Medical Savings Options & Benefits

Think of your medical savings account (MSA) as your personal healthcare piggy bank. It’s a portion of your medical aid plan set aside for day-to-day expenses like doctor visits, medicine, blood tests, and more. But how much do you get, and what happens if you don’t use it all? 

Comparative Overview of Medical Aid Providers

This table compares savings account allocations, rollover rules, and how medical savings are applied across top plans in South Africa. 

Provider 

Plan Name 

Monthly Premium (± 2024) 

Annual Medical Savings Allocation 

Rollover Policy 

Discovery 

Essential Saver 

±R3,200 

±R7,000 

Rollover to next year 

Fedhealth 

flexiFED 3 

±R4,400 

±R9,000 

Rollover applies 

Bonitas 

BonSave 

±R3,800 

±R8,400 

Rollover applies 

Best Plans for Different Profiles

Young Professionals & Students 

Recommended Plan:

Discovery Essential Saver 
Why? Affordable entry point with flexible savings and essential GP coverage. 

Families

Recommended Plan:

Fedhealth flexiFED 3 
Why? Higher savings allowance suited for regular paediatric check-ups, dentist visits, and everyday family care

Chronic Patients 

Recommended Plan:

Bonitas BonSave 
Why? Covers recurring out-of-hospital costs like tests, GP consults, and prescribed non-CDL medications. 

Freelancers & Self-Employed 

Recommended Plan:

Fedhealth flexiFED 3 
Why? Offers the freedom to manage cash flow and health expenses with strong rollover support. 

Key Considerations Before Choosing a Plan

  • Does your MSA balance carry over to the following year?
  • Are co-payments or day-to-day limits included in your savings?
  • What happens when your savings run out – does your plan offer above-threshold cover?
  • Can you use your MSA for specialist consultations and over-the-counter medicine?

FAQs

No – savings remain in your medical aid account, but many plans roll them over for future use.

Yes – MSA funds can be used for most prescribed and OTC medicine purchases.

Rollover applies in most cases. You’ll retain the balance into the next benefit year.