And what's more medical schemes in SA are said to be five times more expensive than elsewhere in the world, when purchasing power is taken into consideration.
The cost of private medical care has been higher than the normal inflation rate for the last few years. A comprehensive medical scheme just for yourself could easily put you back between 10% and 20% of your income every month.
Many people are scaling down to a hospital plan to save money, and many others are simply doing without a medical scheme of any kind - and hoping for the best.
Find out how you can cut down on your medical costs in 21 easy ways