Photo: Mapillary, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Medical aid in Namibia
Funds, members and your rights
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The registered medical aid funds
In alphabetical order, as on NAMFISA's register (31 October 2026): GEMHEALTH Medical Aid Scheme, Heritage Health Medical Aid Fund, Namibia Health Plan, Namibia Medical Care, Nammed Medical Aid Fund, Napotel Medical Aid Fund, Renaissance Health Medical Aid Fund. Ask each fund whether you can join it.
NAMFISA's Annual Report 2025 counted 8 active funds at 31 December 2024; the register of October 2026 shows 7.
Medical aid in figures (31 December 2024)
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Principal members | 93,677 |
| Dependants | 111,556 |
| Pensioners | 14,557 |
| Total beneficiaries | 219,790 (+1.9%) |
| Healthcare expenditure | N$5.1 billion |
| Per beneficiary per year | N$23,205 |
| Total assets of medical aid funds | N$2,796 million |
Source: NAMFISA Annual Report 2025, tables 2 and 27.
The rules
- No one may carry on the business of a medical aid fund in Namibia unless registered (FIMA, section 323(1)), and no one may act as a medical aid fund broker without registration (section 323(2)); the penalty is a fine of up to N$5 million or up to 10 years in prison (FIMA).
- Medical aid funds were registered under the Medical Aid Funds Act 23 of 1995 until it was repealed in 2026 (Legal Assistance Centre).
- A health policy sold by a long-term insurer is a different product: it is a "long-term policy" under section 4 of FIMA.
If illness keeps you off work for 30 days or more, the Social Security Commission's sick leave benefit may pay part of your wage: see SSC benefits.
If your medical aid refuses a claim
Write to the fund first. If you are not satisfied, complain to NAMFISA (061 290 5134, toll-free 0800 290 500, complaintsdept@namfisa.com.na). NAMFISA received 10 complaints about medical aid funds in 2024 (Annual Report 2025). Step by step: complaints.
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Frequently asked questions
How many medical aid funds are there in Namibia?
NAMFISA's register retrieved on 31 October 2026 lists 7. The NAMFISA Annual Report 2025 counted 8 active funds at the end of 2024.
How many people have medical aid in Namibia?
219,790 beneficiaries at 31 December 2024: 93,677 principal members, 111,556 dependants and 14,557 pensioners (NAMFISA Annual Report 2025).
Who regulates medical aid in Namibia?
NAMFISA, under the Financial Institutions and Markets Act 2 of 2021 (section 323).
Sources
- NAMFISA — Registered institutions and intermediaries (register retrieved 31 October 2026)
- NAMFISA — Annual Report 2025 (figures at 31 December 2024)
- Financial Institutions and Markets Act 2 of 2021 — annotated Gazette text, Legal Assistance Centre (in force from 1 May 2026, GN 147/2026, GG 8901, with five exceptions)
- Medical Aid Funds Act 23 of 1995 — annotated text, Legal Assistance Centre (repealed)
- NAMFISA — Consumer complaints
- Social Security Commission — Maternity Leave, Sick Leave and Death Benefit (MSD) Fund