Dreadful Discovery Medical Aid

Discovery Medical Aid,

I never thought I’d take to social media to share something like this, but we’ve reached a point of desperation and frustration.

My father has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. We were told by his doctor that treatment should begin within a week—it is still treatable, and timing is critical. But four weeks later, Discovery Medical Aid has still not authorised his treatment.

He is on one of your top-tier medical aid plans, yet there has been no meaningful progress unless we push, follow up, or call. He is in constant pain, and despite multiple promises of “escalation,” nothing concrete has happened. We are now caught in a cycle of empty reassurances and delays, all while he suffers needlessly.

We’ve called, we’ve emailed, we’ve had our broker involved, and we are still no closer to care. The so-called "SLR escalation" timeframes come and go, but the treatment never arrives. My father is not just a number—he is a father, a human being in pain. Would this be acceptable if it were your loved one?

Your system has failed him. And you have failed us.