Principle Member
Dependant Member
Child Dependant
Essential Smart Saver Plan
Essential Smart Saver Plan
Principle Member
Dependant Member
Child Dependant
Principle Member
Dependant Member
Child Dependant
Classic Smart Saver Plan
Classic Smart Saver Plan
Principle Member
Dependant Member
Child Dependant
Principle Member
From R5327
Dependant Member
From R4189
Child Dependant
From R2127
Essential Priority
Essential Priority
Principle Member
From R5327
Dependant Member
From R4189
Child Dependant
From R2127
Principle Member
From R6198
Dependant Member
From R4889
Child Dependant
From R2478
Classic Priority
Classic Priority
Principle Member
From R6198
Dependant Member
From R4889
Child Dependant
From R2478
Principle Member
From R1278
Dependant Member
From R1278
Child Dependant
From R769
KeyCare Start Regional
KeyCare Start Regional
Principle Member
From R1278
Dependant Member
From R1278
Child Dependant
From R769
Principle Member
From R1436
Dependant Member
From R1436
Child Dependant
From R875
KeyCare Start
KeyCare Start
Principle Member
From R1436
Dependant Member
From R1436
Child Dependant
From R875
Principle Member
From R1961
Dependant Member
From R1961
Child Dependant
From R713
KeyCare Plus
KeyCare Plus
Principle Member
From R1961
Dependant Member
From R1961
Child Dependant
From R713
Principle Member
From R1490
Dependant Member
From R1490
Child Dependant
From R390
KeyCare Core
KeyCare Core
Principle Member
From R1490
Dependant Member
From R1490
Child Dependant
From R390
Principle Member
From R10037
Dependant Member
From R9492
Child Dependant
From R2002
Classic Comprehensive
Classic Comprehensive
Principle Member
From R10037
Dependant Member
From R9492
Child Dependant
From R2002
Principle Member
From R1797
Dependant Member
From R1797
Child Dependant
From R1797
Essential Dynamic Smart
Essential Dynamic Smart
Principle Member
From R1797
Dependant Member
From R1797
Child Dependant
From R1797
Principle Member
From R2161
Dependant Member
From R2161
Child Dependant
From R2161
Essential Smart
Essential Smart
Principle Member
From R2161
Dependant Member
From R2161
Child Dependant
From R2161
Principle Member
From R3018
Dependant Member
From R2381
Child Dependant
From R1205
Classic Smart
Classic Smart
Principle Member
From R3018
Dependant Member
From R2381
Child Dependant
From R1205
⚠️ Deferral: Contribution increases are delayed from January to 1 April 2026
Overall, Discovery Health Medical Scheme offers 8 healthcare plans namely Executive, Comprehensive, Priority, Saver, Keycare, Core, Smart Saver and Smart with 25 plans starting from R1 278 per month on KeyCare Start Regional Plan. Discovery Health Medical Scheme has a trust score of 4.7 out of 5.
| 🔎 Medical Aid | 🥇 Discovery Health |
| 📌 Number of Markets | 41 |
| 👥 Number of Employees | 12,000+ |
| 📊 GCR Rating | AAA |
| 📍 Number of plans | 25 |
| 🚑 Hospitals in Network | 150+ |
| 🏠 Home care | ✅ Yes |
| 🔎 Medical Aid | 🥇 Discovery Health |
| 📌 Date Established | 1992 |
| 📍 Headquartered | Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| ✔️ Registration Number | Discovery Insurance Group – 1999/007789/06 |
| 👥 The average number of members | 3.9 million (open and close corporate scheme) |
| ➡️ Number of Markets | 41 |
| 👤 Number of Employees | 12 000+ in SA |
| 📈 GCR Rating | AAA |
| 📉 Listed on the JSE | ✅ Yes |
| 📊 JSE Stock Symbol | JSE: DSY |
| 🔍 Recent Market Cap Reported | 162.4 billion ZAR |
| 💯 Average Customer Rating | 4.4/5 |
| ✒️ Average Number of Reviews | 20,000+ |
| 📌 Market Share | 58%+ |
| 📍 Number of Plans | 25 |
| 🚑 Number of Hospitals in Network | 150+ |
