“R18k in Shortfalls”: Couple Shares How R43k Birth Didn’t Cost Them a Cent

• Michaela and Wikus Botma, a content-creating couple, shared that they didn't have to pay their R43 000 bill after welcoming their child into the world
• While the initial bill came to R25 000, the local couple, who gave birth at a private hospital, revealed that there was R18 000 in shortfalls
• After sharing how they didn't have to pay the R43 000, social media users shared their birth costs in the comment section

A South African couple, Michaela and Wikus Botma, shared what it cost them to give birth in the country, noting that the total came to R43 000. Fortunately, they revealed that they didn't have to foot the bill, telling the internet how.

The content-creating couple took to their shared TikTok account on 14 August, 2025 to inform the public that they spent three nights in a private hospital room at Panorama Mediclinic in preparation for their child's arrival.

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They had their baby five months ago and confessed that they didn't consider the hospital bill before going into labour.

Michaela said in the clip:

"We had all of our meals included as well as the cost of the labour or delivery room, and that came to R25 000."

Wikus then shared with the online community:

"However, we had R18 000 in shortfalls because we didn't know that specialists and hospitals charged more than medical aid rates."

The new mom shared that they were thankful for having Discovery Gap Cover, a non-life insurance policy from the authorised financial services provider Discovery. While they weren't prepared for the additional expense, they didn't have to pay a cent.

Mzansi shares their experiences

Several online community members headed to the comment section to share their experiences of giving birth and how much money they had to fork out to cover medical and hospital costs.

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@khan.cbr noted with a laugh:

"Mara R43 000. Imagine without insurance."

After seeing the cost, @justine_healthjourney said:

"That’s cheap. My C-section was over R70 000, then my baby was in NICU for two months as she was born prematurely. It came to almost R1.5 million, which was luckily covered by the medical aid."

@marulanifibiger wrote in the comments:

"My daughter’s birth was R97 000. She was a C-section. No complications. My twins' birth was over R800 000 due to an emergency C-section and a week in NICU. Discovery paid for everything."

@xlchubbylatte shared with online users:

"Gap cover is so underrated yet it works, shem."

@nicole.jc.smith added in the comments:

"I paid R78 000 in cash for my emergency C-section. I saved for the full eight months."

@kayghost3 humorously stated:

"Thank you for convincing me not to have children."

Take a look at the TikTok video below:

3 Other stories about private hospital births

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• In another article, Briefly News reported that a young mother shared her detailed medical expenses after giving birth via C-section at a private hospital.
• Last year, a new mother shared her experience giving birth in a comfortable environment. She spent R50 000 at a private hospital.
• A content-creating mother listed five perks she experienced when she gave birth, one of it being a free goodie bag.

Source: Briefly News