Bonitas vs. Discovery Health
Bonitas versus Discovery Health compared and revealed.
We tested them side by side and verified their medical aid plans benefits, affordability, and much more.
This is a complete guide to Bonitas and Discovery Health in South Africa.
In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:
- What is a Medical Scheme?
- Which medical aid is the best for young families?
- Which medical aid is best for a young person?
- How to compare medical aids against each other?
- Which should you choose: Bonitas or Discovery Health?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the Bonitas versus Discovery Health in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Overall Comparison
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 Discovery Health |
| General comparison | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Number of plans | 15 | 7 |
| Lowest premium | R1 378.00 (BonStart Plan) | R1 102.00 (KeyCare Series) |
| Highest premium | R9 853.00 (BonComprehensive Plan) | R10 303.00 (Executive Plan) |
| Student Plan | No | No |
| Gap Cover | Yes | Yes |
| Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
| Number of members | 730 000 | 3.3 million |
Plan benefits
| ✔️ Feature | 🥇 Bonitas | 🥇 Discovery Health |
| Name of Plan | • BonStart • BonStart Plus • BonFit Select • BonSave • BonComplete • BonClassic • BonComprehensive • Standard • Standard Select • Primary • Primary Select • BonEssential • BonEssential Select • Hospital Standard • BonCap | • Executive Plan • Comprehensive Series • Priority Series • Saver Series • Core Series • Smart Series • KeyCare Series |
| Price per plan | • BonStart: R1 378.00 • BonStart Plus: R1 754.00 • BonFit Select: R2 295.00 • BonSave: R3 447.00 • BonComplete: R5 359.00 • BonClassic: R6 732.00 • BonComprehensive: R9 853.00 • Standard: R4 922.00 • Standard Select: R4 448.00 • Primary: R2 993.00 • Primary Select: R2 619.00 • BonEssential: R2 287.00 • BonEssential Select: R1 998.00 • Hospital Standard: R2 964.00 | • Executive Plan: R10 303 • Comprehensive Series: R7 163 • Priority Series: R4 531 • Saver Series: R2 673 • Core Series: R2 281 • Smart Series: R1 565 • KeyCare Series: R1 102 |
| GP Visits | Yes | Network only |
| GP in room visits | Yes | Network only |
| Specialist visits | Yes (with sublimits) | Yes (in and out of hospital) |
| Acute medication | Yes | Yes |
| Chronic medication | Yes | Yes |
| Basic pathology | Yes | Yes, up to Discovery Health Rate |
| Basic and emergency dentistry | Basic dentistry only | Basic only |
| Basic optometry | Yes | Yes, 100% of Discovery Health Rate |
| HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Road accident claims | Yes | Yes, full cover |
Bonitas vs. Discovery Health
👉 Both Bonitas and Discovery Health are popular medical aid companies that provide a comprehensive selection of tailored plans. Here, we compare in these two medical aid schemes to help you decide on the best option for your healthcare needs in 2024.
Which offers more affordable cover – Bonitas or Discovery Health?
👉 While Discovery Health offers the lowest premium on its KeyCare Series, overall Bonitas offers a greater selection of affordable medical aid plans designed for young families, students and pensioners.
Do both schemes offer gap cover?
👉 Yes, both Bonitas and Discovery Health offer gap cover. The gap cover products from Discovery Health cover for shortfalls on approved in-hospital specialist claims, specific out-of-hospital costs related to an approved hospital admission and shortfalls on approved emergency international claims while travelling outside of South Africa.
👉 You also get cover for co-payments on approved endoscopies, MRI and CT scans, and cancer-related claims. Your cover depends on the Discovery Gap Cover option you choose. An overall annual limit of R185 000 applies to each person.
👉 Bonitas’ three Gap Cover options have been designed to provide the most comprehensive medical expense shortfall cover along with extensive financial protection against a wide range of health risks.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
👉 Yes, both Bonitas and Discovery Health offer hospital plans. Bonitas Hospital Plans cover you in the hospital for emergency and planned procedures. You also get access to some additional benefits for wellness and preventative care.
👉 Discovery Health’s hospital plans include unlimited private hospital coverage, guaranteed full cover in the hospital for specialists, and full cover for chronic medication.
