By Tegan Botha, Medaid Quote. Reviewed by Roxanne Hurter-Ehlers.
In short
- The CMS register records whether a broker is accredited. It does not label anyone as independent, so independence is something you test yourself.
- Three questions do most of the work: who owns the brokerage, how many medical schemes it can place you with, and how it is paid.
- Broker pay is regulated. From 1 January 2026 a scheme may pay a broker at most R125.86 plus VAT a month per member, or 3% plus VAT of that member contribution if that is less (Government Notice 7028 of 2026 and Regulation 28(2)).
- You pay nothing extra for a broker unless you agree in writing to additional services (Council for Medical Schemes, 7 November 2025).
Medaid Quote is a comparison website and does not give financial advice. Quote requests made through this site are handled by our advice partner, Curemed (Pty) Ltd, FSP 44098, an independent medical aid brokerage. Curemed appears in comparisons where it meets the inclusion rule. Every figure is from the named public source on the stated date.
To tell if a medical aid broker is really independent, check three things: that the brokerage and your Advisor hold current accreditation on the CMS Accreditation Portal, that the brokerage can place you with several open medical schemes and will list them in writing, and that its only pay for your medical aid is the regulated fee from the scheme. This guide explains each check, what a good answer looks like, and the questions to ask before you sign. Rules and register details were checked on 14 October 2026.
What does independent mean for a medical aid broker?
There is no register status called independent. The CMS Accreditation Portal records whether a broker or brokerage is accredited, its accreditation status and the period it covers, and the FSCA FSP search records whether a financial services provider is licensed. Neither register says whether a broker is tied to one scheme or free to compare many (both registers read on 14 October 2026).
In practice, people use the word independent for a broker who is not owned by a medical scheme, can place you with more than one open scheme, and earns the same regulated fee whichever scheme you choose. Those are things you can ask about and check, which is what the rest of this guide covers.
Who owns the brokerage, and why should you ask?
A brokerage can be a stand alone business or part of a wider group that also owns an administrator, an insurer or another financial business. Being part of a group does not make the advice wrong, but it is something you are entitled to know before you rely on a recommendation.
- Search the brokerage name on the FSCA FSP search and note the exact legal name and FSP number.
- Search the same name on the CMS Accreditation Portal and check that the brokerage record matches those details.
- Ask the broker in writing whether the brokerage is owned by, or in the same group as, any medical scheme, administrator or insurer whose products it recommends.
How many medical schemes can the broker place you with?
A broker can only compare the schemes it is able to place you with. If a broker can place members with one scheme only, the comparison you get is a comparison of that scheme against itself.
- Ask for a written list of the open medical schemes the brokerage can place you with today.
- Ask which options on each scheme were compared for you, not only the one recommended.
- Ask for the recommendation and the reasons for it in writing, so you can compare it with what another broker or the scheme tells you.
Does the way a broker is paid change the advice?
Medical scheme broker pay is set by regulation, not by the broker. Every month, a regulated broker fee is paid through your medical scheme, and the Council for Medical Schemes states that you do not pay anything extra for a broker unless you have agreed in writing to additional services (CMS, 7 November 2025).
From 1 January 2026 the most a scheme may pay a broker is R125.86 plus VAT a month per member, or 3% plus VAT of that member contribution if that is less (Government Notice 7028 of 2026 and Regulation 28(2)). The cap is the same for every scheme. In our reading, that means the regulated fee on its own gives a broker little reason to prefer one scheme over another, although a scheme may pay less than the cap.
Pay can still differ on other products. If a broker also recommends Gap Cover, life cover or another product with your medical aid, ask what the brokerage earns on each one, and whether you can take the medical aid without them.
What does an expired or de-registered CMS record tell you?
Only brokers accredited by the CMS may provide healthcare broker services, and medical schemes may not pay a broker who is not accredited (CMS, 7 November 2025; Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, section 65). A current FSP licence from the FSCA does not replace this.
On the CMS portal, look for a Full Accreditation line with a To Date in the future, for the brokerage and for your Advisor. Old lines marked Expired are normal history. A brokerage whose only CMS record shows De-registered is not currently accredited by the CMS. Our step by step guide to checking broker accreditation shows what each status looks like.
Which five checks show whether a broker is independent?
| Check | Where to check | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Current CMS accreditation | CMS Accreditation Portal, for the brokerage and the Advisor | Full Accreditation with a To Date in the future |
| FSCA licence | FSCA FSP search | Authorised, with the same name and FSP number as on your documents |
| Ownership | FSCA record, plus a written answer from the broker | A clear statement of any link to a scheme, administrator or insurer |
| Scheme spread | A written list from the broker | Several open medical schemes you can be placed with |
| Pay | A written answer from the broker; Regulation 28(2) | Only the regulated fee from the scheme, or any extra fee agreed in writing first |
How to check this yourself
- Ask the broker for the brokerage name, its CMS organisation number, its FSP number and the BR number of your Advisor, in writing.
- Search the brokerage and your Advisor on the CMS Accreditation Portal and confirm a current Full Accreditation line for each.
- Search the FSP number on the FSCA FSP search and confirm the name matches.
- Ask for the list of open schemes the brokerage can place you with, and any ownership links, in writing.
- Ask what the brokerage earns on anything recommended alongside your medical aid, such as Gap Cover.
- Keep the written answers with your application. If anything does not match, call the CMS Customer Care Centre on 0861 123 267 before you sign.
To see how a group of brokerages compares on the same public registers, read our register and review comparison of independent medical aid brokers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use a broker to join a medical scheme?
No. The Council for Medical Schemes states that using a broker is not compulsory, and you may manage your membership directly with the scheme (CMS, 7 November 2025).
Is a broker who says the service is free telling the truth?
Usually yes for the medical aid itself. The regulated broker fee is paid through your scheme, and you pay nothing extra unless you agree in writing to additional services (CMS, 7 November 2025).
Is the broker fee cap the same for every medical scheme?
Yes. From 1 January 2026 the cap is R125.86 plus VAT a month per member, or 3% plus VAT of that member contribution if that is less, and it applies to every scheme (Government Notice 7028 of 2026 and Regulation 28(2)). A scheme may pay less than the cap.
What should I do if my broker is not accredited?
Do not sign. Only CMS accredited brokers may provide healthcare broker services, and schemes may not pay a broker who is not accredited. You can confirm the position with the CMS Customer Care Centre on 0861 123 267.
If you would like quotes compared across several medical schemes, you can request a free medical aid quote.
Last reviewed: 14 October 2026. Sources: Council for Medical Schemes, The role of accredited brokers in the medical schemes environment (7 November 2025); Government Notice 7028 of 2026; Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, section 65 and Regulation 28; CMS Accreditation Portal and FSCA FSP search, read on 14 October 2026; CMS contact page, read on 14 October 2026.