Medical aid, we can all agree, is a necessary evil (except perhaps for the folks working in the industry and even then…). It’s a malicious system that prices itself out of reach from most, and profits off the few. Discovery Health wants to change the narrative with the launch of ‘Active Smart‘ – its most “affordable” scheme to date.

Sure, affordability is subjective, but Discovery’s planned entry fee of R1,350/m certainly is an attractive offering, even if you aren’t familiar with the offerings. Aimed at “young professionals” and “new entrants”, the Active Smart tier “delivers a tailored solution, meeting these needs at an affordable price,” said the CEO.

A fascinating… medical aid

It’s worth mentioning that Active Smart is not a done deal. It awaits approval from the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) in South Africa. From there, Discovery Health plans to launch the scheme as soon as 1 January 2025, where it will fall under the company’s Health Medical Scheme’s ‘Smart’ Series.

Discovery reckons most of the ‘young professionals’ out there delay the purchase of medical aid due to their high prices eating up a substantial portion of their income. The addition of a new, cheaper plan, would supposedly counter that. And after seeing the benefits included, we can’t fault Discovery’s logic. It estimates that roughly 109,000 of these individuals would take the medical aid plunge if presented with a package like Smart Active.

Those who sign up for the R1,350/m plan can expect access to features encompassing ‘preventative care’, support for mental health issues, emergency cover, dental/eye care, and access to over-the-counter medications. “Built on a deep understanding of the unique health and wellness needs of young professionals, the Active Smart plan will provide a tailor-made solution at a very affordable price,” said Dr Whelan, Discovery Health CEO.

Now Hear This: How Discovery is evolving

Specifically, the new scheme includes:

Hospital coverage – Full coverage for emergencies in any private hospital. Customers can also make use of the Dynamic Smart Hospital Network, providing access to planned hospital admission, though these customers will be subjected to a fixed deductible per admission.
Day-to-day benefits – Possibly the most requested feature of the plan is access to unlimited consultations, both virtual and in-person, through a Smart GP (general practitioner). This includes dental check-ups, over-the-counter medication, and eye tests.
Personal Health Fund – Members under the Smart Active plan can accumulate up to R1,000 (per adult), in addition to the benefits above. This is determined based on user engagement with the Personal Health Pathway, providing funds that can then be used to purchase prescription meds, physiotherapy, and contraceptives.
Digital Access – Provides entry to the aforementioned Dynamic Smart Hospital Network, “underpinned by sophisticated technology that advises members on high-quality healthcare providers and Smart network hospitals in their preferred region.”

“This monthly contribution enables Discovery Health Medical Scheme to expand access to medical scheme cover for new entrants and young professionals who may have otherwise foregone medical scheme cover due to cost constraints,” noted Dr Whelan.