Who is Bonitas?
👉 The worldwide rating for Bonitas’ financial security is AA-. As a percentage, it is 30.7% solvent.
👉 Since the majority of Bonitas contributors and beneficiaries are relatively young, under 30 years old, annual contribution increases tend to be more modest on average.
👉 Hospitalization, long-term care, and pharmaceutical coverage are all available at low costs through the various medical assistance plans offered by Bonitas. This organisation is a great fit for both individuals and families seeking medical insurance.
👉 Bonitas wasn’t the country of South Africa’s initial medical aid provider, but it has swiftly become the largest. Its doors first opened in 1982.
👉 The 4,500 doctors, hospitals, and other medical facilities that make up the Bonitas network are dedicated to providing high-quality care at reasonable costs.
👉 To help tackle the rising expense of healthcare, Bonitas provides its clients with two distinct solutions: oncology management and hospital and medicine management.
👉 Many Bonitas policies include coverage for Lasik eye surgery in addition to other dental and vision therapies. The interest that is accrued on each participant’s unused amount is carried over to the following year.
You might also like to consider the following plans Bonitas has to offer:
- 🥇 Bonitas Primary Select Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas Primary Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas Hospital Standard Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas Standard Select Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonStart Plus Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonStart Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonSave Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonFit Select Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonEssential Select Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonEssential Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonComprehensive Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonComplete Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonClassic Medical Aid Plan
- 🥇 Bonitas BonCap Medical Aid Plan
Who will benefit from Bonitas Medical Scheme?
👉 Bonitas is a good option for young families and individuals looking for affordable medical aid that will cover the most essential and important aspects of their medical needs, including GP visits, chronic medication, and medical emergencies in-hospital.
Who is Discovery Health?
👉 Discovery Medical Health is a non-profit organisation controlled by the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, as amended, and the Medical Schemes Council (CMS). According to the Scheme guidelines, it is a recognised open medical scheme that anybody can join.
👉 Members own the Scheme, and its operations are controlled by an independent Board of Trustees (the Trustees or the Board). The Scheme outsources its administration and managed care functions to Discovery Health (Pty) Limited under a formal contractual relationship.
👉 One of the Scheme’s strategic priorities is value-based healthcare. Their strategy, which places their members at the centre of care, compensates providers based on health outcomes rather than the volume of services they deliver.
👉 It gives members access to programmes and providers committed to continuous quality improvement.
👉 Discovery Health strives to ensure that our members have access to the safest, most efficient, and effective healthcare available in South Africa through a variety of quality of care programmes and innovations that are regularly examined by the Scheme on an ongoing basis.
👉 The Scheme also provides its participants with information relevant to their needs.
Who will benefit from Discovery Health?
👉 Discovery Health offers comprehensive medical cover that is well-suited towards established families and higher-income earners. Discovery Health offers a comprehensive selection of plans, with greater coverage being afforded at higher premiums, with additional benefits for these members.
👉 It is worth noting that Discovery Health operates on a network-based coverage basis so individuals should first check whether they reside in areas that fall within the pre-selected GP, hospital and specialist network, making it a better option for those residing in urban areas.
You might also like the following service Discovery has to offer
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Bonitas or Discovery Health?
Discovery Health’s KeyCare Series plan is the cheapest between the two medical aids at R1,102.00 per month. Bonitas’ BonStart plan is its cheapest plan at R1378.00 per month.
Which medical aid, Discovery Health or Bonitas are the most popular?
Discovery Health is definitely the most popular with over 3.3 million members, compared to the 730 000 members of Bonitas. On the other hand, Bonitas offer a choice between 15 different medical plans, where the choice at Discovery Health is only between seven medical plans.
Do Bonitas and Discovery Health medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Yes, both Discovery Health and Bonitas have an option to apply for gap cover.
Do Bonitas and Discovery Health medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Discovery Health and Bonitas have a general three-month waiting period during which you are unable to submit a claim.
Which is the best medical aid between Discovery Health and Bonitas?
Bonitas has been in operation longer and opened its door in 1982. Due to the more affordable medical plans, the members of Bonitas seems to be under 30 years of age. Discovery Health was founded in 1992 and provides fair pricing and a variety of packages to meet a variety of budgets and medical needs.