| 🏠 Home Care | ✅ Yes |
| 📱 Mobile App | ✅ Yes |
| 💻 Social Media Platforms and Links | ✅ Yes |
| 📖 Discovery Health Magazine for clients | ✅ Yes |
| 🖥️ Medical Claims Portal | ✅ Yes |
| 😷 Information Hub for COVID-19 | ✅ Yes |
| ⚕️ Chronic Illness Benefits | ✅ Yes |
| 📈 Number of PMB Diagnoses | 271+ |
| 📉 Number of PMB Chronic Conditions | 27+ |
| 🚩 Screening and Prevention offered | ✅ Yes |
| 👶 Maternity Benefit | ✅ Yes |
| 💵 Medical Aid Contribution Range (ZAR) | 1,278 ZAR – 12,338 ZAR |
| ⛔ Average Waiting Period | 3 to 12 months |
| 💳 Late-joiner penalties charged | ✅ Yes |
| 🌎 Is International Medical Cover offered | ✅ Yes |
| 📍 International Travel Benefit (ZAR) | Up to 5 million ZAR |
| 🔎 Reviews by | 📈 Rating | 📰 Amount of reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Hello Peter | 1.26 ⭐ out of 5 / Trust Index of 2.5 | 1 530 reviews (last 12 months) |
| Google Play Reviews | 3.7 ⭐out of 5 | 911 reviews |
| GCR Rating | AAA | Exceptionally strong financial strength |
| News24 | Advanced technology | Discovery Health to roll out AI-powered customised wellness |
| Discovery Health Scheme Management review | 3.9 ⭐ out of 5 | Reviews by employers & management |
| Medicalaid.com | 8.9 ⭐ out of 10 | Top 10 medical aid scheme |
| FEEFO Reviews | N/A | 1 043 reviews |
The Council for Medical Schemes regulates the Discovery Health Medical Scheme. The Council governs South Africa’s medical plan business for Medical Schemes (CMS), a regulating body set up under the Medical Schemes Act, No. 131 of 1998 (the Act).
The CMS is responsible for a range of tasks related to the oversight of medical insurance plans, such as:
Furthermore, if a medical scheme is found to violate the law, the CMS has the authority to issue administrative fines and penalties.
Discovery Medical Aid Plans
| 🔎 Plan | 💴 Contributions Range (Main) | 💵 Contributions Range (+ Adult) | 💶 Contributions Range (+ Child) |
| 🥇 Executive Plan | R12,338 | R12,338 | R2,358 |
| 🥈 Comprehensive Series | R8576 – R10,037 | R7,920 – R9,492 | R2,002 |
| 🥉 Priority Series | R5,327 – R6,198 | R4,189 – R4,889 | R2,127 – R2,478 |
| 🏅 Saver Series | R3,875 – R4,850 | R2,339 – R3,825 | R1,243 – R1,943 |
| 🏅 Smart Saver Series | R2,750 – R3,350 | R2,350 – R2,840 | R895- R1,400 |
| 📌 Core Series | R2,681 -R3,905 | R2,018 – R3,083 | R1,076 – R1,562 |
| 📌 Smart Series | R1,350 – R3,018 | R1,350 – R2,381 | R1,205 – R2,161 |
| 📌 Keycare Series | R1,278 – R3,980 | R1,278 – R3,980 | R769 – R1,064 |
💙Read more about gap cover
If you need significant medical coverage, the Executive Plan is for you. It provides unlimited hospitalization coverage at a facility of your choice at 300% coverage of in-hospital specialist expenses.
Several diagnostic and treatments, including specialist radiography and scopes, have co-payments. Claims are paid daily out of savings, with supplementary benefits applied after savings are depleted.
There are no limits on the number of times you may see a primary care physician or a specialist or have tests run, like a CAT scan or an MRI.
The Comprehensive plans are ideal for families that need significant medical coverage since they include unlimited hospitalization. In addition, note that specialized radiology, scopes, and dental procedures have co-payments.
First, daily claims are covered by your medical savings account (MSA), and then there is a self-payment Gap (SPG). Once you have self-funded the self-payment Gap, you will enter the above threshold (ATB). Note that certain sub-limits are applied from your savings right through to your above threshold.
