Expat Health Insurance & Healthcare Guide to South Africa

An expat in Cape town discusses health insurance coverage and gap insurance in South Africa. His insurance has covered virtually all of his medical costs over the past five years.

Private hospitals provide excellent services. Panorama Medi Clinic has one of the top 10 heart units in the World.

I needed a c-section because we knew my daughter was in the breech position. The doctor and facilities were great. I stayed for five days in hospital. At the time they did not have an ultrasound machine. It cost less to have a c-section than for my husband and son to stay in their hotel!

My first baby was born at home in the Netherlands without painkillers and without any complications.

Because of this experience I was very much in favour of a natural birth without medical intevention if possible. Since it is custom to have a hospitial delivery with a gynacologist I initially also choose that route. However after a pre hospital delivery tour I got so shocked of the staggering 90 % cs rates that a ran away from the gynacologist and found a fanatsic midwife.

My son was born with a water birth at 10 o'clock waterbirth in the morning and I checked myself the same day out of the hospital. The midwife was fabulous but I was not too impressed with the hospital service.