Joining your employer
Employer policy
It is compulsory to belong to one of the OMI selected medical schemes – Bestmed, Bonitas or Discovery Health - or provide proof that you belong to your spouse’s medical scheme. Contributions are a payroll deduction on a cost to company basis. If you join one of these medical schemes within 90 days of your employment date, there will be no waiting periods or penalties imposed on your membership for you and your immediate family. Underwriting may apply to special dependants.
Gap Cover is offered on a voluntary basis through Western Gap and is deducted in full as a pay roll deduction. Waiting periods may apply to pre-existing conditions.
The employer policy confirms all the OMI guidelines and rules regarding your healthcare arrangements.
Compare medical scheme options
The selected OMI schemes are Bestmed, Bonitas and Discovery Health. Contributions are a payroll deduction on a cost to company basis. There are many different options within the 3 medical schemes in terms of affordability and health needs. Use this tool to filter and compare the options that are most appropriate for you and your family.
How to use the tool
- The rates are automatically calculated for the main member.
- Select “add dependant” to add spouse, adult(s), or child(ren).
- Answer the three questions relating to hospital and day-to-day cover.
- Select your budget range using the sliding scale.
- The option comparison tool will start generating your contribution and order based on benefit richness.
- By selecting “Group by plan type”, the table will group the plans allowing you to expand and collapse the groupings.
- To view further detailed information about the plans, select the required plans by clicking on each row. Once completed, click the “View Comparison” button.
- To revert to the list of plans, click the “Back to Selection” button.
Gap cover
Gap cover is a top up insurance that can be added to your medical scheme to cover specialist in hospital shortfalls, co-payments in hospital, cancer shortfalls and more…
Western Gap is the preferred gap cover provider available to OMI employees. Membership is voluntary and monthly contributions are collected from the member directly by debit order. A general 3-month general waiting period, 9 month waiting period on pre-existing conditions and 12 months on pregnancy and cancer, may apply.
The Western Gap contributions for 2025 are as follows:
Chronic medicine and disease management
If you have been diagnosed with a chronic condition e.g. hypertension, diabetes or an illness (e.g., oncology, dialysis), you will need to register this on your medical scheme. Medical schemes require you to complete a process to ensure registration on the programmes. It is advisable to obtain a membership number and then submit your application for chronic and disease registration.
Loyalty programmes
Your medical scheme may have a wellness and loyalty programme that provides rewards, discounts and benefits for leading a healthier lifestyle. This may come at an additional cost.
Forms
Each provider has various forms that you may need to complete to ensure you are registered as a member.
Once completed, please send your fully completed and signed form to omi@alexforbes.com
If you are joining the medical scheme within 90 days of your employment date
If you are already a member of one of the existing medical schemes and you need to transfer this to your new employer
Gap cover application form
Chronic application form
Loyalty programme application form