At a glance
- Plan type
- Hospital plan
- Hospitals
- Network hospitals
- Hospital and specialists
- 100% of Scheme tariff
- Day-to-day costs
- Your own
- Chronic conditions
- 28
- Cancer
- PMB level of care
- Children on the plan to age
- 24
- Plan type
- Hospital plan
- Hospitals
- Network hospitals
- Hospital and specialists
- 100% of Scheme tariff
- Day-to-day costs
- Your own
- Chronic conditions
- 28
- Cancer
- PMB level of care
- Children on the plan to age
- 24
Monthly contributions
2027 rates take effect on 1 January 2027.
| Member | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main member | R1 603 | R1 720 | +7.3% |
| Adult dependant | R1 603 | R1 720 | +7.3% |
| Child | R1 603 | R1 720 | +7.3% |
Benefits
Bonitas has published its full 2027 rules, but we hold only the main rows so far. A row without a 2027 entry shows the 2026 rule, marked.
Benefits in force for 2026.
In hospital
Hospitals
Network hospitals only (BonStart Hospital Network)
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p10
Hospitals
Network hospitals only (BonStart Hospital Network)
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Specialists in hospital
100% of Scheme tariff. A specialist who charges more leaves a shortfall.
Bonitas Bonstart Bonstart plus 2026, p11
Specialists in hospital
100% of Scheme tariff. A specialist who charges more leaves a shortfall.
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p14
Hospital outside the network
A co-payment of R12 680 if you choose a hospital outside the network for a planned admission.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p10
Hospital outside the network
A co-payment of R13 230 if you choose a hospital outside the network for a planned admission.
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p14
Chronic and cancer
Chronic conditions
28 conditions (the 27 on the Chronic Disease List plus others the scheme adds).
Chronic conditions
28 conditions (the 27 on the Chronic Disease List plus others the scheme adds).
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p8
Cancer
Cover at the PMB level of care, through Bonitas Oncology Network.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p21
Cancer
Cover at the PMB level of care.
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p15
Day to day
Maternity
Maternity Programme, paid from savings.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus
Maternity
Maternity Programme, paid from savings.
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p14
Children on the plan
As dependants up to age 24.
Children on the plan
As dependants up to age 24.
GP visits
Unlimited face-to-face
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p7
GP visits
Unlimited network GP consultations; R135 co-payment per visit; authorisation required after 6th visit; 2 non-network GP consultations for emergencies per family
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Specialist visits
Limited to 1 specialist visit
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p8
Specialist visits
Limited to 1 visit per family up to R1 430; R285 co-payment per visit; subject to GP referral
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Prescribed medicine (acute)
Script paid at 80% of tariff.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p16
Prescribed medicine (acute)
GP-referred acute medicine, x-rays and blood tests limited to R1 930 per family; 20% co-payment per script, avoid 40% by using Bonitas Pharmacy Network; subject to medicine formulary
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Basic dentistry
Limited to one general check-up (not within 6 months from the previous year’s check-up) per beneficiary per year.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p8
Basic dentistry
1 dental consultation per beneficiary; R135 co-payment; Managed Care protocols apply
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Eyes (optometry)
One per beneficiary per annum, at network rates.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p23
Eyes (optometry)
1 eye test per beneficiary at network provider; R120 co-payment; limited to R433 at non-network provider
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Basic X-rays
D5.1.3, D5.2.2 and D27.2.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p28
Basic X-rays
GP-referred x-rays, part of R1 930 per family (acute medicine/x-rays/blood tests); subject to radiology formulary
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Blood tests (pathology)
D5.1.3, D5.2.2 and D27.2.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p26
Blood tests (pathology)
GP-referred blood tests, part of R1 930 per family; subject to pathology formulary
2027 Bonitas All Plans Brochures, p5
Full benefit list
Every benefit we hold for BonStart, in Bonitas’s own wording, from its 2026 documents. Bonitas’s full 2027 list is not in our records yet.
