Overview
Whether you need routine eye exams, prescription glasses, or more specialized care, understanding your benefits and the network of optometrists affiliated with Discovery Health is essential. In this guide, we will provide detailed information about the different plan options, how to find network-approved optometrists, and tips on making the most of your vision benefits.
Let’s dive into the details of your optometrist network plans and discover how you can optimize your visual health with Discovery Health.
What is a medical scheme optometry network?
Optometry network plans are specialized healthcare plans designed specifically to manage and provide for the eye care needs of individuals within a medical aid scheme framework. These plans form part of a broader medical insurance scheme, offering members access to a selected network of optometrists and eye care services at negotiated rates.
The primary purpose of these plans is to make eye care more affordable and accessible for members. By partnering with a network of optometrists, medical aid schemes can offer services at lower costs due to pre-negotiated rates.
This arrangement benefits members by reducing out-of-pocket expenses for eye exams, prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sometimes even surgical procedures like cataract surgery.
⚠️ Read more about the Best Medical Aids that cover Vision Health / Optometrist
When to choose network plans
You can improve your health coverage and get personalized eye care benefits by selecting an optometrist network plan. When deciding whether this strategy is right for you, keep the following in mind:
The frequency of your eye care needs
Choosing a plan with particular optometry benefits can be a wise financial decision if you or your loved ones need regular eye exams, glasses, or contacts. Having a plan that pays for regular eye care can greatly reduce out-of-pocket costs, as these fees can add up quickly.
Your visual health
These plans may be helpful for people who already have eye problems, such as near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or more serious problems like cataracts or glaucoma. Comprehensive eye care coverage is a smart choice because many illnesses require regular monitoring and treatment to be effectively managed.
A family history of eye conditions
It is wise to select a plan that allows for frequent and comprehensive eye exams if there is a history of genetic eye diseases or disorders in the family. Serious eye issues can be prevented or delayed with early detection.
Budgetary considerations
Savings on eye exams, contacts, and glasses can be substantial with an optometry network plan as opposed to an out-of-network alternative. These plans provide an affordable alternative to traditional eye insurance that still covers necessary procedures without lowering standards of care.
Comprehensive coverage
Additional perks offered by some optometrist plans include reduced costs for corrective surgery and discounted prices for sophisticated diagnostic tests. Seek out a plan that addresses a broad variety of procedures and products if you foresee a need for more extensive eye care services.
Discovery Health network optometrists
Eastern Cape
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS ALIWAL NORTH – Aliwal North
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS CLEARY PARK – Bethelsdorp
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS BIZANA – Burgersdorp
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS BUTTERWORTH – Butterworth
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS CRADOCK – Cradock
- 👓 PILLAY Y – East London, Amalinda
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS BEACON BAY – East London, Beacon Bay
- 👓 KRIEL OPTOMETRISTS – East London, Beacon Bay North
- 👓 TRZEBIATOWSKY P D – East London, Beaconhurst
- 👓 GLOVER E F – East London, Berea
- 👓 DLANGALALA X P – East London, Chiselhurst
- 👓 OXFORD OPTOMETRIST – East London, East London
- 👓 EMONTI OPTOMETRIST – East London, East London Central
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS EAST LONDON – East London, East London Central
- 👓 BOURKE K B – East London, East London Central
- 👓 GIESE C – East London, Gonubie
