Discovery Medical Aid - Good luck "Discovering" what they actually cover

I am absolutely seething.

Discovery is a bunch of snakes that hide behind a long list of criteria that change on a whim.

Just a warning: if you are over the age of 35 and pregnant, and you want to take the NIPT because the risk of chromosomal abnormalities—such as Down syndrome—begins to rise more noticeably after 35… well, not according to Discovery. No, according to Discovery, Advanced Maternal Age only starts at 40. Never mind all the scientific evidence indicating a significant risk increase from age 35. Discovery just ignores that—because, well, money?!

I was admitted to hospital for three days, and they didn’t cover my doctor’s visits in hospital. Why, you ask? Not a single clue. It’s just “Not covered by plan.” I still don’t know what my plan actually covers, and I suppose it will always be a mystery—because how dare I know what I’m paying for?

Try searching on the app under “What we cover” and what comes up? “Plan dependent.” I know—that’s why I’m using the search, to determine if my plan covers it or not. What’s the point of that search tool? It creates the illusion that they’re transparent about what you’re paying for, but in reality, you can never get a straight answer or guideline about what we’re paying thousands for.

I pay way more on Discovery than I ever have on any other medical aid in the past, and I’m getting by far the least benefits.

This is already a stressful time for a family, and Discovery does nothing to make it easier. They’re playing with people’s livelihoods and smiling all the way to the bank—and I am sick and tired of it.

They purposefully complicate the system so that it’s either too much effort for you to figure out what’s going on and you give up, or you simply don’t understand and just accept that they won’t pay.

We’re waiting on a new medical aid to come in as an option for the new year, and I am jumping the Discovery ship immediately!