In hospital
Palliative care
No limit.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p23
Fertility treatment
Limited to interventions and investigations as prescribed by the Regulations to the Medical Schemes' Act 131 of 1998 in Annexure A, paragraph 9, Code 902M.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p14
Day procedures
No limit, subject to a R1 850
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p10
Medicine on discharge
Up to 7 days’ supply, to a maximum of R470 per beneficiary, per admission, subject to the BonStart medicine formulary, except anticoagulants post-surgery.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p10
HIV/AIDS
No limit.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p14
Hospital stay and theatre
No limit, subject to a R1 850
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p10
Travel cover
R1.2 million per Member,
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p35
Birth (in hospital)
No limit.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p14
Cancer treatment
Limited to PMBs.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p21
Organ and stem cell transplants
Prescribed Minimum Benefits
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p24
Planned PMB procedures
No limit, except for the following
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p30
Internal prostheses
No benefit, except for PMBs.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p27
Mental health admissions
Limited to PMBs and subject to the DSP.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p19
MRI, CT and PET scans
R14 090 per family.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p28
Dialysis
Prescribed Minimum Benefits
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p29
Surgery and anaesthetics
100% of the negotiated fee, or in the absence of such fee
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p2
Specialised (biological) medicine in hospital
No benefit, unless PMB.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p18
Step-down and sub-acute care
R17 340 per family.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p13
Step-down and sub-acute care
R62 620 per family for all services.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p13
Day to day
Prescribed medicine (acute)
Script paid at 80% of tariff.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p16
Alternative healthcare
Not covered. No benefit, except as part of the Benefit Booster benefit in D27.2.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p4
Medical appliances
No benefit, except for PMBs.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p5
Auxiliary services
No benefit, unless PMB.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p24
Chronic medicine (Chronic Disease List)
Prescribed Minimum Benefits
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p17
Chronic medicine (other conditions)
R165 per beneficiary per month for Depression, subject to managed care protocols and the DSP. Restricted to a maximum of one month's supply unless pre-authorised.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p17
Contraceptives
Limited to R1 270 per family.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p16
Specialised dentistry
Not covered. No benefit.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p9
Basic dentistry
Limited to one general check-up (not within 6 months from the previous year’s check-up) per beneficiary per year.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p8
Casualty visits
maximum 2 emergency visits per family
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p10
GP visits
Unlimited face-to-face
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p7
Hearing aids
Not covered. No benefit.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p5
Maternity care (out of hospital)
Limited and included in D5.1.2
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p16
Psychologist and counselling visits
Limited to R14 400 per beneficiary.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p20
Eyes (optometry)
One per beneficiary per annum, at network rates.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p23
Over-the-counter medicine
Limited to R115 per event
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p17
Blood tests (pathology)
D5.1.3, D5.2.2 and D27.2.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p26
Physiotherapy and other therapists
Limited to two consultations
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p27
Basic X-rays
D5.1.3, D5.2.2 and D27.2.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p28
MRI, CT and PET scans
No benefit, unless PMB.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p29
Specialist visits
Limited to 1 specialist visit
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p8
Procedures in the doctor’s rooms
Limited to and included in D7.1.1 or D7.2.1 at enhanced rates
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p31
Care after a hospital stay
No limit.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p14
Screening and prevention
Screening and prevention
HIV test annually.
Bonitas 2026 Annexure B BonStart and BonStart Plus, p34
Conditions
The Chronic Disease List conditions are Prescribed Minimum Benefits on every medical aid. How each one works on a medical aid:
- Addison's Disease
- Asthma
- Bipolar Disorder
- Bronchiectasis
- Dysrhythmia
- Heart Failure
- Cardiomyopathy
- COPD
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Crohn's Disease
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Haemophilia
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Hypothyroidism
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Schizophrenia
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- Ulcerative Colitis
Bonitas also names these on BonStart’s 2026 chronic list:
Questions about BonStart
Answered from Bonitas’s documents.
How much does BonStart cost in 2027?
From 1 January 2027: R1 720 a month for the main member, R1 720 for an adult dependant and R1 720 for a child.
How much is BonStart going up for 2027?
For the main member, from R1 603 to R1 720 a month, +7.3%.
What happens if I use a hospital that isn't on the network?
For a planned admission at a hospital outside Bonitas's network, the scheme charges a co-payment of R13 230 in 2027.
Does BonStart pay for GP visits and day-to-day costs?
No. BonStart is a hospital plan, so day-to-day costs are your own.
How many chronic conditions does BonStart cover?
28: the 27 on the Chronic Disease List and others the scheme adds.
Is cancer treatment covered?
Yes, at the PMB level of care.
Until what age can children stay on as dependants?
Up to age 24.
Will I have a shortfall if my specialist charges more?
BonStart pays specialists in hospital at 100% of the Scheme tariff. If a specialist charges more than that, the difference is a shortfall. Gap cover is the product that pays shortfalls.
Factual information from Bonitas Medical Fund’s published documents. It is not advice. Compiled by Eldon de Waal, CFA, the licensed advisor behind AURA. Catalogue v175, built 2026-10-19.