DISCOVERY LIFE

My Story with Discovery – A Harsh Reality

In brief, I am a Discovery Life member. I not only have life insurance with Discovery, but I also had medical aid, short-term cover, investments, and banking — all through the Discovery Group of companies.

In 2022, I experienced complications with my lower back and needed surgery. Unfortunately, the first procedure was unsuccessful, and I had to undergo a second operation. After that, the issue was finally resolved.

Two weeks later, I woke up on a Saturday morning feeling extremely drained. My eldest daughter noticed I looked pale and ghost-like. I drank a glass of water, went to the bathroom, and collapsed. I started vomiting blood and had continuous ****** diarrhea. I couldn’t get back to my feet. My wife called an ambulance and I was rushed to LIFE Parklands Hospital in Springs.

They said they weren’t equipped to handle my condition and referred me to Glynwood Hospital in Benoni. Upon arrival, the hospital was overwhelmed, and I lay in casualty for a few hours unattended. Eventually, a doctor who had just arrived on duty saw the urgency, ordered blood tests, and rushed me to High Care after confirming internal bleeding. I was given blood transfusions.

After 24 hours, the general surgeon noted I was getting weaker. Medication wasn't stopping the bleed. I was moved to ICU and received more transfusions — over 7 units. Multiple procedures followed: colonoscopy, gastroscopy, CT scans — all inconclusive. The first CT scan failed due to a burst drip, and a new arterial line had to be inserted in ICU. Eventually, the general surgeon told my wife that if they couldn’t find the source of the bleeding, they would have to "cut me open to turn the taps off."

After the second CT scan, they located the bleed — not in the colon or stomach, but higher up in the abdomen. A vascular surgeon was called in, and together with the ICU doctor, ICU specialists, and general surgeon, a plan was made. They inserted a stent via a main artery in my arm into my abdomen to close off the bleeding vein. They warned my wife of the risk — if it failed, they’d need to open my abdomen manually. Luckily, the procedure worked.

After a lengthy recovery, my life insurance broker advised we lodge a claim. Initially, I was skeptical, but after consultations and reviewing my medical records — which listed an aneurysm — I proceeded. According to Discovery’s own prescribed conditions, this was a claimable event.

I followed every process, spent weeks gathering detailed reports from specialists, only to be told by Discovery: “This is not a claimable condition.”

I assumed Discovery had thoroughly investigated the matter — but I soon realized they hadn’t. They dismissed the claim based on a general surgeon’s initial notes describing a stomach bleed. No one at Discovery ever contacted the vascular surgeon, nor reviewed the ICU surgeon's reports. They told me their decision was final.

Life moved on. I got busy with work and family. Then in 2024, Discovery announced they were pulling out of commercial short-term insurance. My broker moved my policy temporarily to King Price. After reviewing options, I decided to switch to Outsurance, impressed by their professionalism and pricing — they saved me over R3,000/month.

After signing, I asked whether they offer life insurance. Their life department contacted me and began the quoting process — but quickly stopped. Why? Because of the aneurysm I suffered in 2022. In their eyes, it was a serious, pre-existing, claimable condition. They couldn’t offer cover unless it excluded anything related to that event.

That’s when it hit me: Discovery denied a claim based on a condition that other insurers are now rejecting me for.

Outsurance, who had zero access to my full medical history, had somehow picked up the thoracic aneurysm as a red flag. Discovery — who were not only my life insurer but also my medical aid provider — say they don’t see it as such.

I asked Discovery:

Why was a vascular surgeon involved if it was “just a stomach bleed”?

Why was a stent inserted into a main artery?

Why did they ignore the ICU and vascular surgeon’s reports?

Why do Outsurance records show an aneurysm, but Discovery’s don’t?

Their response: “Maybe Outsurance has a better way of determining your history.”

That’s an unacceptable answer.

Now I’m stuck. I can’t cancel Discovery Life — even though I’m paying four times what Outsurance quoted me — because no one else will insure me due to my actual medical history. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.

Meanwhile, Discovery’s CEO and execs collect massive performance bonuses while ordinary South Africans like me are left stranded, exploited, and unheard.

Adrian Gore – this is *********. You and your organisation are deliberately manipulating the system to avoid payouts, while profiting from loyal members. Enough is enough.