Discovery hits members with hefty price hike in 2025: The numbers

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Discovery, South Africa’s largest medical aid scheme, has confirmed that monthly contributions for members will increase by a weighted average of 9.3% in 2025.

Across the numerous plans that Discovery offers, contributions will rise between 7.4% and 10.9%.

The group were quick to point out that around half (50%) of its members can expect a contribution increase of 8.4% or less.

Discovery confirmed that its contribution increases and benefit updates for next year have been submitted to the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) for approval.

Subject to the CMS’ approval, the increases and benefit updates will kick in from 1 January 2025.

Find the full contributions table for 2025 here

DISCOVERY MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION CHANGES FOR 2025

Main member	2024	2025	Rand increase	% Increase
Executive plan	R10 303	R11 430	R1 127	10.94%
Classic Comprehensive	R8 381	R9 298	R917	10.94%
Classic Smart Comprehensive	R7 163	R7 945	R782	10.92%
Classic Priority	R5 272	R5 796	R524	9.94%
Essential Priority	R4 531	R4 981	R450	9.93%
Classic Saver	R4 182	R4 535	R353	8.44%
Classic Delta Saver	R3 342	R3 624	R282	8.44%
Essential Saver	R3 351	R3 634	R283	8.45%
Essential Delta Saver	R2 673	R2 898	R225	8.42%
Coastal Saver	R3 423	R3 797	R374	10.93%
Classic Smart	R2 627	R2 822	R195	7.42%
Essential Smart	R1 881	R2 021	R140	7.44%
Essential Dynamic Smart	R1 565	R1 681	R116	7.41%
Classic Core	R3 322	R3 652	R330	9.93%
Classic Delta Core	R2 659	R2 923	R264	9.93%
Essential Core	R2 855	R3 138	R283	9.91%
Essential Delta Core	R2 281	R2 507	R226	9.91%
Coastal Core	R2 714	R3 011	R297	10.94%

Other changes

Meanwhile, in other changes for 2025, Discovery has introduced a new entry-level plan in the Smart series, called Active Smart with contributions of just R1 350 per month.

Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s new Active Smart plan is the most affordable plan in the open medical scheme market, with a bespoke benefit offering for young professionals starting their careers

Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s Smart Series was launched in 2016 with the objective of providing affordable access to medical scheme cover for modern and digitally savvy healthcare consumers.

In 2025, the Smart Series will be expanded to include Active Smart.

Active Smart is designed around the unique needs of young professionals starting their careers.

Top of mind are affordability, flexible benefits for day-to-day healthcare, and immediate cover for emergency care in hospital.

At R1 350 per month, and anchored against the unique digital features and dynamic hospital network of the Smart Series, Active Smart provides the most compelling medical scheme proposition for young professionals in this segment of the market.

Active Smart, like the three other ‘smart’ plans – Classic, Essential and Essential Dynamic – has no medical savings account.

Main member	2024	2025	Rand increase	% Increase
Active Smart	–	R1 350	–	N/A

Finally, according to Moneyweb, Discovery said that all members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) will be able to access “up to R10 000 in risk-funded benefits for day-to-day medical expenses each year” through the new Personal Health Fund.

These benefits, which depend on the member’s plan and family composition, are accumulated “by completing health actions recommended in their Personal Health Pathway”.

It added “Personal Health Pathways offers each member a precise and personalised health journey based on their unique healthcare needs, dynamically adapting as the member’s health status evolves. Members are rewarded for completing personalised health and exercise actions and developing sustained healthy habits over time”.