Brian Harris, CEO at Turnberry Management Risk Solutions
Life rarely stands still. Our personal circumstances, households, finances and healthcare needs evolve over time, sometimes gradually and sometimes unexpectedly. Yet gap cover has traditionally been priced using simple individual or family rates, which may not always reflect what people actually need at different stages of life.
More flexible cover options recognise that no two lives are the same. By allowing cover and pricing to better align with an individual’s current circumstances and making it easier to adapt that cover as life changes, these solutions can help people maintain meaningful protection against unexpected medical expense shortfalls throughout their lives.
Cover that fits your current reality
A young professional living alone, a couple without children and a single parent with one child are all likely to have very different healthcare protection needs compared to a larger family. Historically, however, traditional individual and family rates have offered limited flexibility, often resulting in people paying for a family option that may not accurately reflect their situation.
A pricing structure that considers both age and the number of people covered can provide a more tailored approach. Younger individuals can pay according to their age group, with premiums adjusting as dependants are added over time, rather than being placed into a one-size-fits-all family category.
Just as importantly, flexibility allows cover to evolve alongside life’s major milestones. Someone may begin with cover for themselves, later add a partner and eventually expand their cover as their family grows. The ability to make these changes when needed ensures that healthcare protection remains relevant and aligned with changing circumstances.
Keeping up with healthcare changes
Flexibility is not simply about finding the lowest premium. There is often a direct relationship between the cost of cover and the level of protection it provides. The goal is to strike the right balance between affordability and the financial protection needed to manage healthcare expenses.
Medical schemes do not always cover the full cost of private healthcare. Specialist charges above scheme rates, co-payments, sub-limits and non-DSP hospital penalties can leave members facing substantial out-of-pocket costs. At the same time, healthcare continues to evolve. Advances in treatments, medicines and technologies, including biological cancer therapies and robotic-assisted surgery, are reshaping patient care and influencing healthcare costs.
As both healthcare and medical scheme benefits continue to change, the protection people need must keep pace. Flexible cover solutions are designed to respond to this reality, making it easier for members to align their cover with their circumstances and healthcare risks.
Turnberry’s Dynamic option, for example, uses both age and the number of dependants to determine premiums, while allowing members to adjust their cover as their circumstances change.
Protection that evolves with you
The cover that suits your needs today may not be the same cover you need several years from now. Changes in your family structure, financial position, medical scheme or healthcare requirements can all influence the type and level of protection that is most appropriate.
Having the flexibility to review and adjust your cover over time can help ensure that it continues to align with your changing circumstances, providing the level of protection that best suits your needs at every stage of life.
Regular conversations with your broker or financial adviser can help you assess whether your medical aid and gap cover remain aligned with your needs, budget and long-term goals. As life changes, your healthcare protection should be able to change with you.
ENDS
