# Tulinde South Africa — insurance guide for South Africa

> tulinde.co.za is Tulinde's independent, sourced guide to insurance in South Africa: The Road Accident Fund, medical aid and PMBs, funeral cover, COIDA, the 162 licensed insurers and the free National Financial Ombud. Regulator: Prudential Authority (South African Reserve Bank) and Financial Sector Conduct Authority (the Prudential Authority).

How to cite: "Tulinde, <page title>" with the page URL. Every page states its review date and links each fact to the Act, the regulator or the insurer's own document it comes from. Tulinde is an independent guide run by Takat AI; it is not an insurer, a broker or an agent, and it does not rank or rate insurers.

## Key facts

- South Africa: Prudential regulator: Prudential Authority (SARB); Conduct regulator: FSCA; Compulsory private cover: None — the RAF is funded by a fuel levy; Insurers on the register (Oct. 2026): 162: 59 life, 58 non-life, 19 micro, 10 cell captive, 6 captive, 9 reinsurers, 1 Lloyd's; RAF levy (from 1 April 2026): R2.25 per litre; Free ombud: National Financial Ombud (NFO). Regulator: Prudential Authority (South African Reserve Bank) and Financial Sector Conduct Authority (https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/what-we-do/Prudentialregulation). Currency: ZAR.
- South Africa on Tulinde: 26 guides, 32 articles, 17 insurer profiles; latest review 2026-10-31. Quote requests: closed (In South Africa, helping someone take out an insurance policy is an intermediary service that needs a licence from the FSCA (FAIS Act, section 7). Until Tulinde works with a licensed financial services provider, we do not collect quote requests for South Africa. The guides stay open.).
- Editorial rules: every fact comes from a primary source listed on the page; no invented price, rating, review or "best insurer"; insurer lists reproduce the regulator's list; each page has a short answer, sections, FAQ, sources and a review date.
- Language: English (plus Kiswahili guides in Kenya and Tanzania). No account, no paywall.

## Most searched

- [Insurance in South Africa: the rules, the insurers, your rights](https://tulinde.co.za/): How insurance works in South Africa: the Prudential Authority and the FSCA, the Road Accident Fund, medical aid, funeral and life cover, the 162 insurers on the register and the free National Financial Ombud.
- [Road Accident Fund (RAF): who can claim, what it pays and how to claim without a lawyer](https://tulinde.co.za/road-accident-fund/): Road Accident Fund (RAF): who can claim, what it pays, the R390 664 income cap, 3-year and 2-year deadlines, the RAF 1 form after the 2026 SCA ruling, contacts.
- [FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority): what it does, how to check a licence, contacts](https://tulinde.co.za/fsca/): The FSCA regulates how insurers, brokers and crypto firms treat you. Check an FSP or crypto licence, report a scam, search unclaimed benefits, contacts.
- [COIDA and the Compensation Fund: Return of Earnings, claims, contacts and business insurance](https://tulinde.co.za/business-insurance/): COIDA and the Compensation Fund: who must register, the 2026/27 R668,000 earnings cap, Return of Earnings, injury claims, contacts and other business covers.
- [Medical aid in South Africa: the 16 open schemes, what it costs and how to compare](https://tulinde.co.za/health-insurance/): Medical aid in South Africa: the 16 open medical schemes (CMS list), average 2026 contributions, the cheapest legal options, waiting periods and penalties.
- [Cheapest medical aid in South Africa 2026? Compare 13 schemes' lowest and highest published contributions](https://tulinde.co.za/cheapest-medical-aid/): Cheapest medical aid in South Africa 2026: 13 schemes' lowest and highest published contributions side by side, from each scheme's table.
- [Bonitas medical aid plans in 2026: the 16 options, what each costs a month and which hospitals you can use](https://tulinde.co.za/bonitas-medical-aid-plans/): Bonitas medical aid plans 2026: all 16 options' monthly contributions from the scheme's own table, from BonCore R1,275, networks and savings.
- [GEMS medical aid in 2026: who can join, the six options and their monthly contributions by salary band](https://tulinde.co.za/gems-medical-aid/): GEMS medical aid 2026: who can join, the six options from Tanzanite One to Onyx, contributions by salary band, subsidy, claims and complaints.
- [Funeral cover in South Africa 2026: how to compare policies, waiting periods and claims](https://tulinde.co.za/funeral-cover/): Funeral cover in South Africa: the 6-month maximum waiting period, the cap per life insured, the two-business-day claim rule and how to check the seller.
- [Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs): what every medical aid must pay](https://tulinde.co.za/prescribed-minimum-benefits/): PMBs: emergencies, 271 diagnosis-treatment pairs and 26 chronic conditions every medical aid must pay in full. DSPs, co-payments, getting a claim paid.
- [Hospital plan vs comprehensive medical aid vs hospital cash plan](https://tulinde.co.za/hospital-plan/): A hospital plan is a medical scheme option; a hospital cash plan is insurance paying a fixed sum per day. What each covers, 2026 limits, how to choose.
- [Car insurance in South Africa: what the law requires, what the RAF covers and what you buy yourself](https://tulinde.co.za/motor-insurance/): Car insurance is not compulsory in South Africa: the RAF covers injuries, not cars. The three cover types, the excess, what to check, why claims get rejected.
- [Gap cover in South Africa: what it pays, its 2026 limit and when it is worth it](https://tulinde.co.za/gap-cover/): Gap cover pays the shortfall between a health bill and what your medical aid paid. The Demarcation Regulations, the R226,881.03 limit for 2026, waiting periods.
- [Licensed insurance companies in South Africa (2026 list)](https://tulinde.co.za/insurance-companies/): Every insurer on the Prudential Authority's register in October 2026: 59 life, 58 non-life, 19 microinsurers, cell captives, captives, reinsurers and Lloyd's.

