Unlock Your Smile: Top 7 SA Medical Aids Now Covering Braces in 2026
Orthodontic treatment isn't automatically covered by every medical aid plan — it usually depends on which specific plan you're on, not just which scheme. Verified against each scheme's own 2026 benefit documents.
| Scheme | Which plans cover braces | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Health | Executive, Comprehensive, Priority plans | Paid at 100% of the Discovery Health Rate from day-to-day benefits, up to R37,500/person/year for dental appliances |
| Bonitas | Standard/Standard Select (up to 80%, needs analysis); BonComprehensive/BonClassic/BonComplete (100% of the Bonitas Dental Table) | Granted once per beneficiary per lifetime; fixed treatment generally limited to ages 9–18 based on malocclusion severity; not covered for cosmetic reasons |
| Momentum Health (Topmed Comprehensive) | Only for severe facial deformity | Subject to pre-authorisation and an orthodontic index assessment; 25% co-payment applies |
| Fedhealth | maxiFED EXEC and maxiFED PLUS only | R8,270/beneficiary/year, R24,700/family/year; flexiFED and myFED don't include orthodontic cover at all |
| Bestmed | Beat 2 | Subject to available savings and pre-authorisation; exact rand limits vary by category — confirm your specific limit in Bestmed's current comparative guide |
Medihelp's specific orthodontic benefit couldn't be confirmed from a live source at the time of writing — check directly with Medihelp or your broker.
What to check before you commit
- Which specific plan tier you're on — most schemes only cover braces on their top 1–2 plans, not entry-level options.
- Pre-authorisation — nearly every scheme requires this before treatment starts, plus an orthodontic needs/severity assessment.
- Age limits — several schemes cap fixed orthodontic treatment to specific age bands (commonly around ages 9–18).
- Once-off vs annual limits — some schemes grant orthodontic cover once per lifetime rather than as a recurring annual benefit.
If your current plan doesn't cover braces, compare medical aid plans that do before switching, and budget for the gap either way — most limits above don't cover the full cost of a typical orthodontic treatment course.
