Discovery has published new pricing schedules for its medical aid plans for 2019. The insurance provider announced its 2019 changes in September, saying that its prices would increase by a weighted 9.2% across its plans.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is the largest open medical scheme in South Africa, covering nearly 2.8 million beneficiaries at 31 December 2017, and with an open medical scheme market share of approximately 56%.
According to Discovery, it estimates total medical inflation for 2018 at between 11.2% and 12.2%, with the variance due to utilisation trends in different health plan options.
“However, risk management by Discovery Health and the ongoing positive impact of the Vitality wellness programme on members’ health, will reduce medical inflation by 2%, resulting in contribution increases that are within the corridor of 3% to 4% above CPI after allowing for the required adjustment for VAT,” it said.
With CPI sitting at 5.1% in July, a CPI + 4% increase puts the industry range at 9.1%.
For a full description of the Discovery policy and benefit updates for 2019, you can read the changes here.
The new prices for all 27 of Discovery’s plans for 2019 are detailed in the tables below, along with how much they have increased.
The tables show the total contribution (including for medical saving, where applicable) for the main member.
Executive
| Plan | 2018 | 2019 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Plan | R5 950 | R6 541 | 9.9% |
Comprehensive
| Plan | 2018 | 2019 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Comprehensive | R4 882 | R5 368 | 10.0% |
| Classic Delta Comprehensive | R4 398 | R4 834 | 9.9% |
| Classic Comprehensive Zero MSA | R3 662 | R4 026 | 9.9% |
| Essential Comprehensive | R4 102 | R4 509 | 9.9% |
| Essential Delta Comprehensive | R3 694 | R4 062 | 10.0% |
Priority
| Plan | 2018 | 2019 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Priority | R3 214 | R3 501 | 8.9% |
| Essential Priority | R2 763 | R3 010 | 8.9% |
Saver
| Plan | 2018 | 2019 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Saver | R2 773 | R3 021 | 8.9% |
| Classic Delta Saver | R2 214 | R2 412 | 8.9% |
| Essential Saver | R2 203 | R2 400 | 8.9% |
| Essential Delta Saver | R1 758 | R1 915 | 8.9% |
| Coastal Saver | R2 160 | R2 373 | 9.9% |
Smart
| Plan | 2018 | 2019 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Smart | R1 647 | R1 794 | 8.9% |
| Essential Smart | R1 180 | R1 285 | 8.9% |
Core
| Plan | 2018 | 2019 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Core | R2 064 | R2 248 | 8.9% |
| Classic Delta Core | R1 652 | R1 799 | 8.9% |
| Essential Core | R1 773 | R1 931 | 8.9% |
| Essential Delta Core | R1 417 | R1 543 | 8.9% |
| Coastal Core | R1 610 | R1 770 | 9.9% |
KeyCare
The KeyCare Plus ranges have changed from R0 to R12,200 and R12,201+, to R0 to R13,050 and R13,051+, while the Access product has been dropped and a Start product has been added.
Therefore no price increases are shown below, just the new fees for 2019.
| Plan | 2019 |
|---|---|
| KeyCare Plus 0 – 13 050 | R1 456 |
| KeyCare Plus 13 051+ | R2 249 |
| KeyCare Core 0 – 13 050 | R1 038 |
| KeyCare Core 13 051+ | R1 661 |
| KeyCare Start 0 – 9 150 | R839 |
| KeyCare Start 9 151 – 13 050 | R1 412 |
| KeyCare Start 13 051+ | R2 198 |
This article was sourced from BusinessTech; the original publication can be viewed here.