## Vehicles

- [Third party vs comprehensive car insurance in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/third-party-vs-comprehensive/): Third party only, third party fire and theft or comprehensive car insurance? A side-by-side table, what the RAF covers, and how to choose in South Africa.

## Health and life

- [NHI in South Africa: where the National Health Insurance Act stands in October 2026](https://tulinde.co.za/national-health-insurance/): The NHI Act was signed on 15 May 2024 but no section is in force. The proclamation delay, the Constitutional Court case and what it means for medical aid.
- [Life cover in South Africa: life insurance, disability, dread disease and income protection](https://tulinde.co.za/life-insurance/): Life cover, disability, dread disease and income protection in South Africa, and your rights: 31-day cooling-off, 15-day grace period, claim deadlines.
- [Credit life insurance in South Africa: the price caps and your right to choose your own policy](https://tulinde.co.za/credit-life-insurance/): Credit life in South Africa is capped at R4.50 per R1,000 owed (R2 on home loans). What it must cover, what it may exclude, and how to use your own policy.

## Home, business and travel

- [Home insurance in South Africa: buildings, household contents and your bond](https://tulinde.co.za/home-insurance/): Buildings vs household contents insurance in South Africa, what your bank can require for a bond, under-insurance (average), NFO disputes and Sasria.
- [Sasria: riot, strike and terrorism cover in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/sasria/): What Sasria covers (riot, strike, public disorder, terrorism), how to buy it through your insurer, its rates and the 30-day claim deadline.
- [Travel insurance in South Africa: Schengen rules, card cover and claims](https://tulinde.co.za/travel-insurance/): Travel insurance for South Africans: the €30,000 Schengen minimum, medical repatriation, bank-card travel cover and complaints to the NFO.

## Your rights

- [Insurance complaints by company in South Africa (NFO figures)](https://tulinde.co.za/insurance-complaints-by-company/): The National Financial Ombud's 2025 complaint counts for the 25 non-life and 25 life insurers with the most complaints, and how to read them.
- [Insurance ombudsman in South Africa: how to complain to the NFO](https://tulinde.co.za/complaints/): South Africa's insurance ombudsman is now the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO): free, life and short-term cover. Contacts, limits, deadlines, steps.
- [Insurance claim rejected? Your rights under the Policyholder Protection Rules](https://tulinde.co.za/policyholder-rights/): Claim rejected? The Policyholder Protection Rules give you written reasons, 90 days to challenge, 6 more months to sue, cooling-off and grace periods.
- [Who's who in insurance in South Africa: regulator, industry bodies and insurer CEOs (2026)](https://tulinde.co.za/insurance-leaders/): Who leads insurance in South Africa: the Prudential Authority (Fundi Tshazibana), industry bodies, complaints bodies and insurer CEOs, from official pages.

