Discovery does not follow President Ramaphosa's speech saying we should work in solidarity together through this hard time together.

I don't understand why a medical aid can't help you when in time of need. I have belonged to discovery health since( 2013), first I was on the keycare Plus plan but landed up paying for everything. Then my husband started a good job and so I upgraded the account to the executive plan so that I won't have to pay in anymore. But due to the covid 19 my husbands company couldn't afford to pay them because they were waiting for people to pay them. In turn they app**** for the covid 19 relief fund which could help the company get over this problem. So the UIF only pays R7000 and the premium is over R9000.00. So I contacted discovery to help me and here was there response. Which in turn I have to leave the medical aid because I am uncertain about future payments. I received this letter "At this stage a concession has been made available for members to have their premiums paid from their accrued available Medical Savings Account provided they are in good financial standing with Discovery and have sufficient carried over funds available in their Medical Savings Account.

As per our records you do not qualify for the concession made available to members.

We acknowledge the difficult circumstances many will find themselves in as a result of the global outbreak and deeply sympathise with our members affected.

That being said, it is important to remember that medical aids are non-profit organisations and the premiums are used to pay claims. Money is paid into a pool and paid out as needed. The outbreak of COVID-19 has created unprecedented strain on businesses, people, governments and healthcare services the world over. It is imperative, now more than ever, that we not lose sight of how this might affect not just one but all of our members.

Discovery has taken a number of immediate steps to support its clients during this difficult time and we are monitoring the situation closely to see how we can continue to help those most affected. At present, Discovery Health Medical Scheme will continue to collect premiums as normal to ensure all claims are processed and funded accordingly. Should any of this change, our members will be notified immediately.

We regret to inform you your membership will be suspended if no premium is received.

Did you know?

By using our website, the mobile app or our Ask Discovery chatbot, you are able to:

View and change your membership and plan details Change your personal details Ask for forms, certificates and benefit brochures Track and submit your claims and download your Claims Transaction History Get contact details Check your premium and Medical Savings Account balance. If you do not have a website profile, you can register at www.discovery.co.za. The Discovery app is available to specific Android and iPhone users. The Ask Discovery chatbot is available 24/7, when you need it most and can be accessed on the Discovery website and now WhatsApp

If you have any more questions, please visit www.discovery.co.za to Get Help or download the Discovery app to view your benefits and manage your health plan.

We will add your recent interactions to your interaction timeline within 24 hours. Here you are able to track and update your queries."

How can we save with our tiny portion of. Savings of approximately R24500 a year when the money had to go to prescribed medical medication (where I still have to pay in) and out of this savings it pays the doctor which charges R800+ ( which is in there network) and I have been sick. I put off going to the dentist due to it using my savings however I got an abcess this year and it used up most of my medical savings. Last year I never even went into threshold but I still have a GAP payment and this year all of a sudden it has shot up + R8000. So I don't understand who is profiting. I am definitely thinking of leaving the medical aid. When I tried to change the plan they said I owe them the Self payment gap and they will deduct this off my bank account. Now use common sense. I can't afford to pay the premium because UIF is only paying R7000, so how am I suppose to pay the GAP payment. This is a money making business. Look at there beautiful new building they built in JHB. So that is where our money is going. This makes me angry because they don't have their clients at there best interests. They are going to land up with less members because so many people won't be able to pay for the next 3 months. They can't even be sympathetic towards their higher paying clients. So sorry to give this bad review but it is true. They are not true to what our president said that we must work together in solidarity. This is not working together. They couldn't even offer that we can pay what we can and later pay the remaining premiums off. Instead they will freeze your medical aid. Therefore I can't get my chronic medicine and my child who suffers chronic asthma can't get our medicine. Therefore we have to go to the government hospital to help us. Therefore it has led me to think why not just belong to the government because when I was in the government hospital because discovery wouldn't pay for extra stay in the hospital. I actually got treated better at the government hospital. Sorry for my ranting but I am very upset of the service we get when I am on their highest plan.