Bestmed's 2027 Medical Aid Increase: What Members Need to Know
Bestmed, South Africa's fourth-largest open medical scheme, has announced an average contribution increase of 7.35% for 2027. The scheme says the rise comes as South African households continue to face pressure from the rising cost of living, and that it also brings some benefit improvements.
Is 7.35% reasonable?
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) recommends an increase of 3.8% plus a "reasonable utilisation" allowance for the year. That allowance isn't clearly defined, which makes it hard to say what a fair number looks like.
In previous years, the CMS said its historical data pointed to a utilisation estimate of around 3.5 percentage points. Private medical inflation has also historically run 2% to 3% above CPI. Taken together, a "reasonable" increase for 2027 would fall somewhere between 5.8% and 7.3%, and more recent medical inflation rates would push that higher. On that basis, Bestmed's 7.35% sits broadly in line with the CMS guidance.
International projections point the same way. WTW's 2026 Global Medical Trends Survey expects medical costs to rise 10.3% globally in 2026, after 10% in 2025, and closer to 11.3% for the Middle East and Africa. Against those figures, Bestmed's increase is lower than the expected global and regional averages.
What members get in return
CEO and Principal Officer Leo Dlamini said the scheme's approach for 2027 was to take stakeholder feedback into account. That has led to:
- Increased cancer screening
- HIV rapid testing
- Improved access to specialised imaging
- Additional medicine benefits
- Expanded cover for selected procedures
The Beat, Pace and Rhythm ranges also get broader changes: greater access to preventative care, more out-of-hospital benefits, higher medicine and appliance limits, and enhanced clinical cover.
New: Best Bucks
Bestmed is introducing a benefit called Best Bucks. Qualifying members, meaning those who have completed their Tempo Lifestyle Screenings, will receive R1,000 per family. Best Bucks can be put towards eligible consultations, radiology and pathology, and they're applied before claims are paid from your medical savings or other day-to-day benefits.
In practice, that means completing the screening is what unlocks the extra money, so it's worth booking early if you're a member.
What to do before you decide
An average increase is just that: an average. Your own option's increase may be higher or lower than 7.35%, so check the figure for your specific plan. A few things to compare when you review your cover:
- Your option's actual increase, not just the scheme average.
- The benefit changes that apply to your range, especially medicine, appliance and out-of-hospital limits.
- How you actually use your cover. Extra preventative or screening benefits are only worth something if you'll use them.
- Alternatives. Compare similar options from other schemes before the renewal window closes.
A broker or the scheme itself can help you work through the details.
The bottom line
Bestmed's 7.35% increase lands at the upper end of what the CMS guidance would suggest is reasonable, but below global and regional medical inflation projections. Whether it's good value depends on which plan you're on and whether the new benefits, especially Best Bucks and the expanded preventative cover, match how you use your medical aid.
Source: Bestmed announcement, with commentary on CMS guidance and WTW's 2026 Global Medical Trends Survey.
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