15/07/2024
Tax Tips 101: Understanding Gap Cover
When dealing with medical expenses, it’s important to know that expenses recoverable from your medical scheme are not tax deductible.
⭐️ Gap cover helps cover your medical costs that your medical scheme does not fully cover. This is important for unexpected medical bills.
⚠️ It’s important to remember that gap cover is considered ‘recoverable’ so you cannot claim it for tax deductibles under the SARS guide (Income Tax Act: Section 6A/6B)
An example:
Siya’s doctor attends to him during a hospital admission and gets an R1000 bill, but his medical scheme covers R600. The remaining R400 can be considered a qualifying medical expense if Siya didn’t have gap cover. But Siya got gap cover for him and his family that reimbursed the remaining amount. Therefore, it won’t be considered a qualifying medical expense for tax purposes.
Why Siya’s Gap Cover is still needed ✅
- Helps pay for medical bills your medical scheme doesn’t fully cover.
- Includes things like short-falls on specific procedures and co-payments.
- You and your family get peace of mind knowing you’re protected against unexpected medical costs.
Gap cover may not give you a tax break, but it’s value in protecting against unexpected bills is undeniable. Stay informed and make the most of your financial planning!