## Tools and calculators

- [Medical aid tax credit calculator (2026/27): the SARS medical credits worked out](https://tulinde.co.za/medical-tax-credit-calculator/): Work out your medical scheme fees tax credit for 2026/27 (R376, R376, R254 a month) and the additional medical expenses credit, with the SARS formula.
- [Medical aid late-joiner penalty calculator: your band under Regulation 13](https://tulinde.co.za/late-joiner-penalty-calculator/): Work out the maximum late-joiner penalty a medical scheme may charge you: A = age − (35 + years of cover), bands of 5%, 25%, 50% and 75%.
- [Sasria calculator: the riot and strike premium on your home and car](https://tulinde.co.za/sasria-calculator/): Work out the Sasria premium on your house, contents and car from Sasria's published rates effective 1 October 2025: 0.003630% a year, R26.23 per car.
- [Credit life insurance calculator: the legal maximum on your loan, card or bond](https://tulinde.co.za/credit-life-insurance-calculator/): Check the most a lender may charge for credit life: R4.50 per R1,000 owed on loans and cards, R2 on a home loan (Credit Life Insurance Regulations, 2017).
- [RAF claim deadline calculator: when your Road Accident Fund claim prescribes](https://tulinde.co.za/raf-claim-deadline-calculator/): Enter the accident date to see the last day to lodge a Road Accident Fund claim (3 years, 2 for hit-and-run) and the 5-year limit to finalise it.