General practitioner and specialist visits, pathology, radiography, radiographs, x-rays, routine dental exams, and MRI/CT scans are all covered without sub-limits and/or guidelines. The Classic Smart Comprehensive Plan restricts your access to Network Providers for day-to-day benefits and prescribes a list of Network hospitals.
Once the limit is reached, the plan risk is used to cover certain day-to-day benefits.
The Priority series is ideal for families that need extensive medical coverage as it provides unlimited hospitalization. There is an extensive list of hospital services that incur co-payments.
First, daily claims are covered by your medical savings account (MSA), and then there is a self-payment Gap (SPG). Once you have self-funded the self-payment Gap, you will enter the above threshold (ATB). Note that certain sub-limits are applied from your savings right through to your above-threshold
Saver plans are ideal for new families since they provide unlimited hospital coverage. Specialized radiology, scopes, and dental procedures all have co-payments. In addition, money set aside for emergencies is used to cover regular expenses.
Daily claims are covered by your available medical savings account. There is no self-payment Gap or above threshold on the Savings option range.
Refer to Discovery Health Website
The Core series is great for young, healthy people since it provides unlimited hospital coverage. Specialized radiology, scopes, and dental procedures all have co-payments. However, the coverage provided by this policy is limited to hospitalization.
The Core Series does not offer a medical savings account. Day-to-day expenses are for your account.
The Smart series of options are mainly hospital plans with additional but limited day-to-day cover of GPs in the Smart Network, acute and OTC medications, dental check-ups, eye exams, certain preventive care, maternity benefits, etc.
Four Smart options are available to cater to individual needs.
There are deductibles and co-payments associated with all procedures.
Unlimited hospital cover in the KeyCare hospital networks. Cover and network depends on the plan you choose.
On KeyCare Start Regional, you have to go to a network hospital in the selected region.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme offers a variety of plans for all budgets and health needs Other main advantages include:
💙READ More: Best Comprehensive Medical Aid Plans
Discovery Health Gap Cover is a short-term insurance plan that gives additional protection to members for unforeseen shortfalls:
You might also like to read more about Gap’s cover :
5 Best Gap Cover Options for Under R500
5 Best Gap Cover Options for Under R1 000
5 Best Gap Cover Options for Under R2000
Discovery Health Medical Scheme offers a Medical Savings Account (MSA) on the Executive, Comprehensive (but not the Classic Smart Comprehensive), Priority, and Saver plans.
The purpose of this savings account is to cover your day-to-day medical expenses, such as the following:
Furthermore, Discovery Health’s Executive, Comprehensive, and Priority plans include a Self-Payment Gap (SPG) for members for when they run out of savings. After members have self-funded the SPG, they will move into the Above Threshold benefits. Certain Sub-Limits may apply.
To apply for Medical Aid through Discovery Health Medical Scheme, you could:
New first-time Members 35 years or older may be subject to late-joiner penalties on the Discovery Health Medical Scheme.
💙 Get a Discovery Health Medical Scheme quote from our Dedicated Medical Aid Specialists Broker
Discovery makes it easy for members to submit a Medical Aid Claim by offering online portals on the official website and the mobile app.
Members can submit a claim by:
Download and install the Discovery app from Google Play or the App Store, log in using your credentials and the scan option in-app to submit your claim. Furthermore, if your claim has a QR code, you can easily scan the code within the app and submit your claim.
Compliments about Discovery Health Medical Scheme can be submitted directly to the scheme using the following:
Furthermore, customers can leave compliments regarding Discovery Health on popular customer review sites and online services.
Complaints about Discovery Health Medical Scheme can be submitted directly to the scheme using the following:
To switch from an existing medical scheme to Discovery Health Medical Scheme, you must notify your current medical aid scheme of your intentions to end coverage. Once you have notified your current medical scheme of your intentions to end cover, you can apply to Discovery Health Medical Scheme from the website or by calling them directly and following the application process.
