As of 2022, 15.8 percent of all individuals in South Africa were members of medical aid schemes, which presents a slight decrease from 16 percent recorded in the previous year. Considering the total population in the period under review, this accounts for around 9.7 million residents having private medical care. This leaves approximately 52 million dependent on public health care, with a share of 84.2 percent. When comparing membership rates by population group, coverage by medical schemes were noticeably higher amongst white individuals (at 71.9 percent) and Indians/Asians (at 48.7 percent) than amongst colored (at 18.2 percent) and Black Africans (at 9.7 percent).
Share of individuals who are members of medical aid schemes in South Africa from 2021 to 2022, by population group
Note that medical aid schemes should not be confused with health insurance, as these two differ much in terms of financial coverage in South Africa. Medical aid schemes cover expenses associated with the necessary medical treatment, whereas health insurances are to ensure that when you are in need of financial coverage for medical purposes, you receive a fixed lump sum.
The source states the following: "The target population of the survey consists of all private households and residents in workers’ hostels across all nine provinces of South Africa. The survey does not cover other collective living quarters such as students’ hostels, old-age homes, hospitals, prisons and military barracks, and is therefore only representative of non-institutionalized and non-military persons or households in South Africa."
The source asked people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups, including others/unspecified. This is a common way to describe ethnic groups in South Africa.
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Statistics South Africa. (August 17, 2023). Share of individuals who are members of medical aid schemes in South Africa from 2021 to 2022, by population group [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1115752/share-of-medical-aid-scheme-members-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Statistics South Africa. "Share of individuals who are members of medical aid schemes in South Africa from 2021 to 2022, by population group." Chart. August 17, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1115752/share-of-medical-aid-scheme-members-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Statistics South Africa. (2023). Share of individuals who are members of medical aid schemes in South Africa from 2021 to 2022, by population group. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1115752/share-of-medical-aid-scheme-members-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Statistics South Africa. "Share of Individuals Who Are Members of Medical Aid Schemes in South Africa from 2021 to 2022, by Population Group." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Aug 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1115752/share-of-medical-aid-scheme-members-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Statistics South Africa, Share of individuals who are members of medical aid schemes in South Africa from 2021 to 2022, by population group Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1115752/share-of-medical-aid-scheme-members-in-south-africa-by-population-group/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Share of individuals who are members of medical aid schemes in South Africa from 2021 to 2022, by population group [Graph], Statistics South Africa, August 17, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1115752/share-of-medical-aid-scheme-members-in-south-africa-by-population-group/