Letters
Switch medical aid transfer letter template
By Naledi Mokoena · 5 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
To switch medical aid without losing cover, time it so the new scheme starts the day after the old one ends, and ask the old scheme for a membership certificate to waive waiting periods. Sending a transfer request in writing keeps the dates clean and protects your chronic registrations.
Use the template below to request the certificate and confirm your end date.
Never cancel the old scheme until the new one confirms cover. A single day's gap can trigger fresh waiting periods.
Get the timing right
The safe sequence is:
- Apply to the new scheme and wait for written confirmation of the start date.
- Ask the old scheme for a membership certificate.
- Cancel the old scheme to end the day before the new one starts.
Never leave a gap. The new scheme starts on the 1st only if the old one ends on the last day of the previous month.
Transfer and certificate request template
[Your full name]
[Old membership number]
[Email] | [Cellphone]
[Date]
The Membership Department
[Old scheme name]
RE: Request for membership certificate and end date - member [MEMBERSHIP NUMBER]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am moving to [NEW SCHEME NAME] with effect from [START DATE]. Please:
1. End my membership on [LAST DAY, the day before the new cover starts].
2. Issue a membership certificate showing my cover dates and all waiting periods served.
3. Confirm any final contribution or refund.
Please email the certificate to [YOUR EMAIL] as soon as possible so my new scheme can waive waiting periods.
Yours faithfully,
[Your full name]
[ID number]
Re-register chronic medicine on the new scheme
Chronic registrations do not transfer automatically. Once your new scheme is active, send a fresh chronic application with your script and ICD-10 code so your medicine is funded in full from day one. Until that is approved, your medicine may come off savings. Our CDL application template covers exactly what to send.
Watch for late-joiner penalties
If you have had continuous cover, switching should not trigger a late-joiner penalty. But if there was a past break in cover, the new scheme may assess one based on your age and the months you were uninsured. Ask the new scheme to confirm in writing whether a penalty applies before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch medical aid without waiting periods?
Move with no break in cover and give the new scheme your membership certificate from the old one. With continuous cover, the new scheme can waive general and condition-specific waiting periods. A gap usually means you serve them again.
Can I switch medical aid at any time of year?
Yes, you are not locked to January. You give your old scheme one calendar month's notice and start the new one the day after. Many people switch at year-end when benefits change, but you can move whenever it suits you.
Do my chronic registrations move with me?
No. You must re-register chronic medicine on the new scheme with a fresh script and ICD-10 code. Until it is approved, your medicine may come off savings, so apply as soon as the new cover is active.
Will switching cost me a late-joiner penalty?
Not if you have had continuous cover. A penalty is only assessed for past breaks in cover relative to your age. Ask the new scheme to confirm in writing whether one applies before you cancel the old scheme.
What is the most important document when switching?
The membership certificate from your old scheme. It proves your cover dates and waiting periods served, which lets the new scheme waive waiting periods. Request it in writing as part of your cancellation.
What if there is a gap between my old and new cover?
Even one day's gap can let the new scheme apply general and condition-specific waiting periods, and possibly a late-joiner penalty later. Always confirm the new start date before you set the old end date.
