1 reviews | Active since Oct 2020
Discovery not paying life cover.
I am Mrs Busisiwe Jiyana and I was widowed tragically during the Covid crisis as a result of my husband, a pastor, contracting the disease because he was desperately trying to help destitute people that were in difficult financial straits as a result of the lockdown and massive loss of income suffered by so many people that lost their jobs.
My husband had taken a life policy with Discovery in September 2016 and had paid his premiums every month until this Covid crisis struck. In April, May and June My husband had used all of our income to purchase food for the poor people whose children were suffering due to unemployment etc and he did not pay his premiums. I know that he had every intention of catching up with these premiums and keeping his life policy active as it was his only way to ensuring that I would be able to survive in the event of his death.
Sadly on the 19th of July he suddenly became very ill and passed away on the 21st of July, from the Covid 19 virus, which I believe he contracted while ministering to the poor folk he was trying to help. On the 22nd of July I managed to borrow enough money to pay the back premiums and keep the policy in place and active. We then submitted a death claim with Discovery and they rejected this claim due to the missed premiums and the fact that the policy, though not cancelled, was in a lapse state at the time of his death.
I understand that they are legally empowered to decline this claim, but I did write to them and beg them to show some compassion and take into account the fact that my husband was only in this financial position as well as a victim of the disease due to his total kindness and love for the suffering of the people he was helping.
They however refused to consider this and stated that they were legally absolved of having to cover the contract of life cover, despite my husband having paid the premiums for a number of years, and only failing to due to the impact of the Corona Virus pandemic and as a result of his generosity and work with the poor.
I think that it would be very humanitarian of Discovery if they would make an ex-gratia consideration due to the circumstances surrounding my husband's death, his generosity in helping the poor and suffering and the fact that he contracted this virus due to his exposure to the poor people he was helping and that he had only missed the premiums from when the lockdown started, which we caught up and paid before the policy lapsed.
I am certain that a small amount of money like this would not hurt the budget of a huge multi billion Rand company like Discovery and yet it would change my life. My husband paid all of the premiums, though the last three were done the day after he passed away.
Sincerely
Mrs B B Jiyana
We acknowledge receipt of your post and confirm that the above has been discussed with our Claims department.
The necessary procedures have already been app**** in reviewing this matter. Please refer to our communication to your Financial Adviser, dated the 30th of September 2020 for our detailed response.
Regards
Precious
DISCOVERY LIFE
We acknowledge receipt of your post and confirm that the above has been discussed with our Claims department.
The necessary procedures have already been app**** in reviewing this matter. Please refer to our communication to your Financial Adviser, dated the 30th of September 2020 for our detailed response.
Regards
Precious
DISCOVERY LIFE
As a result of your position you have virtually destroyed my life and the provision my husband made for me. From the inception of the policy my husband paid the premiums faithfully and sacrificially every month. He never ever wanted to see me destitute and it was only the dire plight of the suffering people that forced him to put their starvation and lives foremost and miss the premiums. It was those last couple of premiums that have now caused me to see my life come apart.
Discovery have taken advantage of the plight of the children my husband had to decide to feed or watch starve and the fact that, in that, he was then infected by the virus and gave his life and also my future security in that the virus proved fatal, preventing him from paying the back premiums. Although the premiums were paid, they were paid 2 days too late. Although the policy had not lapsed, your refusal to reinstate the cover that he had paid for so many years is reprehensible. I understand that your CEO R8 billion and your company probably worth hundreds of billions of Rands, yet you choose to deprive my husband's meagre legacy because he missed three premiums at a crucial time and gave his life to help the South African poor.
I'm amazed and saddened by what seems to be a callous decision.
As a result of your position you have virtually destroyed my life and the provision my husband made for me. From the inception of the policy my husband paid the premiums faithfully and sacrificially every month. He never ever wanted to see me destitute and it was only the dire plight of the suffering people that forced him to put their starvation and lives foremost and miss the premiums. It was those last couple of premiums that have now caused me to see my life come apart.
Discovery have taken advantage of the plight of the children my husband had to decide to feed or watch starve and the fact that, in that, he was then infected by the virus and gave his life and also my future security in that the virus proved fatal, preventing him from paying the back premiums. Although the premiums were paid, they were paid 2 days too late. Although the policy had not lapsed, your refusal to reinstate the cover that he had paid for so many years is reprehensible. I understand that your CEO R8 billion and your company probably worth hundreds of billions of Rands, yet you choose to deprive my husband's meagre legacy because he missed three premiums at a crucial time and gave his life to help the South African poor.
I'm amazed and saddened by what seems to be a callous decision.
Thank you for your response.
Kindly note that our Claims Management will respond to you by email in this regard.
Regards
Precious
DISCOVERY LIFE
Thank you for your response.
Kindly note that our Claims Management will respond to you by email in this regard.
Regards
Precious
DISCOVERY LIFE
I'm not sure if your claims management only meet once a month to discuss situations like mine or if they have just lost my file or dismissed my case because they have already got my husbands premiums and know don't really care.
If it is the latter, then I am saddened by the callousness of man, the lack of decency and the overriding love of profit and money that supersedes compassion, care and understanding.
I was once told a very good sales story about life insurance, how it was like a family trying to cross an ocean, and that instead of going alone in a small boat, insurance was like many people going in one big boat, looking after each other, so that if one of the family members died, the rest of the travelers would take his place and carry the family over. Well my husband put his trust, work and back into the journey by paying his way with Discovery yet now because he helped destitute children and gave his life for them, the captain of the boat seems to want to throw his family overboard.
I really hope this is not the case and that Discovery are actually discussing this case and finding it in their hearts to offer a helping hand to a drowning fellow passenger.
I'm not sure if your claims management only meet once a month to discuss situations like mine or if they have just lost my file or dismissed my case because they have already got my husbands premiums and know don't really care.
If it is the latter, then I am saddened by the callousness of man, the lack of decency and the overriding love of profit and money that supersedes compassion, care and understanding.
I was once told a very good sales story about life insurance, how it was like a family trying to cross an ocean, and that instead of going alone in a small boat, insurance was like many people going in one big boat, looking after each other, so that if one of the family members died, the rest of the travelers would take his place and carry the family over. Well my husband put his trust, work and back into the journey by paying his way with Discovery yet now because he helped destitute children and gave his life for them, the captain of the boat seems to want to throw his family overboard.
I really hope this is not the case and that Discovery are actually discussing this case and finding it in their hearts to offer a helping hand to a drowning fellow passenger.
Kindly note that a formal response containing detailed feedback related to your appeal was provided to your Financial Adviser on the 27th of October 2020, so that this information could be relayed to you.
We have also given information on the further steps that can taken on this matter.
Regards
Precious
DISCOVERY LIFE
Kindly note that a formal response containing detailed feedback related to your appeal was provided to your Financial Adviser on the 27th of October 2020, so that this information could be relayed to you.
We have also given information on the further steps that can taken on this matter.
Regards
Precious
DISCOVERY LIFE