If I could give less than one star, I would.

If I could give less than one star, I would.

I have been with Discovery since 2019, in good standing. In January 2023, I was getting ready for work and as I got out of the shower and dried my hair with the towel, the most intense pain shot through my spine. I went to a chiropractor first, which did not help. After that, I went to Mediclinic Gardens, Cape Town, straight to the ER, as I couldn't move and got heart palpitations. I was admitted and eventually spent 4 nights in hospital.

While I was admitted, on the second day, the orthopedic surgeon on duty asked for an MRI to be taken, as he was considering surgery, but needed an MRI to make a property diagnosis, as we suspected a herniated disk.

I was in the most pain of my life. Went to get the MRI, and I asked if Discovery would pay. I was on Coastal Core at the time, and obviously, as I was admitted it is clear that it is covered by the medical scheme for in-hospital treatment.

We got the results and it clearly showed the herniated disk between T6 and T7, right where my heart and other nerves exit the spine.

The R 14 000.00 more or less for the MRI was never paid by Discovery, just stating that "this is not covered."

It is now October 2024, and they just give you a run around every time I call and spend 4 hours trying to speak with someone, (new every time), where the person on the other end usually agree on the recorded line and say it should have been paid.

I even sent a motivational letter from the surgeon in who's care I was - another R 1 500.00 further for him drafting the letter, at Discovery's insistence. Yet, as with all the rest of the evidence and reasoning, all I get is "the back office will get back to you."

Always, they say "it may take up to 48 hours". We are 21 months down the line, and still, nothing.

An absolute disgrace and a farce. And now they sit on you to use Discovery Bank too. No thank you. It is a shame that Discovery is simply allowed to operate in this way.

I had to raise my credit card limit to pay the R 14 000.00 when the radiologists handed me over to lawyers.

AVOID DISCOVERY! Not worth it.