The short version
- Dentistry is not a Prescribed Minimum Benefit, apart from specific emergency and trauma-related jaw and facial conditions.
- Basic dentistry is normally paid from your day-to-day benefit or medical savings account and stops when that pool runs out.
- Specialised dentistry almost always carries a separate annual limit, a waiting period, and pre-authorisation.
- General anaesthetic for dentistry in hospital is usually only covered for children under a stated age or for defined clinical reasons.
Computed from 2026 plan data
Cheapest option with a day-to-day pool
Bonitas BonCapR1 730 a month, with a published day-to-day benefit of R2 390 a year for a single member.
Lowest cost for two adults and two children
Medihelp MedMove! StudentR804 a month for the whole household.
Computed from published 2026 contributions and brochure figures. Not financial advice.
What the 2026 brochures say
Verbatim mentions from each scheme's own 2026 brochure summary.
Generous limits for specialised radiology and dentistry
Cover for basic and specialised dentistry
On these options you can avoid a 30% co-payment by using a hospital on the applicable network. R2 800 co-payment per scan event for MRIS AND CT SCANS. Avoid a R9 800 co-payment by using the DSP for CATARACT SURGERY. A co-payment of R5 200 per admission applies for the removal of impacted teeth only OR A R2 600 co-payment if the dental treatment is done in a day hospital. Avoid a R6 500 co-payment by using a network day hospital for Day Surgery procedures. Procedure co-payments of R2 020, R5 130, and R9 500 may apply.
On these options you can avoid a 30% co-payment by using a hospital on the applicable network. R2 800 co-payment per scan event for MRIS AND CT SCANS. Avoid a R9 800 co-payment by using the DSP for CATARACT SURGERY. A co-payment of R5 200 per admission applies for the removal of impacted teeth only OR A R2 600 co-payment if the dental treatment is done in a day hospital. Avoid a R7 100 co-payment by using a network day hospital for Day Surgery procedures. Procedure co-payments of R2 020, R5 130, and R9 500 may apply.
A R1 860 co-payment per scan event applies for MRIs and CT scans, except for PMBs. For hospitalisation for removal of impacted teeth, a co-payment of R5 200 per admission applies, or a R2 600 upfront co-payment in a day hospital.
Avoid a 30% co-payment by using a hospital on the applicable network. Hospitalisation for dental procedures is for PMB only.
1 dental consultation per beneficiary
1 dental consultation per beneficiary
97 of 114 plans in our 2026 data don't mention this in the brochure summary we hold. That doesn't mean they exclude it — check the plan's own brochure.
Where our data stops
We do not hold typed rand limits for basic and specialised dentistry per plan in the 2026 data set, so none are shown. Where a scheme brochure highlight mentions dentistry, it is quoted verbatim below. For the exact annual dental limit on a specific option, use the plan page's source link to the scheme's own 2026 brochure.
Questions people ask
Does a hospital plan cover the dentist?
Generally no. A hospital-only plan covers in-hospital treatment and the Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Routine dentistry is a day-to-day claim, so on a hospital plan you would pay for check-ups, fillings and cleaning yourself.
Is orthodontic treatment covered by medical aid?
Only on options that publish a specialised dentistry benefit, and then usually with an annual limit, an age restriction on the beneficiary, a waiting period and pre-authorisation. It is one of the most commonly excluded benefits at the entry level of the market.
Are wisdom teeth removed in hospital covered?
Removal in hospital under general anaesthetic normally requires pre-authorisation and is only approved where there is a clinical reason. The hospital and anaesthetist portion is paid from the hospital benefit; the dentist's own fee may still come off your dental limit.
Why did my dental claim get paid partly?
Two common reasons: your day-to-day pool or dental limit was exhausted, or your dentist charges more than the scheme rate. The shortfall between the scheme rate and the provider's fee is not covered by gap cover for day-to-day dentistry, only for in-hospital procedures.
Related on Medical Aid Online
Sources
This guide is general information, not financial or medical advice. Medical Aid Online is not a medical scheme. Scheme rules and benefits change every year, so check the scheme's own rules and brochure before you decide.
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