Discovery hikes fees

MEDICAL AID: INCREASES CONTRIBUTIONS OF TOP, LOW-END PLANS BY 7.9% » Reprieve for members, as it will be deferred till April.

- Moneyweb

GETTING THE NOD. The Council for Medical Schemes must still approve the proposed contributions and recommends a cap of 3.3% 'plus reasonable utilisation estimates'. Picture: Suren Naidoo/Moneyweb

(Suren Naidoo/Moneyweb)

Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) will increase the monthly contributions of its high-end Executive and Comprehensive plans, the Coastal variations of its Saver and Core plans (for the four coastal provinces), and its KeyCare entry-level plans by 7.9% next year.

Contributions to KeyCare plans are linked to members’ income. The scheme says the weighted average increase for 2026 is 7.2% and that two-thirds of members will see an increase of 6.9% for contributions. Some plans will increase by as little as 5.1%. Its new Active Smart plan, designed for young professionals, will see a zero increase, with contributions remaining at R1 350.

This plan has grown to cover 22 000 lives after it launched this year, which the scheme describes as the “fastest-growing new plan” in its history.