Medical aid up to 11.5% dearer in January. Your deadline to switch plans

Medical aid contributions go up by roughly 7% to 9% on most plans from 1 January 2027, and as much as 11.5% on one Bonitas option. That is about double the 3.8% the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) asked schemes to aim for. If you want to move to a cheaper option, the first deadline is this Saturday, 31 October, for Bonitas members paid through Persal (Curemed).

How much is each medical aid going up in 2027?

These are the averages each scheme announced. Your own increase depends on your plan, so check the notice your scheme sends you.

Sources: Discovery, Aon on Bonitas, Aon on Momentum and Curemed for the rest.

All increases still need CMS approval. Discovery says two in three of its members will pay less than 8% more (Discovery).

Why are increases double the 3.8% guideline?

The CMS told schemes in July to anchor 2027 increases at 3.8%, the Reserve Bank's inflation forecast for next year (CMS Circular 20 of 2026). It is guidance, not a cap. Schemes can go higher if they justify it with actuarial evidence.

Schemes say claims rise faster than inflation because members use more healthcare as they age and chronic illness becomes more common. Discovery says its 8.2% is about 2.5 percentage points lower than it would otherwise have needed (Discovery). This happened last year too: the guideline for 2026 was 3.3%, while the eight biggest open schemes raised contributions by between 6.76% and 9.9% (Curemed).

On a R6,000 monthly contribution, an 8% increase adds R480 a month, or R5,760 a year.

When is the deadline to change my medical aid plan for 2027?

New options start on 1 January, but each scheme closes changes earlier. These are the closing dates on each scheme's 2027 option change form, as compiled by broker Curemed on 27 October (Curemed):

Persal is the government payroll system.

Late forms may not be accepted. Medihelp's form says late requests will not be considered, and Medshield says it allows no late or mid-year option changes (Curemed). If you miss the date, you may be stuck on your current plan for all of 2027.

Will I get a waiting period if I downgrade?

Usually not, if you stay with the same scheme. The Medical Schemes Act stops a scheme from imposing new waiting periods when you switch options within it, unless you are still serving one (Curemed).

Moving to a different scheme is different. The new scheme can apply waiting periods of up to three months, or up to 12 months for a specific condition, depending on how long you have had cover and whether there is a gap. Don't resign from your current scheme until the new one has accepted you in writing (Curemed).

What should I check before deciding?

Compare your plan's 2027 contribution and benefits with the options above and below it, using the documents your scheme sends. Look at what your household actually claimed this year, such as hospital stays, chronic medicine and day-to-day costs. A cheaper plan only saves money if it still covers what you use. A registered financial adviser or your scheme's call centre can help with your specific situation.