Balancing the demands of life can often feel overwhelming. We find ourselves juggling many aspects of daily life, and at times, our health can fall victim to this aftermath.
While physical health has long enjoyed the spotlight, mental health is gaining the recognition it deserves as an integral component of overall wellness. Total Risk Administrators is stepping up to the plate, offering a comprehensive approach to gap cover that includes vital mental health check-ins in the form of counselling services.
The Mental Health Crisis
Mental health is essential to our lives as an ever-present aspect of human functioning. The global pandemic highlighted the fragility of mental well-being as people grappled with isolation, uncertainty, and increased stress.
The need for accessible and effective mental health support has never been more apparent. The financial stress of managing medical bills and unexpected medical expenses on top of emotional strain only compounds the challenge. This makes initiatives such as mental health check-ins and counselling services invaluable for South Africans seeking both emotional and financial protection.
How Medical Aid Falls Short
Most medical aid covers in-hospital procedures and physical health consultations, but mental health support often falls through the cracks. Even where a registered medical aid scheme includes some psychiatric benefits, what medical aid pays rarely covers the full cost of specialist consultations with psychologists or psychiatrists.
The result is that many South Africans find themselves spending out of pocket to bridge the gap between what their medical scheme covers and what they actually owe. Understanding medical aid rates versus doctors’ private rates is key to grasping why these shortfalls occur.
This is precisely where mental health gap cover becomes essential. Covering those specialist shortfalls and medical shortfalls that your medical scheme membership alone cannot address.
Total Risk Administrators’ Holistic Approach
TRA understands that good health extends far beyond physical fitness. With this, we are proudly committed to addressing the mental health needs of our clients through the added benefits of TRA Gap Cover.
When our clients opt for TRA Gap Cover, they know that every aspect of their health is accounted for (both physical and emotional). We goes beyond conventional healthcare coverage, which traditionally addresses consultations, treatments, and check-ups for physical conditions. Instead, we focus on holistic well-being as a shared end goal, providing financial protection against the costs that your medical aid option may not fully cover.
We believe that mental health check-ins are imperative, especially in such a fast-paced world. Counselling services provide a lifeline to those seeking professional support, fostering a proactive mental health care culture and reducing the financial stress of managing these costs alone.
TRA Gap Cover and the General Waiting Period
TRA gap cover has no general three-month waiting period. However, from the join date of the gap cover policy, there is a 10-month condition-specific waiting period applicable to all new members.
Within this time, no claims may be submitted within the first ten months of membership for any gap cover policy if they relate to certain conditions, which include mental health or psychiatric conditions (including depression). We encourage all members to review their policy documents for full details on what applies to them as the insured person. For more information, see our guide on gap cover waiting periods.
Counselling Services: Your Safety Net
At moments when we least expect it, life throws challenges that are too complex to handle alone. TRA recognises this and provides access to discuss general issues and PTSD, with referrals to specialist networks of psychologists and psychiatrists where required, helping you manage the cost of specialist consultations without the fear of shortfalls.
Trauma Counselling
The promotion of emotional well-being and critical incident support services are essential components of our offering.
Our counsellors are based in and around the urban hubs of South Africa. The top five reasons for calling our team are death, armed robbery, threatened suicide, hijacking, and shooting incidents. The regions with the highest incidence rates include Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
Services include:
- Telephonic counselling with the Nurse Case Management team or Trauma Counsellors
- Critical incident management and emotional support
- Referral to a specialist network of psychologists and psychiatrists if required
Destigmatising Mental Health
TRA’s commitment to mental health check-ins and trauma counselling services contributes significantly to the ongoing effort of destigmatising mental health challenges. By incorporating mental well-being into our gap cover plans, we signal that seeking support for your mental health is just as important as seeking care for physical ailments, and that the payments and costs involved should never be a barrier to getting help.
This sends a clear message to South Africans: it is okay to ask for help, and doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Medical Advice Line
MobiMed nurses are available 24 hours a day to provide general medical assistance in confidence. This is an advisory and information service, as a telephonic conversation does not permit an accurate diagnosis. We create a critical link between you and your medical queries, ensuring that professional guidance from a qualified nurse is just a phone call away. In times of emergency, TRA Assist can be a lifeline when you need it the most.
Members benefit from:
- Emergency medical advice
- Assessment of symptoms and referral to the most appropriate healthcare professional
- Knowledge of all aspects of healthcare, including home care remedies with scheduled follow-up calls
- Explanation of medical terms, test results, and information relating to medication
- Counselling for chronic ailments and diseases to minimise the impact of these conditions on daily life
Services
- Supporting the individual after a traumatic experience and facilitating post-traumatic growth
- Physical well-being, focusing on diet, exercise and sleep which includes during pregnancy, caring for children and the elderly
- Medical well-being, addressing symptoms (headaches, stomach pains, etc.), their causes, and advice on home care treatment or when to contact a health professional
- Chronic condition support, helping individuals understand their condition and the lifestyle changes required to live optimally with their illness including diabetes, HIV and AIDS, chronic respiratory illness, cancer, and coronary heart disease
- All calls handled by a team of accredited, multidisciplinary and multilingual health and well-being professionals (registered nurses)
- 24/7 access to telephonic health and well-being information, advice and self-help tools
Gap Cover That Has Your Back
Total Risk Administrators is redefining what gap cover can do for South Africans. By integrating mental health check-ins and counselling services, we aim to set a new standard for holistic well-being support.
As you continue to navigate life’s challenges, having a partner like TRA can make all the difference. Discover why you should choose TRA Gap Cover or get in touch with us if you have any questions.