## Articles (one real question each)

- [POLMED medical aid in 2026: Marine and Aquarium, what SAPS members pay by income band, claims and complaints](https://tulinde.co.za/polmed-medical-aid/): POLMED 2026: the SAPS scheme's Marine and Aquarium options, the member's share and full contribution by income band, claims, complaints.
- [Momentum medical aid plans in 2026: Ingwe, Evolve, Custom, Incentive, Extender and Summit — what each costs a month](https://tulinde.co.za/momentum-medical-aid-plans/): Momentum medical aid 2026: Ingwe (from R645) to Summit, contributions by family and hospital choice from the scheme's own tables.
- [Bestmed medical aid in 2026: Beat, Pace and Rhythm — the options and what each costs a month](https://tulinde.co.za/bestmed-medical-aid/): Bestmed 2026: Beat, Pace and Rhythm options, network versions and monthly contributions from the scheme's own benefit summaries.
- [Medihelp medical aid in 2026: the twelve plans, their monthly contributions and hospital networks](https://tulinde.co.za/medihelp-medical-aid/): Medihelp 2026: twelve plans from MedMove! to MedPlus, monthly contributions from the member guide, Elect networks and the 2027 increase.
- [Fedhealth medical aid in 2026: flexiFED, myFED, sureFED and maxima — every option's monthly contribution](https://tulinde.co.za/fedhealth-medical-aid/): Fedhealth 2026: flexiFED hospital and savings plans, GRID and Elect, myFED by income, sureFED and maxima, from its own rates guides.
- [Medshield medical aid in 2026: the ten options, their monthly contributions and hospital networks](https://tulinde.co.za/medshield-medical-aid/): Medshield 2026: ten options from MediCurve to PremiumPlus, monthly contributions from its benefit guides, Prime and Compact networks.
- [KeyHealth medical aid in 2026: the six options, what each costs a month and the hospital network](https://tulinde.co.za/keyhealth-medical-aid/): KeyHealth 2026: six options from Essence to Platinum, monthly contributions from its premiums table, hospital network and complaints.
- [Bankmed medical aid in 2026: who can join, the six plans and their monthly contributions by income](https://tulinde.co.za/bankmed-medical-aid/): Bankmed 2026: who can join, the six plans from Essential to Plus, contributions by income band, networks and the proposed 2027 increase.
- [Profmed medical aid in 2026: who qualifies, the ten options and what each costs a month](https://tulinde.co.za/profmed-medical-aid/): Profmed 2026: who qualifies, five Premium and five Savvy options with monthly contributions from the scheme's own schedule, networks.
- [Sizwe Hosmed medical aid in 2026: the curatorship, the eight options and what each costs a month](https://tulinde.co.za/sizwe-hosmed-medical-aid/): Sizwe Hosmed 2026: the curatorship and what it means for members, the eight options and their contributions from the scheme's own table.
- [Car insurance in South Africa: the buying checklist (excess, tracker, value, write-offs and claims)](https://tulinde.co.za/car-insurance-checklist/): Buying car insurance in South Africa: what the insurer must tell you, excess, tracker, retail or market value, write-offs and claim rights.
- [Bank card travel insurance in South Africa: what FNB, Absa, Nedbank, Capitec, Standard Bank and Discovery cover, and how to activate it](https://tulinde.co.za/bank-card-travel-insurance/): Bank card travel insurance in South Africa: FNB, Absa, Nedbank, Capitec, Standard Bank, Discovery — trip length, age, medical cover, activation.
- [Income protection, disability and dread disease cover in South Africa: how they work, how they are taxed and how claims are decided](https://tulinde.co.za/income-protection-insurance/): Income protection, disability and dread disease cover in South Africa: legal classes, tax since 2015, ASISA severity levels, claims.
- [Unclaimed benefits in South Africa: how to find a lost pension, life policy or inheritance, free](https://tulinde.co.za/unclaimed-benefits/): Unclaimed benefits in South Africa: the FSCA's free search, lost life and funeral policies, the Guardian's Fund, no tracing agent needed.
- [Discovery medical aid plans in 2026: the eight series, what each costs and which hospitals you can use](https://tulinde.co.za/discovery-medical-aid-plans/): Discovery medical aid plans in 2026: the eight series, each plan's monthly contribution from the scheme's own table, its hospitals and the 2027 changes.
- [Hippo car insurance quotes in South Africa: how the comparison works, the cover types and who handles your claim](https://tulinde.co.za/hippo-car-insurance-quotes/): Hippo insurance quotes: Hippo.co.za compares car insurance quotes from 13 insurers, free. Who calls you back, the cover types, who owns Hippo and claims.
- [UIF claim in South Africa: who qualifies, what the Fund pays and how to claim](https://tulinde.co.za/uif-claim/): How to claim UIF in South Africa: who qualifies, what UIF pays (38%–60% of earnings, up to 365 days), the documents, uFiling and the 12-month deadline.
- [COIDA letter of good standing: how to get it, verify it and keep it](https://tulinde.co.za/coida-letter-of-good-standing/): How an employer gets a COIDA Letter of Good Standing: registration, the Return of Earnings, payment, audit blocks and how to verify a letter online.
- [RAF claim status: how to check a Road Accident Fund claim, and what the stages mean](https://tulinde.co.za/raf-claim-status/): How to check a Road Accident Fund claim status: contact centre 087 820 1 111, SMS 44930, the 60-day and 120-day rules, and why payments come in parts.
- [RAF serious injury assessment: the RAF 4 form, the 30% test and the narrative test](https://tulinde.co.za/raf-serious-injury/): When the RAF pays general damages: the RAF 4 serious injury report, the 30% whole person impairment test, the narrative test, and no fixed payout per injury.
- [RAF death claims: loss of support and funeral costs after a road death](https://tulinde.co.za/raf-death-claim/): What the RAF pays after a road death: loss of support for dependants (capped at R390 664 a year per breadwinner), funeral costs, who may claim, documents.
- [Medical aid tax credit 2026/27: the amounts, who gets them and the additional credit](https://tulinde.co.za/medical-aid-tax-credit/): Medical aid tax credit for 2026/27: R376 a month for the main member, R752 with one dependant, R254 per extra dependant, plus the additional credit.
- [Pet insurance in South Africa: how it works, waiting periods and what to check](https://tulinde.co.za/pet-insurance/): How pet insurance works in South Africa: vet bills reimbursed, waiting periods and entry ages insurers publish, pre-existing conditions, limits, your rights.
- [RAF 1 form: which version to use in 2026, how to complete it and where to lodge it](https://tulinde.co.za/raf-1-form/): The RAF 1 claim form after the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling of 30 April 2026: the 2008 form applies, what it contains, the medical report, how to lodge it.
- [COIDA registration: how to register with the Compensation Fund, step by step](https://tulinde.co.za/coida-registration/): COIDA registration with the Compensation Fund: who must register, the 7-day rule, documents per business type, online or by e-mail, the 99… number, contacts.
- [Council for Medical Schemes (CMS): what it does, how to complain and how to contact it](https://tulinde.co.za/council-for-medical-schemes/): The Council for Medical Schemes regulates South Africa's 70 medical schemes: what it does, how to lodge a complaint against your medical aid, contacts.
- [Funeral cover for parents in South Africa: the rules, the waiting period and who gets paid](https://tulinde.co.za/funeral-cover-for-parents/): Funeral cover for your parents: adding them to your policy or a separate one, the 6-month waiting period limit, switching without a new wait, grant deductions.
- [Funeral cover with no waiting period: when the law forbids one, and when it doesn't](https://tulinde.co.za/funeral-cover-no-waiting-period/): When a South African funeral policy may not impose a waiting period: accidents, switching insurers, renewal, reinstatement (PPR rule 2A).
- [Medical aid for pensioners in South Africa: age, penalties, staying on after retirement and tax](https://tulinde.co.za/medical-aid-for-pensioners/): Medical aid for pensioners: schemes may not charge by age, the late-joiner penalty after 35, keeping your scheme on retirement, and the 65+ tax credit.

