X Gap Cover

Comprehensive Cover for Every Medical Shortfall

Four plans across two rating models. Nexus 1 and Nexus 2 are rated per life, so every member pays the lowest premium their own age allows. Vertex and Apex are rated per policy on the eldest life.

See the Four Plans Work Out Your Premium →
Understanding gap cover

What Is Gap Cover?

South African medical aids pay specialists and hospitals at their own rate, often significantly less than what providers actually charge. The difference, your shortfall, is billed directly to you.

X Gap Cover pays towards that shortfall, protecting you from unexpected out-of-pocket costs when you need hospital care most.

01
Your medical scheme pays their rate
Your scheme settles the account at their agreed rate, which may be considerably below what your doctor or specialist actually charged.
02
A shortfall remains
The difference between the scheme rate and the actual charge becomes your liability. You are billed for this amount directly.
03
X Gap Cover steps in
Subject to policy limits, we pay the shortfall so you are not left with an unexpected bill after an already stressful medical event.
Real-World Example
Specialist bill
R28 500.00
Medical scheme pays
R15 000.00
Shortfall, your liability
R13 500.00
X Gap Cover pays
R13 500.00
You pay
R0.00

Example is illustrative. Actual payments subject to policy limits and terms.

How the range works

Two Ways to Be Rated

The four plans divide into two families. The difference is not only what is covered, but how the premium is calculated and how every limit is applied.

Rated per life
Nexus 1 & Nexus 2

The new-generation options. A separate premium is charged for each insured person on the Schedule of Insurance, based on the age band that person actually falls into.

  • Nobody carries the cost of another age band. A younger member is never priced on an older member's rate.
  • No distinction between the principal member and an adult dependant. Each life is simply rated on its own.
  • Rand limits and claim counts apply per insured person per annum. A two-claim benefit is two claims each. The Medical Scheme Premium Waiver is the one exception, capped per policy.
  • The policyholder remains the sole contracting party and is liable for the total premium payable.
Nexus 1 · 15 benefits · From R113 p/m per adult life Nexus 2 · 20 benefits · From R130 p/m per adult life
Rated per policy
Vertex & Apex

Our traditional gap cover options. One premium is charged for the policy as a whole, on an individual or family rate, with the rating age determined by the eldest insured person.

  • The eldest life sets the age band for everybody on the policy.
  • Family cover is the principal member plus one adult dependant and up to three child dependants. Additional children may be added at R40 on Vertex and R50 on Apex; further adults cannot be added.
  • Rand limits and claim counts apply per policy. A four-claim benefit is four claims for the policy, not four each.
  • Child dependants are covered to age 21, or 27 for full-time students.
Vertex · 11 benefits · From R450 p/m Apex · 19 benefits · From R550 p/m
Why this matters when you compare limits. The same rand figure is not worth the same under each model. A R2 000 Hospital Account Shortfall benefit with two claims applies to the policy as a whole on Vertex and Apex, but to each insured person on Nexus 1 and Nexus 2. On a family of three, that is the difference between two claims and six. Always read a limit together with the unit it is stated in.
Plans

Choose the Right Plan for You

Four plans, grouped by how they are rated. All four carry the same Overall Annual Limit of R223 000 per insured person per annum and the same 500% in-hospital gap benefit.

New-Generation Gap Cover
Rated per life

A separate premium for each insured person, on their own age band. Limits and claim counts apply per insured person unless the benefit states otherwise.

Essential Gap Cover · 15 benefits
NEXUS 1
Core protection against the shortfalls that create the largest and most frequent bills, at a premium that reflects your own age.
R113 /month
Per adult life, aged 22 to 24 · From
  • ✓ Gap Cover (500% additional)
  • ✓ Co-Payments (up to OAL)
  • ✓ Penalty Fees (R15 000 · 1 claim each)
  • ✓ Sub-Limit Enhancer (R20 000 / R2 000)
  • ✓ Hospital Account Shortfalls (R2 000 · 2 claims each)
  • ✓ Private Room Upgrade (R2 000 · 1 each per annum)
  • ✓ Emergency Room (R4 000 each per annum)
  • ✓ Preventative Care (R1 000 each)
  • ✓ Trauma Counselling (R3 000 each)
  • ✓ Cancer Co-Payments & Top-Up (up to OAL)
  • ✓ Initial Cancer Diagnosis (R20 000)
  • ✓ Premium Waiver (6 months)
  • ✓ Medical Scheme Premium Waiver (max R6 000 p/m)
  • ✓ Accidental Death (R10 000)
  • ✓ Newborn (R2 000 per baby)
View Full Plan
Traditional Gap Cover
Rated per policy