- 👓 KRIEL OPTOMETRISTS – East London, Southernwood
- 👓 EXECUSPECS VINCENT – East London, Vincent
- 👓 NEERUSHA JUGOO INCORPORATED – East London, Vincent
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS GRAHAMSTOWN – Grahamstown
- 👓 DAVIES OPTOMETRISTS INCORPORATED – Grahamstown
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS UMTATA – Grahamstown
- 👓 MCFARLANE F D & PARTNERS INCORPORATED – Humansdorp
- 👓 MCFARLANE F D & PARTNERS INCORPORATED – Jeffrey’s Bay
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS KING WILLIAM’S TOWN – King William’s Town
- 👓 PEER OPTOMETRISTS INCORPORATED – King William’s Town
- 👓 TORGA OPTICAL MDANTSANE – Mdantsane
- 👓 LEBOPO V L-MOTHERWELL – Motherwell
- 👓 NAICKER D – Mthatha
- 👓 ALEXANDRA OPTOMETRIST – Mthatha, Mthatha Central
- 👓 BHIKA HIRENDRA – Mthatha, Norwood
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS PORT ALFRED – Port Alfred
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS PROTEA GARDENS – Port Elizabeth, Central
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS THE BRIDGE – Port Elizabeth, Greenacres
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS GREENACRES – Port Elizabeth, Greenacres
- 👓 RAGA M – Port Elizabeth, Korsten
- 👓 SIMSON PETER D – Port Elizabeth, Korsten
- 👓 PHILLIPS S C – Port Elizabeth, Lorraine
- 👓 VAN ZYL M Z – Port Elizabeth, Mill Park
- 👓 STEPHENSON D G – Port Elizabeth, Mill Park
Free State
- 👓 MOTHAPO M R – Bethlehem
- 👓 SENEKAL C J – Bethlehem
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE BETHLEHEM – Bethlehem
- 👓 MURRAY P E – Bethlehem
- 👓 EYESITE BETHLEHEM – Bethlehem
- 👓 STEYNS OPTOMETRISTS INCORPORATED – Bloemfontein
- 👓 JANSEN VAN RENSBURG P H J – Bloemfontein
- 👓 THEUNISSEN AND KOEKEMOER OPTOMETRISTS – Bloemfontein
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE BLOEMFONTEIN MIDDESTAD – Bloemfontein
- 👓 UYS J G – Bloemfontein, Central
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE BLOEMFONTEIN UFS – Bloemfontein, Central
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS BLOEM PLAZA – Bloemfontein, Central
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS BLOEMFONTEIN MIMOSA MALL – Bloemfontein, Central
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE BLOEMFONTEIN BRANDWAG – Bloemfontein, Brandwag
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE BLOEMFONTEIN PRELLER SQUARE – Bloemfontein, Dan Pienaar
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS PRELLER WALK – Bloemfontein, Dan Pienaar
- 👓 ANDERSON A L – Bloemfontein, Helicon Heights
- 👓 ANDERSON A L – Bloemfontein, Langenhoven Park
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS TWIN CITY – Bloemfontein, Rykmanshoogte
- 👓 DU TOIT S – Bloemfontein, Westdene
- 👓 VAN DER WALT A W T – Bloemfontein, Westdene
- 👓 SMITH AND MAARSINGH OPTOMETRISTS – Bloemfontein, Westdene
- 👓 EXECUSPECS BLOEMFONTEIN – Bloemfontein, Westdene
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE BLOEMFONTEIN LOCH LOGAN – Bloemfontein, Willows
- 👓 DEYSEL E G – Kroonstad
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE KROONSTAD – Kroonstad, Central
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS KROONSTAD – Kroonstad, Central
- 👓 E G DEYSEL KROONSTAD – Kroonstad, Suidrand
- 👓 MOPHOSHO L – Ladybrand
- 👓 NTHA MABASA E M – Lindley
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS PARYS – Parys
- 👓 MASUPA R M – Parys
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE SASOLBURG – Sasolburg
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE VIRGINIA – Virginia
- 👓 STYLE IN SIGHT WELKOM – Welkom, Doorn
- 👓 VORSTER A J – Welkom, Doorn
- 👓 TORGA OPTICAL WELKOM – Welkom, Welkom Central
- 👓 STYLE IN SIGHT LIBERTY – Welkom, Welkom Central
- 👓 MELLINS I-STYLE WELKOM – Welkom, Welkom Central
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS WELKOM – Welkom, Welkom Central
Gauteng
- 👓 VAN NIEKERK D – Akasia, Karenpark
- 👓 VON ABO AND LABUSCHAGNE – Akasia, Karenpark
- 👓 ATKINS-SCHOLTZ M – Alberton, Brackenhurst
- 👓 P G OPTICS BRACKENHURST – Alberton, Brackenhurst
- 👓 NEW VISION OPTOMETRISTS CC – Alberton, Brackenhurst
- 👓 CHABEDI M F – Alberton, Brackenhurst
- 👓 THEOLOGO R, DU TOIT M & PRINSLOO C M J – Alberton, New Redruth
- 👓 G W VARTY OPTOMETRIST – Alberton, New Redruth
- 👓 P G OPTICS ALBERTON – Alberton, New Redruth
