Members of Discovery Health medical scheme may pay a higher monthly medical fund contribution from January 2027.
The scheme has proposed that contributions from one January increase by between 7.4% and 8.9%. However, the increases must still be approved by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS).
The weighted average premium increase across the scheme's different plans is 8.2%. Discovery says two out of every three beneficiaries will have an increase of less than 8%.
Which plans are affected most?
The proposed increase for Active Smart is the lowest, at 7.4%.
Smart, Smart Saver, Core and Saver have proposed increases of 7.9%, while Coastal Saver could increase by 8.4%.
KeyCare, Coastal Core, Priority, Comprehensive and Executive all have proposed increases of 8.9%.
The exact amount a member will pay from January will depend on the chosen plan and the composition of the member's cover.
Why are contributions increasing?
Discovery says the increases are linked to medical inflation and rising costs and use of health services.
The scheme says its weighted average increase of 8.2% is lower than what its calculations would otherwise indicate is necessary.
Medical inflation is influenced among other things by the costs of health services, new treatments, medicines and medical technology, as well as rising use of health services.
New plan also proposed
Discovery has at the same time proposed a new plan, Active Core, for 2027.
The proposed contribution starts at R1 700 per month for the main member, R1 550 for an adult dependant and R500 for a child dependant.
According to Discovery, a family of three would pay R3 750 per month and a family of four R4 250 per month, if the plan is approved.
Active Core will include, among other things, hospital benefits within the Active Hospital Network, day-to-day benefits, as well as maternity and mental health benefits.
What do members need to know?
The announced increases are not yet final. The CMS must first approve Discovery's proposals.
Members should therefore check their final 2027 contribution and benefit changes when Discovery makes the approved details available.
For people already struggling to afford medical fund cover, an increase of even a few percent can make a significant difference to a household's monthly budget.
Source: Discovery Health Medical Scheme, CMS
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