One premium for the policy, on an individual or family rate. The rating age is set by the eldest insured person.

Advanced Gap Cover · 11 benefits
VERTEX
Broad in-hospital and emergency benefits, sub-limit enhancement, and full cancer protection, all in one solid plan.
R450 /month
Individual, aged 18 to 54 · From
  • ✓ Gap Cover (500% additional)
  • ✓ Co-Payments (up to OAL)
  • ✓ Penalty Fees (R15 000 · 3 claims)
  • ✓ Sub-Limit Enhancer (R40 000 / R2 000)
  • ✓ Hospital Account Shortfalls (R2 500 · 4 claims)
  • ✓ Private Room Upgrade (1 per annum)
  • ✓ Emergency Room (R20 000 per annum)
  • ✓ Cancer Co-Payments & Top-Up (up to OAL)
  • ✓ Initial Diagnosis of Cancer (R25 000)
  • ✓ Premium Waiver (6 months)
  • ✓ Accidental Death (R8 000)
View Full Plan
Comprehensive Gap Cover · 19 benefits
APEX
The widest per-policy cover we offer, adding day-to-day consultations, robotic surgery, appliances and breast reconstruction to the Vertex core.
R550 /month
Individual, aged 18 to 54 · From
  • ✓ Every Vertex benefit, plus:
  • ✓ Gap Cover incl. BMI (R5 000 per claim)
  • ✓ Robotic Surgery (500% up to R20 000)
  • ✓ Appliance Shortfall (R8 000 per annum)
  • ✓ Emergency Room (R25 000 per annum)
  • ✓ Specialist Consultations (R1 500 · 4 claims)
  • ✓ Primary Care Consultations (R500 · 4 claims)
  • ✓ Preventative Care (R1 500 · 2 claims)
  • ✓ Trauma Counselling (R10 000)
  • ✓ Breast Reconstruction (500% / R40 000)
  • ✓ Medical Scheme Premium Waiver
  • ✓ Accidental Death (R10 000)
View Full Plan
Premium calculator

What Would Your Policy Cost?

Because Nexus is rated per life, the premium only exists once you add up the actual people on the policy. Add each member below to see the total.

Who is on the policy?
Add every person to be insured and select the age band each falls into. Child dependants are covered to age 21, or 27 for full-time students.
Estimated monthly premium
Nexus 2 Enhanced · 20 benefits · per life
R0
Nexus 1 Essential · 15 benefits · per life
R0
For comparison, rated per policy
Apex R0
Vertex R0
Indicative figures only, based on the current rate tables and subject to change. Vertex and Apex are rated per policy on the eldest life: the individual rate for a single life, otherwise the family rate. Your broker will confirm the dependant structure and the final premium. Benefit limits differ between the two families — see the comparison below.
Coverage detail

Cover that goes beyond the gap

Nineteen benefits across the range. Nexus 1 and Nexus 2 limits are stated per insured person; Vertex and Apex limits are stated per policy.