## Insurer profiles (licence, claim deadline, how to complain)

- [Old Mutual in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/old-mutual/)
- [Liberty in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/liberty/)
- [Discovery in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/discovery/)
- [Sanlam in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/sanlam/)
- [Santam in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/santam/)
- [OUTsurance in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/outsurance/)
- [Hollard in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/hollard/)
- [Momentum in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/momentum/)
- [AVBOB in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/avbob/)
- [Assupol in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/assupol/)
- [Clientèle in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/clientele/)
- [King Price in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/king-price/)
- [MiWay in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/miway/)
- [Budget Insurance in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/budget-insurance/)
- [Dial Direct in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/dial-direct/)
- [First for Women in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/first-for-women/)
- [Auto & General in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/insurers/auto-and-general/)

## Tools

- [Compare insurance in South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/compare-insurance/)
- [Free PDF guides for South Africa](https://tulinde.co.za/free-guides/): sourced guides compiled as PDFs to keep, print or share
- [South Africa insurance blog](https://tulinde.co.za/blog/): Motor & vehicles, Health & life, Home, business & travel, Insurers & your rights, Kwa Kiswahili

## Across the four countries

- [Motor insurance compared: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa](https://tulinde.africa/compare/motor-insurance-east-africa/): Compulsory motor insurance in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa: what the law covers, limits, penalties and how to check a cover.
- [Public health insurance compared: SHA, NHIF, CBHI, Uganda and South Africa](https://tulinde.africa/compare/health-insurance-east-africa/): Kenya's SHA, Tanzania's NHIF, Ethiopia's CBHI and SHI, Uganda and South Africa's medical schemes compared: who pays, how much, where private cover fits.
- [How fast must insurers pay? Claim deadlines in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa](https://tulinde.africa/compare/claim-deadlines-east-africa/): Claim and complaint deadlines: Kenya 90 days, Uganda 10–20 working days, Tanzania 45 days, Ethiopia 10 business days, South Africa 10 days for a rejection.
- [Work-injury cover for employers: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa](https://tulinde.africa/compare/workers-compensation-east-africa/): What employers must insure or pay for work injuries: WIBA in Kenya, Uganda's Workers Compensation Act, WCF in Tanzania, Ethiopia's Labour Proclamation, COIDA.
- [Insurance markets compared: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa](https://tulinde.africa/compare/insurance-markets-east-africa/): Insurance penetration, premiums and number of licensed insurers in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa, from the regulators' latest reports.
- [Insurance groups across East Africa: who is licensed where](https://tulinde.africa/compare/insurance-groups-east-africa/): Which big insurance groups are licensed in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and for what: Britam, Jubilee, ICEA LION, Sanlam Allianz, CIC, APA, GA, MUA, Old Mutual and more — from the regulators' lists.
- [Car insurance checklist: 10 things to check before you pay](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/motor/)
- [Motorcycle and boda boda insurance checklist](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/motorcycle/)
- [Commercial and passenger vehicle insurance checklist](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/commercial/)
- [Health insurance checklist: 10 questions before you sign](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/health/)
- [Life insurance checklist](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/life/)
- [Home insurance checklist](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/home/)
- [Business insurance checklist](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/business/)
- [Travel and cross-border driving checklist](https://tulinde.africa/checklists/travel/)

## Optional

- [Full text of this domain (short answers, sections, FAQ, sources)](https://tulinde.co.za/llms-full.txt)
- [Tulinde regional hub, Ethiopia, Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe (tulinde.africa): llms.txt](https://tulinde.africa/llms.txt)
- [Tulinde Kenya (tulinde.co.ke): llms.txt](https://tulinde.co.ke/llms.txt)
- [Tulinde Uganda (tulinde.co.ug): llms.txt](https://tulinde.co.ug/llms.txt)
- [Tulinde Tanzania (tulinde.co.tz): llms.txt](https://tulinde.co.tz/llms.txt)
- [About Tulinde](https://tulinde.africa/about/): Tulinde explains insurance in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia and puts people in touch with licensed insurers and brokers.
- [How Tulinde works and how we make money](https://tulinde.africa/how-tulinde-works/): Tulinde is free for you. Licensed insurers and brokers pay for introductions. Here is exactly how it works and what we never do.
- [Editorial policy: how we check every fact](https://tulinde.africa/editorial-policy/): Every rule, date and figure on Tulinde is linked to a regulator, an Act or an official report. How we write, check and update our guides.
- [Terms of use](https://tulinde.africa/terms/): The terms that apply when you use Tulinde's guides and quote request form.
- [Insurance glossary](https://tulinde.africa/glossary/)
- [Privacy notice](https://tulinde.africa/privacy/)
- [Sitemap](https://tulinde.co.za/sitemap.xml)