20/06/2026
If you wait until 40 to get your first medical aid, you could pay up to 75% more on your premium. Forever.
That is not a scare tactic. It is a rule built into South African medical scheme legislation called the late joiner penalty.
It does not only apply to first-time members. It applies to anyone who has been without cover for more than three consecutive months after the age of 35, whether they cancelled, took a gap, or simply let it lapse.
We broke down everything first-time members need to know before the penalty window closes.
Read the full guide. It’s worth five minutes of your time: https://nuel.ink/QtWhVK