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- About EssentialMED
- Benefits
- Features
- FAQs
- Get in touch

Affordable, quality healthcare
EssentialMED, underwritten by African Unity Life, has been providing innovative health insurance products since 2005.They offer better access to quality healthcare that’s simple to understand and affordable.
You can get medical cover from EssentialMED, distributed by Sanlam, starting from just R315 per month.
Main member from R315/pm
Spouse from R215/pm
Child from R164/pm

A range of day-to-day benefits
EssentialMED’s national network of healthcare providers will give you access to a wide range of day-to-day benefits:
Unlimited GP network visits
Basic pathology
Basic radiology
Specialist visits
Dentistry
Optometry
Chronic medication
Acute medication
Over-the-counter medication
Quality healthcare made affordable
- Features
More choice
Access a nationwide network of doctors, dentists, specialists and pharmacies across South Africa.
More cover
Including unlimited visits to GPs or dentists, plus radiology and pathology services, as well as acute, chronic and over-the-counter medication.
More time
Reclaim your time by accessing private healthcare whenever and wherever you need it, and leave the queues behind.
More confidence
Have peace of mind in knowing that the medical needs for both you and your loved ones are taken care of.
Questions about EssentialMED cover

- What is the difference between EssentialMED (Medical Insurance) and Medical Aid?
Medical insurance products are governed either by short-term or long-term law and not by medical aid regulations. They, therefore, do not have to include the prescribed set of minimum benefits and can impose different waiting-period criteria, as well as maximum entry age limits. Medical aid schemes are supervised by the Medical Schemes Act and must follow a set of highly strict rules and regulations, including open enrolment, standard-rate fees, and coverage for a list of Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs).
- What do I qualify for?
You qualify for unlimited but managed day-to-day benefits. EssentialMED offers benefits which include: GP visits, radiology, pathology, specialist visit, dentistry, optometry, acute medication, chronic medication and over-the-counter medication. A list of pre-approved codes applies to each benefit. The list of codes are funded under the pathology, radiology, dentistry and optometry benefits. A pre-approved list of medication is applicable to the over-the-counter, chronic, and acute medication.
- How is EssentialMED regulated?
Essential Medical (Pty) Ltd is an authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP 42980), underwritten by Africa Unity Life Limited, a licensed insurer and an authorised FSP 8447. The EssentialMED Health Plan is demarcated by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS). This product is a Medical Insurance Product and not a Medical Aid registered by the Council for Medical Schemes DM1053B. For more information regarding this demarcated product please visit: https://www.medicalschemes.co.za/insurers/.
Sanlam Developing Markets Limited Reg no. 1911/003818/06 a Licensed Life Insurer and an Authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP 11230).
Further terms and conditions apply and can be found here. Premiums are subject to annual review.
- What is a formulary?
A list of pre-approved codes applies to each benefit.
- Does EssentialMED cover mammograms?
Unfortunately not, EssentialMED only covers basic black and white x-rays according to an approved formulary.
Find out more
- Get in touch
Chat on WhatsApp
Get product documents, manage your details, and more, using our WhatsApp self-service 086 123 5433.
Give us a call
For help with any financial advice, claims or policy-related questions or concerns, call our agents on 0860 223 390.
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