Late-joiner penalty

A permanent extra premium loading for joining a scheme later in life.

If you join a medical scheme for the first time after age 35 without continuous prior cover, schemes may apply a late-joiner penalty — an extra percentage added to your premium, for as long as you remain a scheme member. It rewards continuous cover rather than only joining once you need it.

More jargon

Open scheme · Restricted scheme · PMB (Prescribed Minimum Benefits) · CDL (Chronic Disease List) · DTP (Diagnosis Treatment Pair) · Co-payment · Designated Service Provider (DSP) · Waiting period · Savings account / above-threshold benefit · Medical scheme · Medical aid · Medical insurance · Benefit option · Principal member · Dependant · Contribution · Underwriting · Condition-specific waiting period · Emergency medical condition · Medical savings account · Self-payment gap · Benefit limit · Scheme tariff or rate · Out-of-pocket payment · Provider network · Formulary · Generic medicine · Clinical protocol · Pre-authorisation · Managed care · Claim statement · Tariff shortfall · Claim rejection · Clinical motivation · Internal appeal · CMS complaint · Registered scheme rules