Photo: Ekem, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0Bonitas medical aid plans 2026
Bonitas medical aid plans in 2026: the 16 options, what each costs a month and which hospitals you can use
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Bonitas Medical Fund: an open scheme
Bonitas Medical Fund is on the Council for Medical Schemes' register of schemes "registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act (131 of 1998), as at 31 March 2026" as an open scheme (CMS Annual Report 2025/26). Open means it may not refuse an applicant, and its contributions may depend only on income and number of dependants — not your age or health (Medical Schemes Act, s 29).
The scheme's PAIA manual gives its CMS registration number as 1512 and says its administration "has been outsourced to one or more administrators"; the scheme does not name them on its website. Bonitas is a medical scheme, not an insurer: gap cover and hospital cash plans are insurance products (see gap cover).
The CMS's 2025/26 annual report states that it initiated an investigation under section 44(4)(a) of the Act into Bonitas and Makoti medical schemes, "triggered by the allegations" against them; the report gives no finding (CMS Annual Report 2025/26).
What each Bonitas option costs a month in 2026
Total monthly contributions published by the scheme with effect from 1 January 2026, including any medical savings account (MSA) (Annexure A 2026; BonCore from its own brochure). Options in the scheme's order, richest first:
| Option | Main member | Adult dependant | Child dependant | Savings account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BonComprehensive | R12,509 | R11,796 | R2,548 | Yes |
| BonClassic | R8,238 | R7,071 | R2,034 | Yes |
| BonComplete | R6,614 | R5,298 | R1,794 | Yes |
| Standard | R5,929 | R5,139 | R1,740 | No |
| Standard Select | R5,431 | R4,700 | R1,590 | No |
| BonSave | R4,047 | R3,059 | R1,211 | Yes |
| Primary | R3,588 | R2,807 | R1,141 | No |
| BonPrime | R3,255 | R2,546 | R1,035 | Yes |
| BonFit | R2,698 | R2,021 | R908 | Yes |
| Hospital Standard | R3,561 | R2,999 | R1,353 | No |
| BonEssential | R2,747 | R2,030 | R888 | No |
| BonEssential Select | R2,345 | R1,718 | R774 | No |
| BonStart Plus | R2,040 | R1,940 | R899 | No |
| BonStart | R1,603 | R1,603 | R1,603 | No |
| BonCore | R1,275 | R1,275 | R1,275 | No |
BonCap is priced by the family's monthly income, subject to income verification (BonCap 2026 brochure):
| BonCap income band (a month) | Main member | Adult dependant | Child dependant |
|---|---|---|---|
| R0– R11,930 | R1,730 | R1,730 | R815 |
| R11,931– R19,350 | R2,111 | R2,111 | R971 |
| R19,351– R25,170 | R3,404 | R3,404 | R1,288 |
| R25,171+ | R4,177 | R4,177 | R1,585 |
Worked out from the table: a couple with two children pays R5,929 + R5,139 + 2 × R1,740 = R14,548 a month on Standard, and 4 × R1,275 = R5,100 on BonCore, where every person pays the same rate (BonCore charges at most three children).
Which Bonitas options have a savings account
Six options pay part of your contribution into a medical savings account for day-to-day costs. The brochures split it like this for the main member (Bonitas plan brochures 2026):
| Option | Total main member contribution | Of which savings account |
|---|---|---|
| BonComprehensive | R12,509 | R1,876 |
| BonClassic | R8,238 | R1,236 |
| BonComplete | R6,614 | R990 |
| BonSave | R4,047 | R1,012 |
| BonPrime | R3,255 | R521 |
| BonFit | R2,698 | R404 |
Bonitas hospital networks and co-payments
The 2026 contribution annexure and brochures set these hospital rules for planned admissions (Annexure A 2026, BonCore, BonCap):
| Options | Hospital rule |
|---|---|
| BonComprehensive, Standard | Any private hospital |
| BonClassic, BonComplete, Standard Select, BonSave, Primary, BonPrime, BonFit, Hospital Standard, BonEssential, BonEssential Select | A list of specific private hospitals; a 30% co-payment if you use a hospital outside the option's network |
| BonStart, BonStart Plus | Network hospitals; a R12,680 co-payment outside the network |
| BonCore | Networks and formularies for GP, specialist, hospital, pathology and pharmacy; R14,680 co-payment outside the hospital network, and R5,500 per admission (not for a road accident, a maternity confinement or a PMB emergency) |
| BonCap | Networks and formularies; a 30% co-payment at a non-network hospital (not in an emergency) |
Emergencies and Prescribed Minimum Benefits follow the law on every option: the scheme must pay PMB conditions in full at its designated service providers (Regulation 8). What that covers: Prescribed Minimum Benefits.
