Discovery Medical Aid - The unwelcome package!

Short and sweet: If you plan on starting a family - do NOT join the Discovery medical aid! We (me and two of my sisters) were advised by their various consultants that joining the Discovery Essential Smart plan will suffice in all our needs, especially if having a baby is in our future plans. Unfortunately for me, I was the sister whom fell pregnant while on this plan - and now it is to late to change or no labor fees will be covered!

They sell you this plan which covers all these network hospitals and network doctors and after MANY queries lodged and hours on the phone, no one can provide you with a list of these promised "covered" doctors. After eventually speaking to a team leader (45 minutes into the query call), we were informed that the Essential Smart plan does not cover Gynecologists in our area (she couldn't even mention other areas). FYI: We live central to all network hospitals provided in and around Pretoria, we were even wiling to go as far as Sandton.

In other words we as females are not in a position to go see a Dr who specialize in our female body parts as they are not in your network and all extra costs apply - I say rather keep the R1 180.00 per month and pay your own Dr bills than be informed that the plan sold to you - is worst than a hospital plan but never mentioned to you until after they take your money.

Ps. I have been on this medical aid plan for more than 20 weeks and still have not received my medical aid card and car sticker, aka "The welcome package".. Guess I'm not welcome.. But my money sure is!!