💙 Poll: Best Medical Aids in South Africa
Customer Support can be contacted from 7 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays using the following communication channels:
If you are a Discovery Health Medical Scheme member, you can contact them through the Discovery app or the member website.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme contact number for service providers is 0860 44 55 66 or email [email protected]
| 🔎 Medical Aid | 🥇 Discovery Health | 🥈 Momentum Health | 🥉 Bonitas Medical Fund |
| 📌 Years in Operation | Since 1993 | Since 2004 | Since 1982 |
| 📍 Average # Members | 3.9 million (open and close corporate scheme) | 330 000 | 730,000+ |
| 📈 GCR Rating | AAA | AA | AA+ |
| 📉 Number of Employees | 12,000+ | 3,000+ | 2,000+ |
| 📊 Market Share | 58% | 5% | 15.05 % |
| 📌 Market Coverage | 41 Markets | 6 | Comprehensive |
| 📍 Customer Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| 📈 Number of reviews | 20,000+ | 2,000+ | 5,000+ |
| 📉 Mobile App | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 📊 Contribution Range (ZAR) | 1,278 ZAR – 12,338 ZAR | R645 on the Ingwe student plan – R16,469 on the Summit Option | 1,275 ZAR – 12,509 ZAR |
| International Travel Benefit (ZAR) | Up to 5 million ZAR | Up to 9.01 million ZAR | Up to R2.5 million cover per family for medical emergencies when you travel outside South Africa |
| 📌 Market Capitalization | 162.4 billion ZAR | 51.1 billion ZAR | 8.9 billion in reserves (2023) |
READ more about Discovery Health Medical Scheme versus other Medical Schemes:
Great Support.
Recently, I worked with a Discovery consultant, and she was quite helpful. I felt like I could trust her advice since I could see that she genuinely cared about my predicament and had extensive training in the subject matter. In addition, she had all the qualities of a successful doctor or psychiatrist, including empathy, compassion, and efficiency. Well done, Discovery, for selecting capable leaders such as her. – Adem Waters
Happy Customer.
I have been with you for an exceedingly long time, and I agree with most of your other customers that you do an excellent job of paying claims and providing excellent service. – Lily-Mae Baker
Top Choice.
The agent I spoke with today blew me away; he was kind, sympathetic, and skilled. He probed me in the correct places, which led to a quick answer to my inquiry. – Pauline McClain
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is still noticeably young compared to other popular medical schemes. However, in the past 30 years, Discovery has shown immense innovation in providing tailor-made products and services to its over 3 million members. Furthermore, Discovery Health Medical Scheme offers a huge variety of options that suit most budgets, and members can expect to receive excellent coverage.
💙 You might like: Best Travel Medical Insurances
| ✅ Pros | ❎ Cons |
| Discovery Health provides a range of health coverage plans to accommodate a variety of budgets and demands | Premiums for Discovery Health’s plans, especially for more extensive plans, might be too high for certain individuals |
| You may use Discovery Health’s extensive network of healthcare professionals when you need medical assistance | Discovery Health’s plans have limits and limitations, as do other medical insurance policies |
| Some of the medical insurance plans provided by Discovery Health include coverage for chronic diseases, hospitalization, and emergency medical evacuation | Some individuals may find filing a claim to Discovery Health to be difficult or time-consuming |
Overall, Discovery offers an extensive range of medical scheme benefit options, optional Gap cover, optional Vitality, and an innovative mobile app and portal for Android and iOS devices amongst others.
💙 You might like: the 5 Best Medical Aids with No Late Joiner Penalty
Discovery Health provides a variety of medical scheme plans, including hospital plans, savings plans, comprehensive plans, and income-based plans.
Depending on the plan you choose your choice of Providers may differ.
This will depend on your age, previous medical scheme membership history, etc. The legislation regulates all medical schemes and their guidelines are used to determine if a pre-existing condition exclusion of 12 months will be applied or not.
To submit a claim to Discovery Health Medical Scheme, you must submit all supporting paperwork, such as medical bills and receipts. Claim submissions can be made online or through the Discovery mobile app for Android and iOS or via email to [email protected]
Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s processing time for claims varies based on the claim’s complexity and the supporting documents. To guarantee fast processing, filing a claim as soon as possible after receiving medical care is suggested.
Members can downgrade their plan selection at any moment within their current medical plan by Logging into the official Discovery website and clicking on “Medical Aid” from the top toolbar on the homepage. Click on “Medical Aid” and “Manage Your Health Plan.” Next, click the option to “Change Your Health Plan” from the options provided.
If you want to add a child or adult dependent, you can log into your Discovery profile and Click on “Medical Aid” and “Manage Your Health Plan” from the list of options.
