1 reviews | Active since Jul 2014

13 Apr 2026, 11:06

Non disclosure and on servic

I have discovered that I have a Broker allocated to our medical aid who gets commission from our premiums every month. This is ******ion. This “broker” has never contacted us or provided any kind of service whatsoever. We didn’t even know they existed. So their commission is included In our monthly premium which has as its main criteria paying a dormant do nothing broker and to maximize the Discovery medical aid administration company (making billion Rand profits every year and increasing) and then when I need hospitalisation for dental extraction of 6 teeth at a Discovery Network hospital I still need to pay over R8500 upfront and they won’t pay anesthetist. Well they do pay the later at 200% of the Discovery rate but I have from previous experience become aware that this so called Discovery rate will be as low as R200. So the anesthetist will charge me R9000 and Discovery will pay me R400. These institutions claim that the ANC will never succeed with NHI mainly because they worry about where there profits will be effected but I would argue that the current private sector medical aid schemes have become extremely expensive with avoidance of paying for as much as they can repudiate. They also sell GAP cover that doesn’t cover things like the gap between the anesthetist charge and rhe R400 the medical scheme will pay. The entire thing leaves a really bad taste in my mouth especially the unnamed and invisible “broker” whom we have paid commission to unknowingly but is probably covered somewhere in tiny print in one of the documents explaining the particular plan one is on

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Replies (6)
Discovery Health
Discovery Health's reply13 Apr 2026, 12:39
Official
Dear Alun

We’ve noted your concerns and we’re investigating the matter. We’ll contact you with feedback as soon as possible. 

Regards Discovery Health Servicing Team
's update14 Apr 2026, 16:05
Reviewer Update
I have received a quotation from a dental practice and day clinic both on Discovery’s approved network. I know our plan doesn’t pay for dental devices of any kind. But I’m on a hospital plan so surely the day clinic and the anaesthetist should be covered? The answer is no which is in a similar way that Discovery rejects chronic medication applications despite there being 100% medical justification for the medication and the application. So I would love to chat to the broker I e been paying for a decade so they can explain to my wife and me the justification for the repudiation of this latest day hospital estimate. Perhaps if he repaid us all the commission he has been paid I could then afford the R59k the procedure will cost? Surely as no service has been provided this refund is justified?
Discovery Health
Discovery Health's reply15 Apr 2026, 14:39
Official
Dear Alun

We are busy investigating your query and will contact you soon.

Regards Discovery Health Servicing Team
Discovery Health
Discovery Health's reply15 Apr 2026, 15:11
Official
Dear Alun

We have been in touch with you to answer your comments.

Regards Discovery Health Servicing Team
's update15 Apr 2026, 15:52
Reviewer Update
Yes I had a pleasant discussion with a representative from Discovery Health and the issue clarified. As I noted I do still believe that the constant use of the “Discovery Rate” that is always used within the context of payment for medical services and Specialists to be highly obfuscatory and open to the perception that this “Discovery Rate” is linked to a market rate deemed appropriate by Discovery. This perception is completely false so I think the public information in the relevant sections of what will be paid in terms of the specific plan a customer is on for any service explains precisely what the “Discovery Rate “ is. My interpretation of this being market related is not simply because of ignorance or naivety on my part. For many years in the 70s, 80s and 90s there were things called the “Medical Aid Rate” which was indeed a market rate that medical aids regarded as fair remuneration for a particular service - it was always lower than the rate medical practitioners actually charged but it was generally reasonable. Hence there must be numerous customers who perceive the Discovery Rate in the same was I used to.
I appreciate the call and clarification of how brokers fees are paid to the customer support teams. Many thanks.
Discovery Health
Discovery Health's reply22 Apr 2026, 08:27
Official
Dear Alun

Thank you for taking time to give us your feedback. 
   
Regards Discovery Health Servicing Team