- 👓 NEW REDRUTH OPTOMETRISTS – Alberton, New Redruth
- 👓 JUDELSON JEVAN – Alberton, New Redruth
- 👓 SHEPHERD AND MANN ALBERTON – Alberton, Verwoerdpark
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS LAKESIDE MALL – Benoni
- 👓 SHER D – Benoni
- 👓 MAHOMED C – Benoni
- 👓 TMM OPTICAL – Benoni
- 👓 SCHOONBEE W – Benoni, Lakeside Mall
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS BENONI RYNFIELD – Benoni, Fairleads
- 👓 SAYED T – Benoni, Mackenzie Park
- 👓 CASSIM F A – Benoni, New Kleinfontein
- 👓 DRACEVAC D S – Benoni, Northmead
- 👓 ELNA SADIE OPTOMETRIST – Boksburg, Atlasville
- 👓 EYELAND EAST RAND MALL – Boksburg
- 👓 SHER D – Boksburg
- 👓 MAHOMED C – Boksburg, Centrum Medical Centre
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS RIETFONTEIN – Boksburg
- 👓 MAHOMED C – Boksburg, Commissioner Street
- 👓 VISION WORKS BOKSBURG NORTH – Boksburg, North
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS EASTRAND INCORPORATED – Boksburg, Jansen Park
- 👓 AJ CRONJE OPTOMETRIST – Boksburg, Jansen Park
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS PARKLANDS INCORPORATED – Boksburg, Leeuwpoort 113-IR
- 👓 EYELAND SUNWARD PARK – Boksburg, Sunward Park
- 👓 AH DE ANDRADE R – Boksburg, Westwood
- 👓 SHEPHERD AND MANN BRAKPAN – Brakpan
- 👓 SPEC-SAVERS CARNIVAL MALL – Brakpan, Dalpark
- 👓 NAGEL I M – Brakpan, Dalview
- 👓 REFILWE OPTOMETRIST – Bronkhorstspruit
- 👓 DE BRUTO OOGK – Bronkhorstspruit, Erasmus
- 👓 E MARAIS INCORPORATED – Carletonville, Annan
- 👓 VISION WORKS RASLOUW – Centurion
Discovery Health Plans with Network Optometrists
Discovery Health offers a range of medical aid plans that include optometry benefits through their specified network. The specific plans that provide these optometry benefits include:
Executive and Comprehensive Plans
These plans offer an annual limit on optometry, covering frames, lenses, and contact lenses, with expenses generally paid from the Medical Savings Account and Above Threshold Benefits.
Priority Series Plans
Like the Executive and Comprehensive plans, these also provide cover for optometry expenses within certain limits.
Saver Series
These plans include optometry benefits that are part of the overall day-to-day benefit, managed through the Medical Savings Account.
Core Series
While more limited, these plans provide some coverage for essential optometry services, focusing on in-hospital and chronic conditions.
Smart Series
Designed for cost-effectiveness, these plans provide essential cover including specified optometry benefits when using network providers.
KeyCare Series
These plans offer affordable medical cover and include optometry benefits, but with a focus on using network providers for both in-hospital and day-to-day treatment.
Optometry Network Exceptions
Discovery Health allows the use of non-network optometrists under specific exceptions, although these are generally limited:
Members may be able to use a non-network optometrist if they have an out-of-network benefit available on their specific plan, or in rare cases where a particular service or lens type is not available within the network. However, typically, using a non-network provider would result in higher out-of-pocket costs for the member, as network agreements are designed to minimize these costs.
For most members under network-bound plans, sticking to network optometrists is required to receive the full benefits, such as the 20% discount on frames and lenses provided under such plans. If a member chooses to go outside the network without a valid exception, they may not receive coverage or might face significant co-payments.
Conclusion
Benefits suited to each family’s unique eye care needs are available through Discovery Health’s optometrist network plans. Through a network of reliable optometrists and cost-effectively negotiated prices, these programs aim to make necessary eye care more accessible and affordable.
The best optometry network plan for you will be the one that fits your lifestyle, budget, and individual eye care requirements. You can make a well-informed decision that suits your health priorities and guarantees you and your family get the best eye care by learning about the advantages and disadvantages of different plans.