In-Hospital
Gap Cover
Covers the difference between the medical scheme rate and what service providers charge for approved in-hospital, day hospital and in-room procedures.
All four plans · 500% additional, up to OAL Nexus 2 & Apex · BMI up to R5 000 per claim Nexus 1 & Vertex · BMI excluded
In-Hospital
Robotic Surgery
Shortfalls on authorised robotic or computer-assisted surgical procedures. Experimental or unapproved uses of robotic technology are excluded.
Nexus 2 · 500% up to R20 000 per claim Apex · 500% up to R20 000 per claim Nexus 1 & Vertex · Not included
In-Hospital
Co-Payments
Co-payments, including those expressed as a percentage, excesses or deductibles imposed by your medical scheme for specified procedures, hospital admission fees, scans or surgical procedures.
All four plans · Up to OAL
In-Hospital
Penalty Fees
Covers the penalty fee charged for the voluntary use of a non-designated or partial cover network hospital, whether the scheme charges a rand amount or a percentage. Administration charge co-payments excluded.
All four plans · R15 000 per claim Nexus 1 & 2 · 1 claim per person p/a Vertex & Apex · 3 claims per policy p/a
In-Hospital
Sub-Limit Enhancer
Covers shortfalls when scheme sub-limits are exceeded for MRI and CT scans, cochlear implants, intraocular lenses, internal prostheses and TAVI valves. Any other sub-limit is covered to R2 000 per claim.
Nexus 1 · R20 000 specified, R20 000 p/a aggregate Nexus 2 · R40 000 specified, R40 000 p/a aggregate Vertex & Apex · R40 000 specified
In-Hospital
Hospital Account Shortfalls
Shortfalls on the hospital account for items such as consumables, and take-home medication scripted and dispensed by the hospital pharmacy on the day of discharge. Each plan also includes a private room upgrade.
Nexus 1 & 2 · R2 000 · 2 claims each · 1 room upgrade each Vertex & Apex · R2 500 · 4 claims · 1 room upgrade
Appliances
Appliance Shortfall
Shortfalls on hearing aids, wheelchairs, CPAP machines, humidifiers, insulin pumps, glucometers, nebulisers and Mirena devices, where the scheme has a defined rand limit.
Nexus 2 · R5 000 each p/a Apex · R8 000 p/a Nexus 1 & Vertex · Not included
Emergency
Emergency Room
Costs directly related to the initial emergency event at a registered casualty facility. Illness claims are after hours only for beneficiaries 8 and older. Ambulance costs and follow-up visits excluded.
Nexus 1 · R4 000 each p/a Nexus 2 · R5 000 each p/a Vertex · R20 000 p/a Apex · R25 000 p/a
Out of Hospital
Specialist Consultations
The shortfall on a specialist consultation fee where the scheme has paid a portion. Excludes tests, scans and any charges unrelated to the consultation.
Nexus 2 · R1 000 per claim · 2 claims each p/a Apex · R1 500 per claim · 4 claims p/a Nexus 1 & Vertex · Not included
Out of Hospital
Primary Care Consultations
Day-to-day visits: GPs, dentists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, biokineticists, occupational therapists, homeopaths and audiologists recognised and paid for by your medical scheme option.
Nexus 2 · R500 per claim · 2 claims each p/a Apex · R500 per claim · 4 claims p/a Nexus 1 & Vertex · Not included
