So, you need a Medical Aid and have decided to search online for a solution!

3 Reasons WHY we use Discovery Health Medical Aid Schemes:

1. Size... Discovery Health Medical Aid Scheme is by far the largest open scheme in South Africa. This means that when it comes to "bargaining/ negotiating" power, they have the most leverage of all the schemes. Affording them the opportunity to negotiate the "best" prices with healthcare providers. Medical aid schemes are run on a non-profit basis, i.e. the scheme must use the money they receive in contributions to pay for benefits,admin costs,etc. Where lower costs are negotiated, member contributions can be more effectively kept within reasonable boundaries.
2. Discovery Group Core Purpose... , Discovery measure everything that they do against their Core Purpose, which is:"to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives". As a previous consultant for Discovery Consulting Services, i can attest to having seen this in action. Meaning that all decisions have to take this core purpose into account.
3. Innovation/ Integration... The Discovery Group take peoples needs into account when designing their product offering. Simply looking at how they "integrate" their products, allowing for instance the capability of affecting your Life product premium through your lifestyle and health choices is an example of this. How the Vitality programme is used to try and make people healthier, the tie in to claims experience proves the point. That if you interact with your health choices and apply the knowledge gained through product design, you can "give" back when people are healthier.

This explains in a very brief summary why we use Discovery health.

Your next step is ... How do you choose a Discovery Health medical aid plan that is right for you?

Ask yourself:

• Are you looking for a Hospital Plan? Do you need coverage for day to day costs (GP's,etc)?

The Discovery Core Plans are plans that provide hospital coverage only. If you want some day to day coverage with your 'hospital' coverage, you need to look at the Saver Plans.

• Do you have any Chronic Conditions?

All plans provide for 27 conditions on the Chronic Disease list .The Executive and Comprehensive plans provide for an additional 34 conditions.

• Do you live in a coastal region?

Perhaps the Coastal Core Plan or the Coastal Saver Plan is right for you?

•  Are you looking for a top of the range plan with the widest spectrum of benefits?

Then you are looking for the Executive Plan.

• Are you willing to use a Network of Hospitals, limiting your choice to make the plan more affordable?

Have a look at the Keycare Plan.

Summarised below:

Keycare Plans:      (Keycare Core, Keycare Plus)
A network plan. Keycare Core has no day to day cover and Keycare Plus has day to day cover. Specific hospitals need to be used  and day to day cover is through a network of doctors.
Keyclub: This is an additional benefit that you can take. Provides discounts at providers and importantly...Funeral cover. Members of Keycare Plans can also access the Vitality wellness programme (link below).

Core plans:         (Coastal Core, Essential Core, Classic Core)
Provide "hospital" coverage only. These are the "hospital plans" that a lot of people look for.

Saver plans:        (Coastal Saver, Essential Saver, Classic Saver)
Provide "hospital" coverage, with a savings portion for day to day expenses.

Priority Plans:     (Essential Priority, Classic Priority)
Provides "hospital" coverage, with a savings portion for day to day expenses and additional cover for day to day costs through a limited Above Threshold Benefit. This plan is a cost effective option to the Comprehensive plans.

Comprehensive Plans:    (Essential Comprehensive, Classic Comprehensive)
Provides "hospital" coverage, with a savings portion for day to day expenses and an Above Threshold Benefit (for use in high day to day expense situations).

Executive Plan:     (Executive Plan)
This is the top of the range plan.

The one page summaries of these plans are available by clicking on the link on the plan of choice above.

Rates

	Executive Plan	Classic Comprehensive	Essential Comprehensive	Classic Priority	Essential Priority
Main member	R2306	R1896	R1592	R1270	R1091
Spouse / Adult dependant	R2306	R1792	R1505	R1000	R858
Child*	R440	R378	R317	R508	R436

* Up to 3 children charged for.

	Classic Saver	Essential Saver	Coastal Saver	Classic Core	Essential Core	Coastal Core
Main Member	R1133	R901	R877	R844	R725	R613
Spouse / Adult Dependant	R892	R675	R656	R664	R543	R459
Child*	R453	R360	R352	R337	R290	R245

*Up to 3 children charged for.

	Keycare Core	Keycare Plus	Keycare Core	Keycare Plus
	Earnings less than R6800 per Month		Earnings more than R6800 per month
Main member	R397	R564	R614	R831
Spouse / Adult Dependant	R397	R397	R614	R802
Child	R100	R100	R138	R248

Vitality
This is Discovery's Wellness programme. It is the largest wellness programme worldwide and is the catalyst to help make you healthier.

Vitality and Keyclub monthly premiums

	Single member	Member with one dependant	Member with two dependants
Vitality premiums	R92	R108	R112
Keyclub premiums	R24	R30	R37
Both Vitality and Keyclub	R101	R121	R135

Now that you have chosen your plan and looked at the premiums, you will need to take a few other things into account.

You will need to take into account the age of the Principal member and Spouse/ Adult Dependant on the plan, and whether they have been on a medical scheme previously. This will attain to members where they are 35 years and over. A Late Joiner Penalty could be applied.

Waiting Periods are another factor which could apply.

I have tried to make this page as simply as possible to enable anyone to access information that they may need with regards to their plan choice. The information is set out in my own way and has not been reviewed by Discovery Health.

Plan choice is meant to be done in accordance with an advisor accredited by the Medical Schemes Council.

If you would like my assistance, please insert your email address or telephone number below and i will be in contact with you.
If you are satisfied and want to apply, please use the contact form below and i will email you an application form.

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