Discovery Maternity Benefits - be warned

Be warned - Discovery uses a loop hole to avoid paying pregnant clients what is due to them. This is incompetence at best and false advertising to achieve ********** gains at worst. I would seriously consider moving to another scheme if there is any chance you might fall pregnant (basically – if you are a woman). Their behaviour is absolutely appalling - and frankly, suspicious.

In terms of their unwritten 'policy', if you do not notify them that you are pregnant before seeing your doctor to confirm your pregnancy, they will not pay for your doctor’s visits or the required blood tests. Even though the initial blood test is the only test that can actually confirm your pregnancy, they want you to tell them you are pregnant before you get the test or see your doctor to get the results - or they won't pay. Note that when you notify them of your pregnancy prior to seeing your doctor, they also want you to tell them your baby's due date - even though the only way you can know that is by visiting your doctor and getting your pregnancy and due date confirmed. They expect you to confirm that you are pregnant and know your due date prior to getting any medical advice. What's the point of seeing the doctor at all then? I’m not sure if this is going to be extended to other conditions as well – when you have a dread disease, they’ll probably also want you to inform them before getting a diagnosis from your doctor.

Note that their maternity benefit pay out 'policy' is not stated clearly and logically in any of their documents, so you won't know about it until your savings account is depleted after the first doctor's visit and round of blood tests. They are essentially using this as a loop hole to avoid paying out their listed pregnancy benefits and it makes no logical sense whatsoever. When you try to get them to explain it to you they are incredibly unhelpful, illogical and quite rude.

I am not the first person to complain about this on Hello Peter and I know a number of people who have been through the same ordeal with no positive outcome or support from Discovery. Their responses to me have been unsatisfactory and actually, infuriating. Who knows how many others have been through the same thing and have just given up - pregnancy is stressful enough as it is - and I'm sure Discovery knows that. They are also well aware that most people won't be willing or able to put up a fight and will just let Discovery get away with keeping the money to avoid further stress. I can tell you how much stress this has caused me and those I have spoken to. This behaviour is in fact bad for their pregnant clients' health and I find it appalling that it's standard practice, with no explanation / apology / rectification from their side.

The initial doctors visit and blood tests to confirm pregnancy are expensive (around R4500). It seems to have been a recent change with no warning or clear explanation – which has caused many women to fall into this trap. If they are using this loop hole to avoid paying that out to every pregnant woman on their scheme - with 5.1 million clients - imagine what they are making off this.

Be very weary of trusting them if there is any chance you might fall pregnant. I am very worried about the bumpy road lying ahead as a pregnant woman on their scheme and I really don't feel they have my best interest at heart. After being a client for most of my life and never having to claim anything significant from them, I am very sorry to say - they are not there for you when you need them.