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We\u2019re living in an extremely stressful time \u2013 the uncertainty around COVID-19 making us all anxious. But if you\u2019re pregnant, we know you\u2019ll be especially worried \u2013 not only about your health and the health of your unborn baby, but also about all the medical bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of the big worries for expecting moms<\/a> is that if you\u2019re tested positive for COVID-19 before you\u2019re due, you\u2019ll be placed in an isolation ward and you won\u2019t be able to have anyone support you during the birth besides the medical team. There\u2019s also the concern that if you\u2019re infected before giving birth you could pass the virus on to your new-born baby, putting her at risk.<\/p>\n Given the financial strain so many of us are under right now due to lockdown measures and loss of income, you may be tempted to cancel your Gap cover \u2013 it\u2019s money you could be spending on something else because you already have medial aid right? Wrong. According to\u00a0Tony Singleton, CEO at Turnberry Management Risk Solutions<\/a>, it\u2019s important you take into account that any complications in pregnancy or during birth could add to the medical expense shortfalls you\u2019ll have to cough up from your own pocket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It could also have serious long-term financial implications for you and your family.<\/p>\n \u201cNot everyone can afford medical aid as it\u2019s expensive. But, if you can, I\u2019d strongly recommend taking at least a hospital plan. Pregnancy can be very stressful and having medical aid relieves a lot of that stress. For example, I knew that my labour would be covered with my first pregnancy (even if I had a C-section). In fact, the majority of our hospital costs were covered,\u201d says Claries Roelofsz, who is currently 20 weeks pregnant with her second child.<\/p>\n Aside from expenses directly related to pregnancy or even COVID-19, accidents also happen, which can lead to financial stress due to lack of cover from medical aid schemes<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI dislocated my shoulder in 2017 and had to go to the hospital emergency room. As I wasn\u2019t admitted overnight, I didn\u2019t realise my medical aid wouldn\u2019t cover the hospital costs. (This was under the \u201cfine print\u201d.) If this had happened during lockdown and I needed emergency medical care while pregnant, my husband wouldn\u2019t have been allowed to accompany me, and the financial strain of having to pay cash for treatment would\u2019ve put more pressure on us as a household,\u201d Claries adds.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no denying that the list of medical expenses during pregnancy and childbirth is extensive and medical expense shortfalls<\/a> are an all-too-common occurrence. From the gynaecologist, midwife and doula, to the anaesthetist should a C-section be required, and the paediatrician after the birth, there are many areas where your medical aid may not cover the full amount.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, if you elect to give birth at a hospital outside of your Designated Service Provider (DSP) network, you\u2019ll be liable for the extra medical expense shortfalls.<\/p>\n \u201cOften, pregnancy and childbirth result in unanticipated medical expenses, which can leave young families in greater financial distress if they don\u2019t have medical aid. And, even with medical aid, they are not guaranteed full cover,\u201d says Tony.<\/p>\n He says that Turnberry has seen shortfalls in cover of up to R28 000 for a C-section and up to R20 000 for spontaneous vertex deliveries.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout Gap cover in place, young families are placed under huge financial strain as they need to find a way of paying for these medical expense shortfalls out of their own pocket. In normal circumstances this is challenging for a family just starting out, but in the current pandemic and economic crisis it can be catastrophic,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n Welcoming a child into the world should be a joyful experience, but current circumstances are causing strain. In a world where women may have to give birth in isolation, and cannot introduce their new children to family and friends, the last thing they need is to worry about medical expense shortfalls.<\/p>\n \u201cGap cover can help alleviate some of the strain by giving new mothers and young families peace of mind that their medical expenses will be taken care of. In the midst of all the other worry, this leaves a little more room to focus on the important things, like being a family and bonding with your new baby.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Tony stresses that gap cover<\/a> needs to be taken out\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0you fall pregnant as waiting periods do apply. \u201cIf you\u2019re planning a pregnancy<\/a>, speak to your financial advisor to make sure you are covered during these exceptionally trying times.\u201d<\/p>\nPregnancy in the time of COVID-19<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Mind the gap<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Less worry, more joy<\/strong><\/h2>\n