Wellness
Preventative Care
The gap portion on pap smears, cholesterol and blood glucose tests, flu vaccination, childhood immunisation, bone density scans, PSA tests, mammograms and contraceptive implantation.
Nexus 1 · R1 000 per claim · 1 claim each p/a Nexus 2 · R1 500 per claim · 1 claim each p/a Apex · R1 500 per claim · 2 claims p/a Vertex · Not included
Mental Health
Trauma Counselling
Counselling with a registered medical professional within six months of a qualifying traumatic incident, including dread disease diagnosis, hijacking and violent crime.
Nexus 1 · R3 000 each p/a Nexus 2 · R5 000 each p/a Apex · R10 000 p/a Vertex · Not included
Cancer
Cancer Co-Payments
Percentage co-payments on ongoing cancer treatment and biological drugs, applied once the medical scheme cancer benefit is exhausted and treatment continues on the registered treatment plan.
All four plans · Up to OAL
Cancer
Cancer Top-Up
Covers ongoing treatment as per the scheme's registered treatment plan where the option has a defined rand limit for cancer and that limit has been reached.
All four plans · Up to OAL
Cancer
Initial Diagnosis of Cancer
Once-off lump sum on a first diagnosis of malignant cancer from stage 2 onwards, where the beneficiary is under 65 at the date of diagnosis. Skin cancer excluded, save for metastatic melanoma at stage 4. Not subject to the OAL.
Nexus 1 · R20 000 lump sum Nexus 2, Vertex & Apex · R25 000 lump sum
Cancer
Breast Reconstruction
An additional 500% of the scheme rate for reconstruction of the affected breast post-mastectomy, plus reconstruction of the unaffected breast including artificial prostheses. No cover for subsequent reconstruction.
Nexus 2 & Apex · +500% affected · R40 000 unaffected, incl. R4 000 prosthesis Nexus 1 & Vertex · Not included
Support
Premium Waiver
On the accidental death or total permanent disability of the principal policyholder, the premiums payable are waived for six months. Cannot be transferred, ceded or converted to cash. Not subject to the OAL.
All four plans · 6 months Nexus 1 & 2 · Waived for all remaining insured persons
Support
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver
Pays an amount equal to the medical scheme contribution of surviving dependants for six months after the event, subject to a monthly cap for the policy as a whole. Not subject to the OAL.
Nexus 1 · Max R6 000 p/m per policy Nexus 2 · Max R7 500 p/m per policy Apex · R3 000 p/m individual, R6 000 p/m family Vertex · Not included
Support
Accidental Death
Paid to the nominated beneficiary on the accidental death of any insured person on the policy, on receipt of the death certificate. Not subject to the OAL.
Nexus 1 · R10 000 once-off Nexus 2 · R15 000 once-off Vertex · R8 000 once-off Apex · R10 000 once-off
Family
Newborn
Lump sum per newborn baby, payable when the baby is registered on the gap policy within 90 days of birth. A stated benefit to cover costs unrelated to medical expenses. Subject to the waiting period for pregnancy and confinement. Not subject to the OAL.
Nexus 1 & 2 · R2 000 per baby Vertex & Apex · Not included
Benefit comparison

