Medical aid glossary

Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998

The primary legislation governing medical schemes in South Africa. It establishes Prescribed Minimum Benefits, sets the rules on waiting periods and underwriting, and creates the complaint and appeal process through the Council for Medical Schemes.

Where you will see this term

Terms like this appear on claims statements, remittance advices, authorisation letters and scheme rules. Understanding the exact wording your scheme used is usually the first step in working out whether a rejected or short-paid claim can be disputed.

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Related terms

Claim review

Not sure what your scheme's wording means for your claim?

Send us the rejection letter, the itemised account and the clinical notes. We translate the scheme's reasoning into plain English and tell you whether the decision stands up against its own rules and the Prescribed Minimum Benefit regulations.

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This page is provided for general information and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Medical scheme rules, benefit structures and regulations change over time — always confirm the position with your scheme’s current member material, your treating practitioner, or an attorney admitted in South Africa.

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