DS
Desree S

1 reviews | Active since May 2019

07 May 2019, 13:35

Discovery - Vitality (Discovery Life link to Discovery Medical Scheme)

I have a Life Policy with Vitality linked for the past 8 years. Three years back my husband (age 74) and myself joined Discovery Health Medical Scheme - on the scheme he opted out for Vitality, therefore not contributing at all. In 2018 Discovery Life picked him up on the medical scheme, and therefore linked him to MY Vitality. This then increased my ("our") goal. After A LOT of phone calls and e-mail Discovery finally fixed the problem. In 2018 I reached Gold Status (1st year). In 2019 - I was on Gold status and reached my goal in March 2019. In April I amended my Life Policy and included a retirement annuity. Once the policies were updated exactly the same incident as explained above happened. NOW, I am back on Silver status and my goal limit is increased, as my husband is included on the goal limit. I enquired through my broker - no luck. I have threatened to cancel this policy - but the first premium has already been deducted? My husband is not active at all - and therefore didn't sign up for Vitality. I, on the other hand, is fit and that is evident from my Vitality Fitness Assessment done in February 2019. Discovery now says they have a) no record of what happened in 2018 and b) no record that I was on Gold status in March? This is extremely unfair as I am now penalized for Discovery linking the Scheme with the Life policy? Furthermore, how can my husband get any Vitality privileges if he is not paying any premium for Vitality? I spoke to my broker this morning - but after 3 weeks, I still don't have any definite answer either way.

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Replies (1)
DS
Desree S's update07 May 2019, 14:26
Reviewer Update
Thanks for contacting me so promptly. Unfortunately the person that contacted me was extremely arrogant and rude. Informing me that he will contact my broker to explain it to me as I don't understand him. Initially insisting that my husband (74) is a paying Vitality member, but later during the conversation saying he is not a paying member but linked to my Vitality due to the annuity? Apparently it is a business rule - that if you take out an Annuity, anyone linked to your Medical Scheme automatically increases your goals. I asked him how my husband can be linked to MY Vitality if he is not a paying member - I was informed that is the way it works? When I asked if I must then cancel Vitality - I was informed then you won't have any benefits anymore? My husband (74) is not active and not a beneficiary on either my Life NOT my Annuity? I urge you to please listen to this conversation - Uzair phoned me at 13:54.