Medical Aid

All international students need to comply with the visa regulations as determined by the Immigration Act, Act 19 of 2004. Regulation 10(1) (i) determines the following:

• “An applicant for a study permit is required to provide: proof of medical cover with a medical scheme registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act, Act 131 of 1998, recognised in the Republic”. Although you may, with some other foreign insurance products, secure a study visa from a South African diplomatic mission, the NMMU, in accordance with the Medical Schemes Act, does not recognise such medical cover for registration purposes. The NMMU requires proof of full Medical Aid cover with a South African based medical aid scheme for each full academic calendar year. This cover must be valid until 31 December of the year in order to qualify for registeration. It is thus advisable that international students make the necessary financial arrangements for the medical aid cover prior to entry into South Africa.

The following are medical aid companies with developed student focused products that are registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act. They also offer the minimum benefits that a student may need whilst in South Africa. They are also accepted by the Department of Health’s medical facilities:

• Ingwe / Momentum Health
• Bestmed

ABSA Healthcare Consultants have been appointed as the NMMU Office for International Education’s medical aid product specialists. For more information, read the enclosed letter that will be provided with your acceptance documentation. Application is made through ABSA Healthcare Consultants for your medical cover and resulting visa letter. To email a representative from ABSA Healthcare Consultants please click here.