Momentum Medical Scheme will increase its average annual contribution by 7.9% in 2027, while Momentum Health is changing its Health4Me product and expanding its wellness and digital healthcare offering.
The 7.9% increase is below the 9.9% proposed average weighted increase for 2026 and the 9.4% increase for 2025.
Momentum Medical Scheme is South Africa’s third-largest open medical scheme, with about 285 000 beneficiaries, according to the latest industry data from the Council for Medical Schemes. Its solvency ratio was 30.28% at the end of 2024, down from 31.34% in 2023.
Momentum Medical Scheme is part of the broader Momentum Health business, which administers other schemes and offers healthcare products outside the medical scheme.
Momentum Health’s overall membership increased by 27% during the year to June 2026, largely because of the Bonitas administration contract, which started on 1 June 2026, and continued growth in Health4Me.
According to the Momentum Group’s financial results for the year to the end of June 2026, Momentum Medical Scheme’s membership increased by less than 1% in the year to June 2026. Growth came mainly from employer groups and retail clients, while the corporate segment remained under pressure from lower affordability, smaller employee bases, and limited employer growth.
Momentum says the open medical scheme market shrank by 3% between 2019 and 2024, while the average age of members increased from 35 to 37.
“Hospitalisation remains the largest area of expenditure in the medical scheme market, which is why prevention and early intervention cannot be treated as optional extras,” says Damian McHugh, chief marketing officer at Momentum Health.
“A sustainable healthcare model must help people act before a health concern becomes a more serious, and often more expensive, event.”
Six options
Momentum Medical Scheme has six options: Ingwe, Evolve, Custom, Incentive, Extender, and Summit.
The options range from Ingwe, which uses designated networks and income-based contributions, to Summit, which offers broader hospital and chronic cover.
The 2026 contribution tables currently available on the scheme’s website show the spread between the options. For a principal member, the published starting contributions were R2 029 for Evolve, R2 585 for Custom, R3 362 for Incentive, R7 939 for Extender, and R16 469 for Summit. Ingwe contributions vary according to income, hospital choice, and family composition.
The contribution structures also differ. Incentive included a 10% savings component in 2026, while Extender included 25%.
Momentum has not yet published the 2027 contribution tables for the individual options, so while the 7.9% overall average increase has been announced, it is not yet possible to determine exactly how much members will pay each month on the different options.
Health4Me
Health4Me is one of the products offered by Momentum Health outside the medical scheme. It is a primary health insurance product aimed at employer groups, giving employees access to private healthcare through a network of providers.
Momentum says Health4Me covered about 600 000 lives and had just over 25% of its market in 2022. It now covers more than one million lives, giving it about 30% of the segment.
Momentum has reviewed the product for 2027, citing the need for long-term sustainability and changing member needs.
For 2027, Momentum is increasing specialist benefit limits, adding an over-the-counter pharmacy medicine benefit, and introducing a third GP benefit tier.
The pharmacy benefit will replace Covid-19 screening benefits that Momentum says were underused.
Prevention and digital care
Momentum is also expanding HealthReturns and its wider wellness offering.
Since January 2026, Momentum Multiply has recorded a 25% increase in members achieving their physical activity goals and a 35% increase in members reaching their rest and recharge goals. These behaviours are among those rewarded through HealthReturns.
Momentum says members who engage with these programmes generate 19% lower claims than other members.
HealthReturns will be expanded to give employers more ways to support employee well-being, including HealthSaver contributions and additional health initiatives.
Digital healthcare has also seen increased use. Momentum says Hello Doctor consultations have increased by 634% since 2021.
Momentum says the increase reflects growing demand for convenient and accessible healthcare, allowing members to begin their healthcare journey digitally.
“We believe people should be empowered to take practical steps towards better health in ways that are accessible, relevant and meaningful to them,” says McHugh. “When health support is convenient, understandable and rewarding, people are more likely to build habits that last. These everyday choices help create healthier people, stronger businesses, and a more resilient future.”
The 2027 benefit information is subject to approval by the Registrar of Medical Schemes and may change.
