Discovery Health vs. Momentum Medical Scheme
Discovery Health versus Momentum Medical Scheme 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 Discovery Health and Momentum Medical Scheme 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: Discovery Health or Momentum Medical Scheme?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the Discovery Health versus Momentum Medical Scheme in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
Discovery Health vs. Momentum Medical Scheme Summary
Overall Comparison
| ℹ️ Feature | 🥇 Discovery Health | 🥈 Momentum Medical Scheme |
| General comparison | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Number of plans | 7 | 6 |
| Lowest premium | R1 102.00 (KeyCare Series) | R541.00 (Ingwe) |
| Highest premium | R10 303.00 (Executive Plan) | R13 573.00 (Summit) |
| Student Plan | No | Yes |
| Gap Cover | Yes | Yes |
| Hospital plans | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefits | Yes | Yes |
| Number of members | 3.3 million | 293 000 |
Plan benefits
| ℹ️ Feature | 🥇 Discovery Health | 🥈 Momentum Medical Scheme |
| Name of Plan | • Executive Plan • Comprehensive Series • Priority Series • Saver Series • Core Series • Smart Series • KeyCare Series | • Evolve • Custom • Incentive • Extender • Summit • Ingwe |
| Price per plan | • 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 | • Evolve: R1 687.00 • Custom: R2 149.00 • Incentive: R2 794.00 • Extender: R6 589.00 • Summit: R13 573.00 • Ingwe: R541.00 |
| GP Visits | Network only | Yes |
| GP in room visits | Network only | Yes |
| Specialist visits | Yes (in and out of hospital) | Yes |
| Acute medication | Yes | Yes |
| Chronic medication | Yes | Yes |
| Basic pathology | Yes, up to Discovery Health Rate | Yes |
| Basic and emergency dentistry | Basic only | Yes depending on the plan you choose |
| Basic optometry | Yes, 100% of Discovery Health Rate | Yes depending on the plan you choose |
| HIV benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Maternity benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Road accident claims | Yes, full cover | Yes but not linked to medical aid scheme |
Discovery Health vs. Momentum Medical Scheme
Both Discovery Health and Momentum Medical Scheme are known medical aid schemes 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 – Discovery Health or Momentum Medical Scheme?
Momentum Medical Scheme has the lowest premium of the two medical aids with its Ingwe plan that specifically focusses on students. However, Discovery Health also offer a very low premium on its KeyCare Series plan. Overall both medical aids offer a choice between affordable plans which are designed for individuals, couples, families, and pensioners.
Do both schemes offer gap cover?
Gap insurance is a short-term insurance policy that offers shortfall coverage when doctors and specialists charge fees that exceed the medical aid rates of cover. Gap insurance works in conjunction with your medical insurance.
The gap cover provider will compensate you for a portion of the difference between your medical bills and what your medical insurance would cover in exchange for a monthly premium. If you use a healthcare provider who is not part of your medical plan’s network, you may end up paying more for services at private hospitals than your plan would.
Discovery Health does 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.
It should be noted that Momentum does not only provide medical aid but also has a number of other divisions under its umbrella. Gap cover is one of them but does not fall directly under the medical scheme.
Do both schemes offer hospital plans?
Yes, both Discovery Health and Momentum Medical Scheme offer hospital plans. Discovery Health’s hospital plans include unlimited private hospital cover, guaranteed full cover in hospital for specialists, and full cover for chronic medication.
If you are admitted to the hospital, Momentum Medical Scheme will pay for the costs of your care. These charges may include ward costs, theatre fees, and accounts from other in-hospital providers such as anesthesiologists or radiologists. All of the plans that Momentum Medical Scheme offers include hospital plans. The conditions of the Scheme, pre-approval, case management, clinical criteria, and the benefit choice you have picked are what regulate all of its hospital plans.
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 that 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.
The Discovery Health Comprehensive Series includes the following plans:
Who is Momentum Medical Scheme?
Momentum is a financial services company and provider of healthcare, insurance and investment solutions in SA. It provides tailor made solutions to over 293 000 beneficiaries.
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) regulates Momentum Medical Scheme, a not-for-profit open medical scheme that is registered and controlled in accordance with the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, as modified (the Act). The Scheme was founded in 1963 as a cooperative organisation with the primary goal of offering dependable healthcare benefits to its expanding membership.
The Scheme aims to strike a balance between the needs of the individual members and those of the combined membership. You get medical aid cover to match your needs and your budget packed with added benefits and monthly rewards. As one of the most trusted medical aid schemes in South Africa, you can find the most affordable medical aid option to suit your individual or family needs, with industry-leading benefits.
Since its inception, Momentum have been offering a secure future for its clients and their loved ones by providing financial advice, supported by innovative product solutions and excellent service to all its clients.
Momentum Medical Scheme has a Momentum Multiply Rewards Program and also the following medical aid plans:
- ✅ Momentum Summit
- ✅ Momentum Ingwe
- ✅ Momentum Incentive
- ✅ Momentum Extender
- ✅ Momentum Evolve
- ✅ Momentum Custom
Who will benefit from Momentum Medical Scheme?
With Momentum Medical Scheme, you have access to a wide range of medical aid options and industry-leading benefits. Whether you’re a student looking for the most affordable medical aid, a young professional, or a breadwinner who needs extensive cover for your whole family in.
FAQ
Which medical aid offers the cheapest medical plan, Discovery Health or Momentum Medical Scheme?
Momentum Medical Scheme has the cheapest medical plan between the two medical aids with its Ingwe plan at R541.00 per month. Discovery’s cheapest plan is its KeyCare Series at R1,102.00 per month.
Which medical aid, Discovery Health or Momentum Medical Scheme are the most popular?
Discovery has the most members by far at 3.3 million compared to the 293 000+ of Momentum Medical Scheme. It is definitely the most popular of the two.
Do Discovery and Momentum Medical Scheme medical aids offer the option of gap cover?
Both Discovery Health and Momentum Medical Scheme offer the option to apply for gap cover. With Momentum Medical Scheme, members can simply apply with one of the company’s other divisions.
Do Discovery Health and Momentum Medical Scheme medical aids have a waiting period?
Yes, both Discovery Health and Momentum Medical Scheme have a three-month waiting period during which you are unable to submit a claim.
Which is the best medical aid between Discovery Health and Momentum Medical Scheme?
Discovery Health was founded in 1992 and provides fair pricing and a variety of packages to meet a variety of budgets and medical needs. Momentum Medical Scheme was founded in 1963 and besides offering affordable medical aid options to its members, it also provides financial advice which is supported by innovative product solutions.