The Executive Plan provides the most comprehensive cover for in-hospital and out-of-hospital benefits, extended chronic medicine coverage, and an unlimited Above Threshold Benefit.
You can call Discovery Health on 0860 99 88 77 to speak to a consultant.
You can log into the website or mobile app and request an online consultation through your profile.
Yes, you can reach “Ask Discovery” via WhatsApp at 0860 756 756.
No, you should note that using another person’s medical aid card, with or without their consent or knowledge, is fraudulent. The Provider should report such instances to avoid being perceived as complicit in the fraud.
Yes, and if you are a Vitality member as well, you can access Vitality rewards when you swipe your Dis-Chem Benefit card when purchasing from Disc-Chem pharmacies across South Africa.
Yes. If your boyfriend, girlfriend, or life partner resides with you, you can add them as an adult dependent, just as you would if they were your legal spouse.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is highly regarded in South Africa. Its comprehensive offerings provide its members with a variety of 23 plans to choose from. You can select the plan that best fits your individual health and financial needs.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is the largest open medical scheme in South Africa. Despite the overall decline of beneficiaries in open schemes in South Africa, Discovery Health Medical Scheme maintained its position. These metrics showcase members’ strong commitment and trust in the services and benefits provided by Discovery Health Medical Scheme.
Yes. Depending on the plan you are on. Regardless of whether you are hospitalized, Discovery Health Medical Scheme will cover the Emergency Room expenses. In the event of an emergency, any private hospital is accessible. If an emergency is life-threatening, could cost you a limb, and/or not result in admission, Emergency Room visits will be covered by your Risk benefits. If it is not one of the above circumstances, it might come from your Medical Savings Account and the case will be treated according to your plan’s rules and protocols for Emergency Room visits.
Yes. The approved Basic Dental Trauma Benefit coverage for dental appliances (implants), prostheses, and placement is subject to an annual maximum of R70 800 per person in 2026. Furthermore, coverage under the Basic Dental Trauma Benefit does not affect your regular benefits. Note that this applies to trauma-related implants only.
This will be dependent on the plan you are on. Together with your Premier Plus general practitioner, the Mental Health Care Programme will assist you in actively managing major depression. In addition, this care program gives you and your Premier Plus general practitioner access to tools and benefits for monitoring and managing your condition to ensure that you receive high-quality, coordinated care.
These savings cannot be withdrawn in cash unless you leave the scheme (see below). Only if you leave the scheme can you use your savings to offset any amounts you owe the scheme, such as contributions.
Discovery Health will pay your day-to-day medical expenses, such as GP and specialist consultations and medicine, excluding registered and approved chronic medicine, radiology, and pathology, from your Medical Savings Account (MSA). In addition, unused funds will be carried over to the following year.
Any remaining balance in the Medical Savings Account at the end of the year is carried over to the following year. If you leave the Scheme or downgrade your health plan before the end of the year, you might owe the Scheme the portion of your Medical Savings Account that you have used but not yet reimbursed or it must be transferred to a new medical scheme you might join with a medical savings, or if you join a Hospital only plan, it may be paid out to you.
Pays for certain day-to-day benefits after you have run out of money in your Medical Savings Account (MSA).
You can check your Discovery Medical Scheme Savings on the Discovery app or website. Alternatively, you can contact Discovery Health Medical Scheme via the website (chatbot) or the email address or telephone number provided.
NO, but through your Discovery Life Plan, you could earn additional cash rewards with the Double PayBack Benefit. This returns up to 100% of your premiums in cash. With Discovery Life, living a healthy lifestyle pays off.
The DEB pays for certain benefits after the MSA funds have been depleted.
This includes video call consultations with network GPs, pharmacy clinic consultations, and unlimited face-to-face consultations with network GPs referred following a video call consultation or by the pharmacy clinic virtual GP.
The DEB covers face-to-face consultations up to the Discovery Health Rate (DHR).
The Day-to-day Extender Benefit (DEB) also pays for certain benefits after depleting the MSA funds.
Adriaan holds an MBA and specializes in medical aid research. With his commitment to perfection, he ensures the accuracy of all data presented on medicalaid.com every three months. When he is not conducting research, Adriaan can be found indulging in his passion for trout fishing amidst nature.
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