Discovery Health Medical Aid
Reviews and Complaints

We are sitting in hospital for 4 hours and still waiting for authorisation. This is ridiculous. How do you treat people's lives like this. Would in have to die Before I get authorisation. I came in to the casualty ward as an emergency. The doctor has authorised my admittance over 3 hours ago but I am still sitting in the reception area of the hospital with a drop in my hand because I cannot be admitted because of discovery's uninterested approach to my medical care that I am actually paying for. Worst of all this is my first time using the medical aid since its inception. I am furious with the service and lack of care. Get your act together as a company to give clients who are patients the care they deserve

WIDOW LEFT DEVASTATED BY DISCOVERY'S REFUSAL TO PAY FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES

Connie McCamlie (membership number [protected]) has been left devastated by Discovery's refusal to pay for hospital and other medical expenses following her husband's death in November 2015.

Discovery unilaterally and without prior notice, reversed all pre-approved payments to these suppliers in December 2015 some three weeks after her husband Roy's death.

Three years later Connie is still seeking justice. On 7 December 2018 Discovery is appealing an order by the Registrar of Medical Schemes ruling ordering it to pay the medical costs.

Just another case of a corporate giant abusing a defenceless widow.

Today my wife was admitted to the emergency room at Emfuleni mediclinic after she accidentally inhaled chlorine vapours. Everything went well at the hospital and she was treated and discharged a few hours later. HOWEVER at discharge stage I was informed by the hospital that Discovery is not paying for the ER room doctor and services, BECAUSE my savings are depleted... Since when are emergency cases payed from a members savings account? Why am I paying R8600 a month for? I am extremely unhappy, because as if we did not go through enough trauma already after wat happened to her... now we have to pay the hospital on top of that! It is as if our overpriced medical aids are looking at more and more excuses not to pay for medical treatment! Again I am extremely disgusted by Discovery!

I'm so disappointed and shock in discovery racist action against the white race of South Africa citizens . 

With how did you start your empire with? 

Remember never think you are a giant and nothing can touch you. History has shown and proven itself time and time again that giants can fall and normally they fall the hardest. 

There is no blessing or will have no blessing in your business any more!  

I'm  why should i stay with discovery if the are racist company. If my colour of my skin is not good enough for you then my money is not good enough for you too. 

STOP YOUR RACIST ACTION AGAINST THE WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. 

WE HAVE JUST AS MUCH RIGHTS AS ANYONE ELS.

If you are not going going down this road you are going to force me  to start moving my business away from you racist company.

 Learn from history don't make the same mistakes or  follow the same footsteps as the ones before you or you will suffer the same consequences as the ones before you in history.

We have managed to secure a date with the neurosurgeon for Mitch's VNS surgery but Discovery are dragging their heels. The motivations from the doctors are clear and submitted some time ago. We just need approval. We were told this morning that 'it's not life threatening' and so we just have to wait for them to review the case. I am devastated by Discovery's complete dismissal and appalled that they simply do not care. If anyone has a contact at Discovery to help us please let us know. Mitch really needs this..

Good day,
I purchased goods from Takealot via the Discovery website using my discovery miles on the 23rd October 2018. The transaction went through reference [protected] as confirmed by sms to myself from discovery.
However, Takealot denies that they received payment and blames Discovery for the error. My points disappeared from my profile and I am without points and the goods I purchased. I complained to Discovery via phone and they promised to log a complaint ref [protected].
To date, nothing has happened to resolve my complaint and it frustrating to be ignored for a simple problem.
Please take action and contact me urgently.
Thanks
Dries Botha [protected]

Don and I are long time (25 years) members of Discovery Comprehensive medical cover. With our son, Daniel having turned 21 years old recently, we now have to pay a student dependent full adult membership overnight. Hence overall as a family we needed to increase from a premium of R11 182 to R14 470, a whopping 29% increase in order to maintain our family's current cover. To echo another Discovery client who had a similar experience when her twins turned 21: "Surely this is a shameful policy for a company that promotes financial planning for life cover and medical cover. Where is the logic in this? Then your call centre agent endeavours to explain that if we would drop the level of the cover a few notches we could reduce the huge premium! In other words, 'Dear client the time has come to pay more money for less cover!' Possible solutions: Phase in this extra premium. Do not apply it as shock therapy. Respect dependent students status and harness them as future members in your schemes and life policies. Basically where is the usual

"Discovery Kop"? Maybe your guys that came up with this policy need a few free sessions at gym to gain some vitality and freshen your minds!"

I have had my house-keeper's daughters, Annah and Jessica on Bonitas Medical Aid. When our girls turned 21 Bonitas requested that we verify and send proof that they are still studying. Once this was done they kept them on the Child contribution rate. Thank you Bonitas!

Very, very, very disappointed with Discovery Medical Aid!