Compare All Benefits

Compare within a family, where limits share the same unit, or across all four at once. The Overall Annual Limit is R223 000 per insured person per annum from 1 April 2026 on every plan, including Vertex and Apex.

Rated per life. Every rand limit and claim count below applies per insured person per annum unless the row states otherwise. The policy premium is the sum of the premiums for everyone on the Schedule of Insurance.
Benefit Nexus 1 Nexus 2
In-Hospital
Gap Cover (additional)500%500%
BMI-Related Procedures (per claim)—R 5 000.00
Robotic Surgery (500% additional, per claim)—R 20 000.00
Co-PaymentsUp to OALUp to OAL
Penalty Fees (1 per insured person per annum)R 15 000.00R 15 000.00
Sub-Limit Enhancer, per claim for:
   · MRI and CT scans
   · Cochlear implants
   · Intraocular lenses
   · Internal prostheses
   · Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) valves

Any other sub-limit.
R 20 000.00





R 2 000.00
R 40 000.00





R 2 000.00
Sub-Limit Enhancer, annual aggregate per insured personR 20 000.00R 40 000.00
Hospital Account Shortfalls (2 per insured person per annum)R 2 000.00R 2 000.00
Private Room Upgrade (1 per insured person per annum)R 2 000.00R 2 000.00
Appliance Shortfall Benefit (per insured person per annum)—R 5 000.00
Emergency Room
Emergency Room, annual sub-limit per insured personR 4 000.00R 5 000.00
Emergency Room, accident (per claim)R 2 000.00R 2 500.00
Emergency Room, illness 8 and older (per claim, after hours)R 2 000.00R 2 500.00
Emergency Room, illness younger than 8 (per claim)R 4 000.00R 5 000.00
Consultations & Wellness
Specialist Consultations (2 per insured person per annum)—R 1 000.00
Primary Care Consultations (2 per insured person per annum, combined)—R 500.00
Preventative Care (1 per insured person per annum)R 1 000.00R 1 500.00
Trauma Counselling (per insured person per annum)R 3 000.00R 5 000.00
Cancer
Cancer Co-PaymentsUp to OALUp to OAL
Cancer Top-UpUp to OALUp to OAL
Initial Cancer Diagnosis ✦ (stage 2+, before age 65)R 20 000.00R 25 000.00
Reconstruction of Affected Breast—Additional 500%
Reconstruction of Unaffected Breast—R 40 000.00
Breast Prosthesis (sub-limit)—R 4 000.00
Support Benefits
Premium Waiver ✦ (all remaining insured persons)6 Months6 Months
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver ✦, principal member (per month)R 2 000.00R 2 500.00
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver ✦, adult dependant (per month)R 1 750.00R 2 000.00
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver ✦, child dependant (per month)R 750.00R 1 000.00
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver ✦, policy cap (per month)R 6 000.00R 7 500.00
Accidental Death ✦R 10 000.00R 15 000.00
Newborn ✦ (per baby, registered within 90 days of birth)R 2 000.00R 2 000.00
Monthly Premiums, Per Insured Person
Age 0 to 21R 30.00R 50.00
Age 22 to 24R 113.00R 130.00
Age 25 to 34R 140.00R 161.00
Age 35 to 44R 157.00R 181.00
Age 45 to 54R 184.00R 212.00
Age 55 to 59R 420.00R 483.00
Age 60 to 64R 580.00R 667.00
Age 65 and overR 730.00R 840.00
Rated per policy. Every rand limit and claim count below applies per policy per annum. The rating age is determined by the eldest insured person.
Benefit Vertex Apex
In-Hospital
Gap Cover (additional)500%500%
BMI-Related Procedures (per claim)—R 5 000.00
Robotic Surgery (500% additional, per claim)—R 20 000.00
Co-PaymentsUp to OALUp to OAL
Penalty Fees (3 per policy per annum)R 15 000.00R 15 000.00
Sub-Limit Enhancer, per claim for:
   · MRI and CT scans
   · Cochlear implants
   · Intraocular lenses
   · Internal prostheses
   · Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) valves

