What’s Changing in 2026: Bonitas Medical Aid – Independent Overview

What’s Changing in 2026: Bonitas Medical Aid – Your Benefits at a Glance

Bonitas has announced its 2026 product updates, introducing new plan options, enhancing key benefits, and making structural adjustments to keep contributions affordable while sustaining long‑term scheme stability. Here’s a clear, balanced summary of what’s coming.

💰 Contribution Adjustments

• Weighted average increase: 8.8% (below many competitors)

• Increases vary by option:

  • BonSave: 6.9%

  • BonClassic & BonFit: 7.0%

  • Primary: 8.5%

  • Standard: 9.0%

  • BonComprehensive: 9.5%

  • BonPrime, BonComplete, Standard Select, BonEssential Select: 10.5%

  • BonCap & BonStart: 11.3%

  • BonCore: New option (no prior rate)

🆕 New Plan Options

BonCore – Digital‑first hospital plan for younger, price‑sensitive members:

• Unlimited network hospital cover

• Unlimited virtual GP consults + 3 in‑person GP visits from risk

• R1 000 Benefit Booster

• Chronic cover for 28 conditions (including depression)

• Equal rate for main, adult, and child (R1 275)

BonPrime – Evolved from Primary Select:

• 16% Medical Savings Account for day‑to‑day spend

• Network hospital cover, PMB protection, chronic disease management

• Preventative screenings and wellness programme access

✅ Key Enhancements Across Plans

Benefit Booster Simplified

• One‑tier structure replaces old tiers

• Activation now requires both a wellness screening and an online mental health assessment

• Primary & BonPrime Booster increased to R4 000 (+5.3%)

• Other plan amounts unchanged (e.g., BonSave R5 000, Standard R5 000, BonCore R1 000)

Mental Health Support

• Integrated into Booster activation

• Limits adjusted: Primary R9 780, BonSave R15 440, BonPrime from savings

Women’s & Children’s Health

• Antenatal classes (R1 100) on Primary, BonPrime, BonFit

• Synagis RSV prevention for pre‑term infants on all options except BonCap

• Contraceptive injectables now available at network pharmacies on more plans

Musculoskeletal Care

• Back & Neck Programme expanded to include shoulder and knee pain (all except BonCap)

Chronic & Disease Management

• BPH added to BonComprehensive

• Diabetes device benefits unbundled: 1 insulin pump every 5 years, 1 CGM device per year, consumables covered

Dental & Periodontal Care

• BonSave: New in‑hospital dental benefit

• BonPrime & Primary: Access to periodontal programme

• Periodontal exams limited to once every 12 months on most mid‑/high‑tier plans

• Denture cover removed from Primary, BonPrime, BonCap

Oncology & Radiology

• Tiered oncology cover: PMB‑only on entry‑level, up to R448 200 non‑PMB on BonComprehensive

• MRI/CT co‑pay increased to R2 800 on BonStart Plus & BonFit

• Alternative‑to‑hospital scan benefits increased

• Take‑home medicine per hospital event increased to R470 on BonStart, BonStart Plus, BonFit

🌟 New Wellness & Rewards Programme

B Value & Wellbeing Programme – Free for all members:

• Gym discounts (Planet Fitness, Virgin Active)

• Nutrition & fitness coaching

• Financial wellness tools and credit checks

• Lifestyle rewards, vouchers, spin‑to‑win

• Insurance extras: gap cover options, free emergency dental cover for BonCore members, accidental death cover for certain employer sectors

🏥 Hospital Network Optimisation

• Negotiations with major hospital groups expected to save over R400 million annually

• Current networks remain until 31 Dec 2025

• Updated 2026 networks to be announced in October 2025

• Changes will affect multiple options, including BonClassic, BonComplete, BonSave, BonPrime, BonFit, Primary, Standard Select, BonStart, BonStart Plus, BonEssential Select, Hospital Standard, BonCap

📱 Digital & Service Enhancements

• Dr B Chatbot – AI‑powered support and “Health Beat” educational series

• Redesigned website and upcoming corporate hub

• Plan comparison tool to benchmark Bonitas against competitors

• Corporate newsletter for HR teams

• Medical Aid Made Easy mobi‑game for member education

⚖️ Our Takeaway

Bonitas’ 2026 changes bring:

• Positives: New plan choices, broader preventive care, simpler Booster, expanded wellness rewards, targeted chronic and oncology upgrades

• Considerations: Stricter Booster activation, reduced mental health limits on some plans, DSP changes for chronic/contraceptives, higher co‑pays for certain scans, denture cover removal on some options

📌 Source: Bonitas 2026 – Advisor Advantage 2026 Product Launch (September 2025)

For full plan‑by‑plan details, visit www.bonitas.co.za