Good day

My previous employer terminated me on my medical Aid effective August 2018 without my, acknowledgment. I resigned with the company September 2018 last day was 31/09/2018, but for the month of September i was not covered and was not aware of that. now discovery is requesting that i need to double pay if need to continue with them, while as i was not covered for the month requested payment for. please kindly advice.

thank you

Good Day, I was a Discovery Heath member during 2017. I went through an embattled divorce and left the scheme in December 2017, owing them R2213.60. In January 2018 I called to make a payment arrangement, offering to pay the amount in two parts over two months. I paid the first amount end of January 2018, and could not pay the second amount as arranged at end of February 2018. I called to advise that I will make the payment at end of March which I did. I have proof of payment of both. Apparently, Discovery handed me over on 22 March 2018 and I made payment on 26 March 2018. I sent both POP's to them at the times of payment. I have since been bothered and called and texted to pay another amount to the collection agents, even though I explained the matter to them over and over and sent them the POP's. I got tired of being hounded like this and called Discovery Settlement Solutions with my complaint, and they advised that they can see the amounts have been settled and that no further monies is due and that they will with draw the file and advise the collection agenta and furnished me with a reference number. I am still receiving calls from the collection agents insisting that I owe money and that they have not received any instructions from Discovery Health to withdraw the file.

Discovery is an absolutely abhorrent and pathetic excuse of a medical aid scheme. Not only do they not give the correct information, but their braindead colleagues are so ineffectual, rude & incompetent. I'm baffled as to how you are still in business?

There have been countless hours wasted on the phone to Discovery, not to mention the countless emails that came from me. I have NEVER come across a group of lobotomised incandescent [censored]s quite like this. Nothing compares to this!

Absolutely shocking service. Ill trained staff and ineffectual systems. I am definitely not recommending Discovery to anyone, in fact like the plaque, I would suggest they stay as far away from any of Discovery's so called 'products'.

Sent to Crime Line -

Dear Crime Line,

Ms Juanita Vermeulen of Discovery in Sandton spoke nonsense about my son Stephen James Southwood born 27th of October 1987 - saying that he is stole from his Dad and he did not and you were not there - so as there are many other criminia injuria that you told about him - I am claiming R1000 in damages for Stephen on his behalf, sending this to Discovery for your attention, please pay through Otto Krause Attorneys and this is for his upkeep, thank you Juanita.

His Mom.

I have been trying for almost 6 Months to have my medical aid sorted and each illiterate person I speak to gives me different information, I am so furious that I feel to use a other medical scheme because I have been trying for months to get my medical aid activated and with no guidance or help from your end it's impossible, I have changed my employer so now I want to be a focken dependent on my husband's account is that so hard to understand that I am trying to settle the amount I owe on my scheme, Idiots, [protected] make yourself usefull

I added my mom to my medical aid, and as the misfortune would have it 13 days on my medical aid she had burning sensation in her ears and irregular blood pressure. ( she is a healthy woman) I told well, I have been on discovery my entire life and that is what medical aid is for, emergency go and check it out. She got to the dr and Dr panicked wanted to submit her to hospital as he couldn't stabalize her blood pressure. You can imagine the trauma for all, and off cause Discover shone in their absence getting this approved. Still today a week later no approvel and lots of excuses in finding ways not to approve. How is that for being there in time of need? If my mom had a history of sick or did not declare anything... I would understand. But in this case, Murphy's law, and it's clear that Discovery would do anything...not to pay

I submitted a claim for medical expenses. For no reason other than inefficiency the claim took 6 months to process, despite numerous reminders and complaints from me. Only part of the claim was refunded to me, leaving an amount of R 62 478 rejected . I lodged an appeal, in accordance with the procedure provided by Discovery, to its Appeal Panel. However, again because of inefficiency, there was a delay of over a year before my appeal submissions were submitted to the Appeal Panel. In July 2018 the Panel ruled in my favourite, awarding me the amount in dispute of R 62 478. Six weeks have now elapsed, and despite repeated requests from me, Discovery has not made payment to me. I estimate that at least 19 months of delay on the part of Discovery could have been avoided in this matter had it been attended to properly and efficiently. In that time I could have earned at least R 7 600 in interest by investing that amount at my bank.
Anthony Dawson

Good day Discovery Health complaints department

Please advise why hygienist visit (Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa) wasn't paid from medical aid benefits; don't tell me it's because my medical savings is up as I chose a comprehensive insurance and assume that once savings are deleted the cost would be covered under insured benefits.

Dentist: Everson A A
Claimed: R732.70 claimed for date of healthcare service 2018/09/06
Paid to: No payment.

Please organize refund.

If not then I've had enough of Discovery medical aid and WILL cancel my cover/ leave Discovery.

It's incidents like these that show how much clients are ripped off as I pay over R4k in monthly cover but have to pay out of my own pocket! I might as well get a hospital plan (not with Discovery alas for you) going forward and self insure the rest.

When my wife fell pregnant, I also was not informed that I had to ask for the maternity benefit to be activated rather than Discovery having the decency to automatically do so and I only found this out after our 3rd antenatal scan, which this completely obliterated my savings pocket (is it too much to ask for these initial scans to be reimbursed?)

Thanks Discovery for placing your shareholders interests ahead of policy holders. Little wonder your operating profits are up 17% this past year and you're sitting on over R10bn in cash.