Any other sub-limit.
R 40 000.00





R 2 000.00
R 40 000.00





R 2 000.00
Hospital Account Shortfalls (4 per policy per annum)R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Private Room Upgrade (1 per policy per annum)R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Appliance Shortfall Benefit (per annum)—R 8 000.00
Emergency Room
Emergency Room, annual sub-limit per policyR 20 000.00R 25 000.00
Emergency Room, accident (per claim)R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Emergency Room, illness 8 and older (per claim, after hours)R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Emergency Room, illness younger than 8 (per claim)R 5 000.00R 5 000.00
Consultations & Wellness
Specialist Consultations (4 per policy per annum)—R 1 500.00
Primary Care Consultations (4 per policy per annum)—R 500.00
Preventative Care (2 per policy per annum)—R 1 500.00
Trauma Counselling (per policy per annum)—R 10 000.00
Cancer
Cancer Co-PaymentsUp to OALUp to OAL
Cancer Top-UpUp to OALUp to OAL
Initial Diagnosis of Cancer ✦ (stage 2+, before age 65)R 25 000.00R 25 000.00
Reconstruction of Affected Breast—Additional 500%
Reconstruction of Unaffected Breast—R 40 000.00
Breast Prosthesis (sub-limit)—R 4 000.00
Support Benefits
Premium Waiver ✦6 Months6 Months
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver ✦, individual (6 months)—R 3 000.00
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver ✦, family (6 months)—R 6 000.00
Accidental Death ✦R 8 000.00R 10 000.00
Monthly Premiums, Per Policy
Individual, aged 18 to 54R 450.00R 550.00
Family, aged 18 to 54R 560.00R 700.00
Individual, aged 55 to 64R 550.00R 650.00
Family, aged 55 to 64R 700.00R 800.00
Individual, aged 65 and aboveR 950.00R 1 100.00
Family, aged 65 and aboveR 1 150.00R 1 450.00
Additional child (from child 4 onwards)R 40.00R 50.00
Read the unit, not just the figure. Nexus 1 and Nexus 2 limits below are stated per insured person. Vertex and Apex limits are stated per policy. Identical rand amounts are therefore not equivalent across the two families. The one exception is the Medical Scheme Premium Waiver monthly cap, which applies to the policy as a whole on all four plans and is marked as such in the table. Premiums are excluded from this view because they are not calculated on the same basis — use the premium calculator instead.
Benefit Nexus 1per person Nexus 2per person Vertexper policy Apexper policy
In-Hospital
Gap Cover (additional)500%500%500%500%
BMI-Related Procedures (per claim)—R 5 000.00—R 5 000.00
Robotic Surgery (500% additional, per claim)—R 20 000.00—R 20 000.00
Co-PaymentsUp to OALUp to OALUp to OALUp to OAL
Penalty Fees (per claim)R 15 000.00R 15 000.00R 15 000.00R 15 000.00
Penalty Fees, claims per annum1133
Sub-Limit Enhancer, specified items (per claim)R 20 000.00R 40 000.00R 40 000.00R 40 000.00
Sub-Limit Enhancer, any other sub-limit (per claim)R 2 000.00R 2 000.00R 2 000.00R 2 000.00
Sub-Limit Enhancer, annual aggregateR 20 000.00R 40 000.00——
Hospital Account Shortfalls (per claim)R 2 000.00R 2 000.00R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Hospital Account Shortfalls, claims per annum2244
Private Room Upgrade (1 per annum)R 2 000.00R 2 000.00R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Appliance Shortfall Benefit (per annum)—R 5 000.00—R 8 000.00
Emergency Room
Emergency Room, annual sub-limitR 4 000.00R 5 000.00R 20 000.00R 25 000.00
Emergency Room, accident (per claim)R 2 000.00R 2 500.00R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Emergency Room, illness 8 and older (per claim)R 2 000.00R 2 500.00R 2 500.00R 2 500.00
Emergency Room, illness younger than 8 (per claim)R 4 000.00R 5 000.00R 5 000.00R 5 000.00
Consultations & Wellness
Specialist Consultations (per claim)—R 1 000.00—R 1 500.00
Specialist Consultations, claims per annum—2—4
Primary Care Consultations (per claim)—R 500.00—R 500.00
Primary Care Consultations, claims per annum—2 combined—4
Preventative Care (per claim)R 1 000.00R 1 500.00—R 1 500.00
Preventative Care, claims per annum11—2
Trauma Counselling (per annum)R 3 000.00R 5 000.00—R 10 000.00
Cancer
Cancer Co-PaymentsUp to OALUp to OALUp to OALUp to OAL
Cancer Top-UpUp to OALUp to OALUp to OALUp to OAL
Initial Diagnosis of Cancer ✦R 20 000.00R 25 000.00R 25 000.00R 25 000.00
Reconstruction of Affected Breast—Additional 500%—Additional 500%
Reconstruction of Unaffected Breast—R 40 000.00—R 40 000.00
Breast Prosthesis (sub-limit)—R 4 000.00—R 4 000.00
Support Benefits
Premium Waiver ✦6 Months6 Months6 Months6 Months
Medical Scheme Premium Waiver ✦, monthly cap
Per policy on all four plans, not per insured person.
R 6 000.00R 7 500.00—R 3 000.00 individual
R 6 000.00 family
Accidental Death ✦R 10 000.00R 15 000.00R 8 000.00R 10 000.00
Newborn ✦ (per baby)R 2 000.00R 2 000.00——
At a Glance
Total benefits15201119
Overall Annual Limit
Per insured person per annum on all four plans, including Vertex and Apex.
R 223 000.00R 223 000.00R 223 000.00R 223 000.00
Terms and Conditions

Information is subject to change. Premiums are reviewed and may be adjusted annually. The policy wording prevails in the event of any discrepancy.

Ready to get covered
Speak to an Accredited Broker Today

A broker will assess your medical aid option, your household profile, and which rating model works out best for you, then recommend the right plan of the four.

Get a Quote Find a Broker →