Joining Bonitas: waiting periods and late-joiner penalties
Apply through the scheme's online quote and application form or through an accredited broker (Bonitas). The waiting periods it may apply are those of section 29A of the Act: up to 3 months general and 12 months for a specific condition if you had no scheme cover in the 90 days before applying; none if you join because of a new job (rules and table: medical aid in South Africa).
The annexure states that late-joiner penalties apply to members and adult dependants aged 36 and older, from 0.05 to 0.75 times the contribution depending on years without cover (Annexure A 2026). Work out your band with the late-joiner penalty calculator.
Bonitas in 2027: the announced increase
In its press release on the 2027 product offering, Bonitas states: "Across all plans, the average contribution increase for 2027 will be 8.7%" (Bonitas). Each option's 2027 table is published by the scheme; until 1 January 2027 the 2026 figures above apply.
Claims and complaints
Bonitas asks that every claim reach the scheme within 4 months of the treatment date (member FAQ). General queries: 0860 002 108 or [email protected]; hospital authorisation: [email protected]; BonCap and BonCore: 0861 239 333 (support).
- Complain to Bonitas first, in writing, and keep the reference number: call 0860 002 108 or e-mail [email protected], and ask for the query to be escalated if you are unhappy with the outcome (dispute resolution).
- If the answer does not settle it, use the scheme's internal dispute process (the scheme's rules require one, s 29(1)(j) of the Medical Schemes Act).
- Then complain to the Council for Medical Schemes: e-mail [email protected] with the CMS complaint form, the scheme's reply and your accounts (CMS complaints procedure). Under section 47 the scheme has 30 days to answer the CMS; a ruling can be appealed within 3 months (s 48). How it works: Council for Medical Schemes.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is Bonitas medical aid per month in 2026?
From 1 January 2026 the scheme's table runs from R1,275 per person on BonCore to R12,509 per main member on BonComprehensive (savings included). BonCap depends on income: R1,730 to R4,177 for the main member.
How many options does Bonitas have in 2026?
16: BonComprehensive, BonClassic, BonComplete, Standard, Standard Select, BonSave, Primary, BonPrime, BonFit, Hospital Standard, BonEssential, BonEssential Select, BonStart, BonStart Plus, BonCore and BonCap.
Is Bonitas an open medical scheme?
Yes. The CMS register at 31 March 2026 lists Bonitas Medical Fund as an open scheme, so it may not refuse an applicant (s 29(3)(a) of the Medical Schemes Act).
What is the Bonitas hospital plan?
Hospital Standard (R3,561 per main member) and the BonEssential options (R2,747; R2,345 on BonEssential Select) are the hospital-focused options in the 2026 table; all use a hospital network with a 30% co-payment outside it.
How long do I have to submit a claim to Bonitas?
Four months from the treatment date, according to the scheme's member FAQ.
How much will Bonitas increase in 2027?
8.7% on average across all plans, according to the scheme's press release on its 2027 product offering.
Sources
- Bonitas Medical Fund — Annexure A 2026: contributions with effect from 1 January 2026, all options except BonCap (scheme's own PDF, pp. 3–4, seen 31 October 2026)
- Bonitas Medical Fund — BonCap 2026 brochure, 'What you pay' (income-banded contributions; scheme's own PDF, seen 31 October 2026)
- Bonitas Medical Fund — BonCore 2026 brochure, 'What you pay' and hospital co-payments (scheme's own PDF, seen 31 October 2026)
- Bonitas Medical Fund — Our plans 2026 (the option brochures; scheme's own page, seen 31 October 2026)
- Bonitas Medical Fund — 'Bonitas reinforces commitment to healthier outcomes with 2027 product offering' (press release; average 2027 increase 8.7%)
- Bonitas Medical Fund — PAIA Manual (24 November 2025): CMS registration number 1512, outsourced administration
- Bonitas Medical Fund — Member FAQ: claims within 4 months (seen 31 October 2026)
- Bonitas Medical Fund — Legal: dispute resolution (seen 31 October 2026)
- Bonitas Medical Fund — Support: contact numbers and e-mail addresses (seen 31 October 2026)
- Council for Medical Schemes — Annual Report 2025/26 (copy tabled in Parliament, hosted by PMG): register of medical schemes at 31 March 2026, solvency, complaints
- Council for Medical Schemes — Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998 and Regulations (consolidated copy, Web Archive)
- Council for Medical Schemes — The Complaints Procedure (Web Archive)