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Women have different healthcare needs to men. Bestmed Medical Scheme understands this and encourages you to take care of yourself as much as you take care of your family and friends. That’s why the Scheme offers a wide range of preventative care and maternity benefits that are specially tailored to meet women’s healthcare needs.

Contraceptive benefits

Make family planning easier with Bestmed’s contraceptive benefits for all female beneficiaries of child-bearing age. A variety of contraceptive options are paid for from Scheme risk and not savings or day-to-day benefits. Contraceptives offered include oral contraceptives, 3-month injections, 6-month injections, the implant and intrauterine device (IUD). The benefit limit is R2 550 per female beneficiary per year and is offered across all benefit options.

HPV vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. A vaccine is available to help prevent certain strains from causing genital warts and cervical cancer. In fact, HPV is the cause of 80% of cervical cancer cases.

Bestmed’s HPV vaccine is available across all benefit options, except Rhythm1, as a preventative care benefit, paid from Scheme risk, for females between nine and 26 years old.

Pap smears

Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among South African women. A pap smear is a diagnostic procedure that helps detect cervical cancer.

Pap smears are available as a preventative care benefit to Bestmed beneficiaries 18 years and above, once every 24 months on all benefit options, except Rhythm1.

Mammograms and symmetrising surgery

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in South Africa. Early detection gives you the best chance of beating it. A mammogram is a diagnostic procedure that helps detect growths in a woman’s breast.

Bestmed’s mammogram benefit is available as a preventative care benefit to female beneficiaries 40 years and above, once every 24 months on all benefit options, except Rhythm1.

In the unfortunate event that you are diagnosed with breast cancer, Bestmed offers support through their Oncology care programme. The Scheme also gives you the option to switch to a higher benefit option (Pace2, Pace3 and Pace4), which gives you access to enhanced oncology benefits and resources to help you fight against the disease.

Bestmed also covers breast cancer-related reconstructive surgery at 100% Scheme tariff on all benefit options. This may include symmetrising, partial or total mastectomy on the unaffected (non-cancerous) breast of a breast cancer patient. The benefit is limited to PMB provisions and is subject to pre-authorisation and funding guidelines.

Maternity benefits and maternity care programme

Mothers-to-be may take advantage of Bestmed’s maternity benefits offered across all options. Minimum benefits include:

• 6 antenatal consultations at a family practitioner (FP), gynaecologist or midwife.
• 1 x 2D ultrasound scan at 1st trimester (between 10 to 12 weeks) at a FP, gynaecologist or radiologist.
• 1 x 2D ultrasound scan at 2nd trimester (between 20 to 24 weeks) at a FP, gynaecologist or radiologist.

The Beat3 to 4, Pace and Rhythm2 options offer Bestmed’s beneficiaries more maternity benefits:

• 3 additional antenatal consultations at a FP, gynaecologist or midwife
• 1 post-natal consultation at a FP, gynaecologist or midwife
• Any item categorised as a maternity supplement can be claimed up to a maximum of R127 per claim, once a month, for a maximum of 9 months.

Expecting mothers also have access to Bestmed’s Maternity care programme. The programme provides comprehensive information and support to the parents through every stage of pregnancy.

Beneficiaries who are registered on the programme will receive:

• a welcome pack containing an informative pregnancy book about the stages of pregnancy.
• a maternity/baby gift. The selection form will be sent to you after the 12th week of your pregnancy.
• access to a 24-hour medical advice line.
• benefits through each phase of your pregnancy.

Switch to Bestmed

For benefits that are Personally Yours and cater for your specific healthcare needs as a woman, switch to Bestmed. The Scheme’s achievements speak for themselves when it comes to choosing the best medical scheme at the most affordable subscriptions.

Bestmed ranked first in the 2020 and 2022 Ask Afrika Orange Index® medical aid industry category. The Scheme also achieved the highest ranking in overall customer service index, loyalty, value and quality, in the 2020 and 2021 South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SA-csi).

The Scheme’s 2022 SA-csi results once again placed the Scheme at the forefront of customer experience in the South African medical scheme industry. Bestmed ranked first in perceived quality and value, customer expectations and satisfaction, and customer loyalty.