network — Medihelp National Hospital Network | 27 conditions |
| Fedhealth: flexiFEDSavvy Hospital | R1 155 | R1 155 / R849 | Hospital Plan | Comprehensive network — Fedhealth GRID Network (120 hospitals) | 27 conditions |
| Bonitas: BonCore | R1 275 | R1 275 / R1 275 | Network | Restrictive network | 28 conditions |
| Discovery Health: KeyCare Start RegionalIncome-banded — lowest band: R0 - R10,950 | R1 278 | R1 278 / R769 | Capitated | Restrictive network — KeyCare Start Regional Network | 27 conditions |
| Discovery Health: Active Smart | R1 350 | R1 350 / R1 350 | Network | Restrictive network — Private hospitals in the Dynamic Smart hospital network as referred by Ask Discovery. | 27 conditions |
| Discovery Health: KeyCare StartIncome-banded — lowest band: R0 - R10,950 | R1 436 | R1 436 / R875 | Capitated | Restrictive network — KeyCare Start Network | 27 conditions |
| Discovery Health: KeyCare CoreIncome-banded — lowest band: R0 - R10,250 | R1 490 | R1 490 / R390 | Hospital Plan | Restrictive network — KeyCare Network | 27 conditions |
| Fedhealth: flexiFEDSavvy Savings | R1 600 | R1 155 / R849 | Savings | Comprehensive network — Fedhealth GRID Network (120 hospitals) | 27 conditions |
| Bonitas: BonStart | R1 603 | R1 603 / R1 603 | Network | Restrictive network | 28 conditions |
| Fedhealth: myFEDIncome-banded — lowest band: R1 – R11,063 | R1 719 | R1 719 / R779 | Network | Restrictive network — myFED Network Hospitals | 27 conditions |
| Bonitas: BonCapIncome-banded — lowest band: R0 TO R11 930 | R1 730 | R1 730 / R815 | Capitated | Restrictive network — BonCap network | 28 conditions |
| Discovery Health: Essential Dynamic Smart | R1 797 | R1 797 / R1 797 | Network | Restrictive network — Private hospitals in the Dynamic Smart hospital network as referred by Ask Discovery. | 27 conditions |
| Medshield: MediCurve | R1 821 | R1 821 / R483 | Network | Comprehensive network — Medshield Hospital Network | 27 conditions |
| Discovery Health: KeyCare PlusIncome-banded — lowest band: R0 - R10,250 | R1 961 | R1 961 / R713 | Capitated | Restrictive network — KeyCare Network | 27 conditions |
7 options in our data set price by household income. If you earn more than the lowest band, your contribution will be higher than the figure shown — check the plan page for the full 2026 band table.
The lowest monthly contribution in our 2026 data set is shown at the top of the budget table on this page. Cheapest is not automatically best value: entry-level options usually restrict you to a specific hospital network and a nominated clinic or GP, and several are income-banded, so what you pay depends on your salary.
Some entry-level options (for example Discovery KeyCare and Bonitas BonCap) charge according to your household income. Lower earners pay a lower contribution for exactly the same benefits. Where the 2026 brochure publishes those bands, this page shows the lowest band as the starting price and says so.
Usually yes. Hospital plans cover in-hospital treatment plus the Prescribed Minimum Benefits and chronic medicine on the Chronic Disease List, but they do not pay for day-to-day GP visits, dentistry or optometry from a benefit pool. That is the main trade-off at the affordable end of the market.
Every registered medical scheme option must cover the 27 Chronic Disease List conditions under the Prescribed Minimum Benefits, including the cheapest options. Entry-level plans typically require you to use the scheme's formulary and designated pharmacy, otherwise a co-payment applies.
No. Health insurance and hospital cash plans are insurance products regulated under insurance law; they pay a stated amount rather than your actual medical costs and are not required to cover the Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Only a registered medical scheme option is medical aid. Every plan on this page is a registered medical scheme option.
Contributions are the schemes' own published 2026 figures and can change. This page is general information, not financial or medical advice. Confirm rates, networks and waiting periods with the scheme or an accredited adviser before joining or switching.