Paying for treatment · AIM Healthcare Centre, Malanshof, Randburg
Medical aid & paying for treatment
Money is the part of dentistry nobody explains — so here it is, explained. How medical aid billing works at this practice, what your plan actually decides, and the one promise that never changes: we quote before we treat.
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Call nowHow billing works here
Dental quotations use procedure codes to describe the proposed treatment. Schemes use their own benefit rules and reimbursement rates; the amount a scheme pays may differ from the practice fee.
Ask for a written treatment quote and check it against your plan’s benefits. Reception can explain the quote and help with billing questions; your scheme confirms its cover and any authorisation requirements.
What your plan actually decides
Cover depends on your scheme, plan, available benefits and applicable rules. Limits, exclusions and authorisation requirements vary. Check the proposed treatment codes with your scheme; if benefits do not cover the full fee, you may need to pay the difference.
Some treatments may be excluded or paid only partly by your plan. If your scheme pays less than the practice fee, you may have a co-payment. Check the quote, available benefits and any authorisation requirements before treatment.
What gap cover is
Gap cover is a separate insurance product — not part of your medical aid — designed to help with the difference between what your scheme pays and what treatment costs. Some gap cover products help with dental co-payments and some don’t, so it’s worth checking yours before big treatment rather than after.
We can’t tell you whether gap cover is worth it for you — that depends on your plan, your product and your teeth. What we can do is put the exact quote your gap cover provider will ask about in your hands, in writing, before anything goes ahead.
What actually happens at the front desk
Bring your medical aid card or membership details. Ask reception for the consultation fee and a treatment quote, and check benefits with your scheme before treatment starts. A benefit check or authorisation is not a guarantee of final claim payment.
Tell reception your scheme and plan when you book. Ask about any expected co-payment before treatment; final cover and payment depend on your scheme’s rules, available benefits and claim assessment.
No medical aid? You’re just as welcome
Plenty of our patients pay for themselves, and the promise works exactly the same way: a proper look first, then the full price upfront, in writing, before you decide anything.
Ask for the fee and treatment quote before deciding. Call or WhatsApp reception to discuss booking, payment and what to expect.
Questions worth asking your scheme
A few minutes on the phone with your scheme before big treatment saves a lot of confusion later. Ask them:
- What does my plan pay for this procedure code, and at what rate?
- Do I have a separate dentistry limit, and how much of it is left this year?
- Which treatments does my plan treat as cosmetic or excluded?
- Does this treatment need pre-authorisation before I book it?
- If my plan pays less than the fee, how is the co-payment worked out?
Find your scheme
Explore the 2026 dental benefit guides, option by option. Some details need confirmation. We claim directly from medical aids; confirm current benefits, authorisation requirements and any expected co-payment with your scheme before treatment. Final payment depends on the claim assessment.
- Discovery Health
- Bonitas
- Bestmed
- Fedhealth
- Momentum Medical Scheme
- Medshield
- Medihelp
- KeyHealth
- GEMS
- POLMED
- SAMWUMED
- Transmed
- Remedi
- Profmed
- Sizwe Hosmed
- CompCare (Universal)
- Genesis Medical Scheme
- Thebemed
- Makoti Medical Scheme
- Suremed Health / Medimed
- Bankmed / LA Health / Umvuzo / Platinum Health / Sasolmed and other employer schemes
Know the cost before you decide.
Clear fees. We quote before we treat.
Tell reception your scheme and option when arranging your visit. Ask for a written treatment quote and confirm current benefits and any expected co-payment with your scheme. A benefit check does not guarantee final claim payment.
Questions patients ask
Will my medical aid cover my dental treatment?
Cover depends on your scheme, plan and available benefits. Ask reception for the treatment quote and confirm benefits, any authorisation and expected co-payment with your scheme before treatment.
What should I bring for medical aid billing?
Have your medical aid card or membership details and ID ready. Ask reception whether any other information or authorisation is needed for your appointment.
What is gap cover and do I need it?
Gap cover is separate insurance. Whether it pays a dental shortfall depends on the particular policy, limits and exclusions. Check directly with the provider before treatment; a medical aid benefit check does not establish gap-cover payment.
Can I come to the dentist without medical aid?
Yes. Ask reception for the consultation fee before booking. After assessment, any proposed treatment is explained and quoted before you decide, including options where appropriate.
Can I see the fees before I book?
Yes. Our dental homepage lists the check-up and cleaning package fee; additional treatment is quoted separately. Ask reception about other consultation fees. Medical aid cover depends on your plan and benefits; co-payments may apply.
What are dental codes and tariffs?
Procedure codes describe treatment; tariffs are the rates used for billing or reimbursement. Scheme payment and practice fees can differ. Use your quote to check benefits and any expected co-payment before treatment.
The full walkthrough of quotes, co-payments and what moves the number is in our honest guide to dental costs.
Wondering about something else? The FAQ page answers the questions we hear most