Important Things to Remember when You Compare Medical Aid Options for Your Children

A medical aid scheme is something we all know we need; however, it’s quite difficult to choose between all the options that we are given. The most important thing to remember is what your family needs or may need as your children grow up. What do you need from your medical aid?

1. Pregnancy: If you plan to have children, even before they are born, the mother must have full medical cover to ensure the safety of both mother and child.

• Sonograms- Depending on your cover this will include multiple sonograms throughout your pregnancy to not only see your baby grow, but to also detect any medical issues that you need cover for.
• Check-ups- Regular check-ups to keep you happy and your unborn baby safe.
• Labour- This includes cover for hospital stay and treatment during labour.
• Immunisations- To be the mother of a new born is stressful on its own. With good medical cover their first immunisations to dangerous childhood illnesses like Polio, Tetanus, Scarlet Fever, Pneumococcus, Measles, etc., will be taken care of. 

2. Children: When choosing a medical aid for you and your children there is a lot of pressure to make sure they are covered. If you have children or a baby on the way, you should make sure your benefits cover everything. Some things you may even overlook will be covered by your medical aid.

• Paediatric Care- A good paediatrician is vital to your child’s health and development.
• Optometrist consultations- The knowledge that your child is covered if they need glasses can be a world of stress off your shoulders.
• Dentistry- Dentist consultations can get very expensive so, having a certain amount of dentist visits covered will save you a lot of money.
• Audiology- If your child experiences hearing loss, they are covered for hearing aids and multiple consultations. This cover may help you diagnose earlier and explore the options between cochlear implants and hearing aids.
• Occupational Therapy- If your child requires special care at a young age for dexterity and movement this can minimise what may become a bigger problem.
• Physiotherapy- As with occupational therapy, this is important for children with special needs and children that may injure themselves; unfortunately, this is not an uncommon trait in children. Physiotherapy will rehabilitate them after injury or complications.
• Hospitalisation in the case of injury or illness- Your understanding that you can rush your child to a hospital from anything like a high fever or serious injury will help you sleep better at night. 

Your medical aid scheme should help you keep your family safe. Make sure you have all the information before you compare and choose!