Discovery Insurance - A Bitter Disappointment

Discovery Insurance – A Bitter Disappointment

I have been a commercial pilot for the past 31 years. More than 21 years ago, the company where I had app**** for employment as a pilot required all pilots to maintain life and disability insurance cover.

At the time, I contacted one of Discovery’s brokers and clearly explained the nature of my profession and the type of cover required for a commercial pilot. I received the necessary application forms and completed them carefully in accordance with the requirements communicated to me.

While completing the application forms, I selected the appropriate options for the various categories of cover available — namely Sections A, B, C and D. The purpose of this insurance was to protect me in the event that, due to an accident or serious medical condition, I was unable to continue performing my duties as a pilot. Discovery accepted my application without hesitation, and for more than 21 years the premiums were deducted faithfully from my bank account every month.

In December 2024, while working as a contract pilot in Antigua in the Caribbean, I developed flu-like symptoms accompanied by an extremely severe headache. I attended a medical clinic in Antigua, but within a very short time my condition deteriorated dramatically. I lost consciousness, was placed on a ventilator, and was later diagnosed with Meningitis Encephalitis.

I became critically ill, fell into a coma, and had to be medically evacuated initially to the Cayman Islands, where I was stabilised. After approximately 22 days, I was flown back to Johannesburg, where I remained hospitalised for a further three and a half weeks.

Following my recovery, I was required to reapply for my aviation medical certificate in order to retain my commercial pilot’s licence — a process that cost me thousands of rand. With every submission to the Aviation Medical Board, additional tests were requested. During an extensive ophthalmological examination, it was discovered that the Meningitis Encephalitis had caused permanent nerve damage to my right eye.

As a result, the Aviation Medical Board declared me medically unfit and withdrew my aviation medical certificate, effectively ending my ability to fly commercially.

I subsequently approached my financial adviser, and a disability claim was submitted to Discovery. The initial response I received from Discovery was that I had allegedly not completed Sections C and D of the original application forms. We then requested copies of the original documentation from Discovery, which we received several weeks later. These documents clearly confirmed that Sections C and D had in fact been completed correctly.

Further correspondence followed, after which Discovery advised that they do not insure commercial pilots for loss of licence or occupational disability. This despite the fact that I had faithfully paid disability premiums to Discovery for more than 21 years.

The implication of their position is effectively that I would only qualify for a payout if I had suffered the loss of limbs, such as my arms or legs, before they would regard me as “disabled.”

I have, however, been a commercial pilot for more than three decades. This is the only profession I truly know. Discovery was fully aware, from the original application forms — which I still have in my possession — that I was a qualified commercial pilot. Despite this, Discovery has now stated in writing that they will not honour my claim and that they do not regard the Aviation Medical Board’s ruling as constituting a disability.

Discovery now argues, that they do not provide cover for “loss of pilot licence.” My concern is straightforward: I specifically app**** for this cover; Discovery was fully aware that I was a pilot, as clearly stated on the application forms; and for more than 21 years they accepted premiums based on the cover for which I had app**** and paid.

At no stage was I ever informed that the loss of my pilot’s licence due to medical incapacity would not be covered. On the contrary, Discovery continued accepting my premiums year after year while I remained under the reasonable belief that I was protected against precisely this type of circumstance.

From the perspective of my profession, I am permanently disabled. I can no longer meet the medical requirements necessary to fly, and I am now a pilot who is no longer permitted to work in the only profession I have known for most of my adult life.

At 62 years of age, I now find myself without a monthly income and facing the loss of my home and vehicle, despite having faithfully paid premiums for over two decades. In my greatest time of need, I have been abandoned by an insurance company that proudly markets itself as one of the leading insurers in South Africa.

This is not merely disappointing — it is deeply distressing and entirely unacceptable.