Bestmed Contact Details

The Bestmed contact number is 086 000 2378 (also written 0860 002 378) for general queries, claims, chronic illness and medication, with email to service@bestmed.co.za. The Bestmed pre-authorisation contact number is 080 022 0106, or authorisations@bestmed.co.za. For a medical emergency, Bestmed members call Netcare 911 on 082 911, 24 hours a day. The Bestmed WhatsApp number linked from its website is 068 376 7212, and the “Chat to us” button on bestmed.co.za opens live chat. Bestmed’s head office is at Glenfield Office Park, 361 Oberon Avenue, Faerie Glen, Pretoria. Every detail below was read from bestmed.co.za on 17 September 2026.

Bestmed contact numbers and email addresses

What you need	Phone	Email
General contact (call centre)	086 000 2378	service@bestmed.co.za
Claims, chronic illness and medication	086 000 2378	claims@bestmed.co.za, medicine@bestmed.co.za
Hospital authorisation (pre-auth)	080 022 0106	authorisations@bestmed.co.za
Direct sales and new members	086 033 3838	newbusiness@bestmed.co.za
Maternity and infant care		maternity@bestmed.co.za
Tempo wellness programme		tempo@bestmed.co.za
Medical emergency: Netcare 911, 24/7	082 911	customer.service@netcare.co.za (Netcare 911 service queries)
WhatsApp	068 376 7212
Anonymous fraud and ethics hotline	0800 111 627	bestmed@behonest.co.za

Bestmed pre-authorisation contact number

Bestmed says members must get pre-authorisation at least 14 days before going to hospital, having elective surgery or having specialised diagnostic imaging. Call 080 022 0106 or email authorisations@bestmed.co.za for an authorisation number. Only services within the scheme’s funding guidelines are covered. Have this ready, from Bestmed’s own checklist:

• your membership number as printed on your membership card
• the name and date of birth of the person who needs the authorisation
• the date of admission, and the date of the operation if there is one
• the treating doctor’s name and practice number, and the hospital’s name and practice number
• the reason for the admission, the ICD-10 code or codes from your doctor, and for an operation the procedure (tariff) codes the doctor intends to use

Chronic medicine is separate: Bestmed’s FAQs say chronic benefits are not applied automatically and pre-authorisation is compulsory, so you or your doctor must apply. If you are already registered for chronic medicine, your doctor can complete a telephonic application with one of Bestmed’s pharmacists.

Bestmed emergency number: Netcare 911

Bestmed has contracted Netcare 911 for emergency medical services, available 24/7 on 082 911. When you call, give your name and the number you are calling from, describe the emergency, give the address with the nearest cross streets or landmarks, tell the dispatcher you are a Bestmed member, and stay on the line until the controller disconnects. Bestmed warns that if you or a family member choose to use a service other than Netcare 911 for transport, you are liable for the cost. Netcare 911 also runs Health-on-line, telephonic medical advice from nursing sisters for Bestmed members.

Bestmed offices

Office	Phone	Address
Pretoria (head office)	086 000 2378	Glenfield Office Park, 361 Oberon Avenue, Faerie Glen, Pretoria, 0081
Cape Town	021 202 8808	Belvedere Office Park, Suite GE003, Ground Floor, Block E, Bella Rosa Street, Bellville, 7550
Durban	031 279 5420	Pencarrow Park, Unit 8, Office 1, Pencarrow Crescent, La Lucia Ridge, 4051
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)	041 363 8921	Corner of Carnarvon Place and Humewood Road, Building 3, Ground Floor, Humerail, Gqeberha, 6001
Nelspruit	013 101 0280	Crossing Office Block, Level 1, Block E, Crossing Shopping Centre, Nelspruit, 1200
Polokwane	086 000 2378	Tobara Place, Unit 2, 9 Watermelon Street, Platinum Park, Bendor, Polokwane, 0699

Bestmed lists service@bestmed.co.za as the email address for every office.

Bestmed fraud and ethics hotline

Bestmed’s Ethics and Fraud Hotline is run independently by Advance Call, for reporting fraud, corruption, theft, misconduct or unethical behaviour by Bestmed employees, service providers or members. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in all 11 official languages from 08:00 to 17:00 and in English and at least one other language after hours. Report on toll-free 0800 111 627, WhatsApp 0860 004 004, SMS 48691, bestmed@behonest.co.za, Freepost BNT 165, Brooklyn Square, 0075, or online and live chat at behonest.co.za.

About Bestmed Medical Scheme

Bestmed describes itself as South Africa’s largest self-administered medical scheme, with more than 60 years behind it. It offers 14 benefit options across three plan ranges: Beat, which has hospital benefits with savings on some options and Network options on Beat1, 2 and 3; Pace, with more comprehensive in-hospital and out-of-hospital benefits and savings accounts; and Rhythm, its Network-only options with in-hospital and GP benefits. The Bestmed app gives you a digital membership card, your available benefits, claim submission, a provider search, Health Assessment results, and tax and membership certificates, which avoids a call for most routine requests. Separate logins exist on bestmed.co.za for members, advisors, corporate groups and healthcare providers.

Sources

• Bestmed Contact Us, Pre-authorisation, Emergency Services and Ethics and Fraud Hotline pages, bestmed.co.za, read 17 September 2026
• Bestmed Company Profile and FAQs pages, bestmed.co.za, read 17 September 2026