Annoyed and disappointed possibly soon to be ex client.
Alex Rodrigues
[protected]

MailRef#[protected]
Member: Alexandre Rodrigues - [protected]
Med Aid: Discovery medical aid: Classic Delta Saver

I have submitted my banking details to discovery on the 10th August 2018 for a refund since i changed my medical aid, and i was given a Ref number. [protected]
I was told i will get the funds in 24 hours, i did not receive anything.

I then called again on the 14th and i was then told they are going to put instruction to release the funds and it will take 24 hours. I still got nothing.Ref [protected]

I call again on the 20th and i am told no, the instruction for refund was never done so lets out it and you will get the funds in 24hrs, we had an issue with our treasure department.

Today on the 21st i decide since i really need this money let me call and confirm the money is indeed on its way to me. To my shock i am told the money will now be released today and it will now take 48 hours, i explained my situation to Noba Kolisi who explained the 48 hrs and i did not agree to it, these times have been changing everyday. Noba consulted her manager Lynette Hall who then told her to tell me that THERE IS NOTHING SHE CAN DO.

Disappointment after disappointment. How is that a refund is taking this long? why am i getting the run around? Who is not doing the jobs?

My expected resolution is that receive my funds today.

I Mr JC Vos is a member on Discovery health medical aid and i have severe asthma.I am 42 Years old and spend all my days in bed.I am short breath most of my days and i am taking a hand full of medicine that is not good for my body.The cortosone i take every day is not good for me.I am suffering with my severe asthma.I want to know what discovery do with my hospital funds whem im not using them.I want to know in writing what happens to my funds im paying for.I want the number of Discovery onbudsman.Im gonna take this further.i have gained alot of weight, and broken couple of ribs and my coller bone with a fall.i have lost my job.i am slowly dying please help me

Hi

I joined discovery beginning of june.
They take the money, not a minute late. But now 3 months I have paid and I haven't received my medical aid card.

Today when I phoned the lady said I have to download the digital card, the day I joined discovery they said I will receive my card in 7 working days! They havent mentioned I have to download something.

I feel I want to cancel everything, since I havent received any service from discovery. I want my money back sothat I can go to a proper medical aid. Not just a medical aid that just take your money and doesnt deliver a service.

Now I am really at my wits end.

I have just received another application form to complete - this being the third one in 5 months. The first one was the one for 2017, the second one was supposedly the one for 2018 and not the latest one - suggests that Discovery Forms have changed from the last application form until today.

This application process started in April - it's now August. Literally 5 months to join a medical aid - so I do not understand why I am being victimized by this Medical Aid

I have completed at least 12 other forms requesting extra information which I completed albeit with some reluctance since until September 2017 - I was on Discovery for a period of almost 20 years. I also had to take time off work to have a physical check up done by my Doctor.

I have had the misfortune of being unemployed for 6 months and because of this Discovery feel that they cannot reach into their own database and extract all my information, I have to jump through hoops and complete forms after forms.

The reason that I understand all this extra information is required is so that Discovery can have a comprehensive list of exclusions, which then begs the question - why would I need Medical Aid if everything I require medically will be paid from my pocket anyway due to being excluded.

So, I refuse to complete one more form and will instead lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman about the treatment that I have been receiving.

The only reason that I am trying to get onto Discovery and not another easier Medical Aid is that my Company will pay for half of my contribution. But even that subsidy is not worth all the time and stress of the last 4 months of dealing with Discovery Health.

Your Company is clearly not about assisting people but making money.

Good Day

My name is Charelle Xavaughn Petersen
ID No:[protected]

I applied for a Medical Aid in April month with Dicovery. I got in contact with Johannes Lediga who helped me take out my medical aid.
I explained to him as to why I want this medical aid. My mother is not working anymore and she suffers from depression. I asked him for a plan in which she will benefit cause she's on chronic medication, he then told me the Keycare Plus covers for chronic medication. I them told him to send me the documents and it was on the documents.
I've been paying for 3 months now and when I went to the chemist to get her medication which we bought over the counter for this 3 months. The Pharmacist told me my medical aid doesn't cover for her chronic medication.
I them send him an email to ask why doesn't my medical aid cover for her medication and he asked me if I received a chronic form which i never received from him and I've been paying for 3 months now...
I then told him no it's the first time I'm seeing that forms and his reply to me was I must complete and send to the chronic dept.
I told the forms home and read through it and it wasn't stated to cover for depression and yet he told me they cover for it on the plan he gave to me.

Then I send him an email on Tuesday to let him know it doesn't cover for depression and this is the reply I get from him a day later. Every time I send him an email I get a reply a day or two later.

Good Day

Please note that if chronic dept. does not cover the medication then the best option is to downgrade to a hospital plan so you can buy the medication from your pocket, altenatively you may wait for december to upgrade to a higher option that covers the type of medication that mom requires. Thank you and apologies for the late response

Regards

Johannes Lediga

I'm really not happy with the service I'm getting.

Please let me know what to do next.

Regards
Charelle