Medical aids that cover cosmetic surgery in South Africa can be a bit harder to find than usual cover. Because often these procedures are not out of necessity but more for a persons looks. Whether or not a medical aid will cover this kind of surgery will depend on your personal circumstances.
Cosmetic surgery that people need medical aid cover for include:
- Tummy Tucks
- Liposuction
- Rhinoplasty
- Breast Implants
- Breast Reduction
- Eyelid Surgery
- Facelifts
- Ear Surgery
Because most medical surgery, treatment and care is so expensive, the majority of people need to have medical aid to cover their costs. In order to enable them to finance the medical care that they need.
Although most medical aid schemes will not cover and pay for cosmetic surgery, there are some that do. You will have to search around for a medical aid company and scheme that will cover the surgery and treatment specific to you.
About Cosmetic Surgery
If you need or want cosmetic surgery either to enhance your appearance. Or to repair disfigurations on your body. Or face caused by an accident or present from birth you will be under a lot of stress and pressure.
Tummy tucks and liposuction are medical procedures that a lot of people in South Africa are looking to get cover for. Plastic surgeons in this country are highly skilled in these procedures.
If you do not ‘need’ cosmetic surgery, you will have a difficult decision to make and some difficult consequences to face.
Some people think that individuals who undergo cosmetic surgery to better their looks are shallow or have low self-esteems.
The feminist perspective holds that enhancing ones natural looks through surgery and other treatments is a sacrilege against the beauty of the natural human form. And is a form of submission to a patriarchal world view.
Popular amongst women looking for medical aids to cover cosmetic surgery is breast implants or breast reduction. Good breast surgeons operate from plastic surgery practices around South Africa.
If you truly believe that you would benefit from surgery to your face or body then you will have to deal with the negative responses that you will undoubtedly face.
You may feel that you will be more confident with a change to your face or body. Or that you will have more success by attracting a partner. You may feel that being more attractive will help you to get what you want out of life and be more confident. If this is the case, and if cosmetic surgery is the only way to achieve it, then it may be your best option.
However, the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery is only the first of several different difficult areas.
Financing Cosmetic Surgery Procedures
The next hard phase is financing your cosmetic surgery. This sort of surgery can cost anything from several thousand to tens or even hundreds of thousands. Most individuals do not have this sort of money lying around.
There are, however, a couple of options for financing your plastic surgery. Firstly, you could take out a personal loan (or another sort of loan) to cover the costs of your surgery.
You would need to qualify for a personal loan from one of the reputable financial service providers with a good credit record. And by having a steady, reliable income that will cover your essential living costs. As well as your monthly loan repayments and interest.
This might suit you if you have the above two things, but if you do not, you do have one other option. You could find a medical aid that will cover your cosmetic surgery.
This could be difficult however, as most medical aids do not cover this sort of thing. Your monthly premiums would probably be very high. But it would still save you money on the full cost of the cosmetic surgery.
Finding medical aids that cover cosmetic surgery
Most medical aids will not cover any form of cosmetic surgery. However some may cover reconstructive surgery.
You may be looking for medical aid in South Africa that covers rhinoplasty or a facelift.
Or if for example, you have been in an accident and have been left with a disfigured ear, a scar or any other sort of aesthetic damage. Your medical aid may cover the cosmetic surgery needed to repair the damage.
One medical aid that does offer some sort of cover for cosmetic surgery is Fedhealth. This company has some medical aid plans that allow for cover for certain types of cosmetic surgery. Fedhealth also offers interest free loans for cosmetic surgery.
In conclusion of medical aids giving cosmetic surgery in South Africa
To summarize in general medical aid companies in South Africa do not cover plastic surgery procedures.
However if your doctor can help you with a case to prove that a certain surgical procedure is necessary then your medical aid can cover it.
If the plastic surgery is only for cosmetic reasons you won’t get the cover.