Discovery Health's plan changes leave chronically ill members struggling

If you're a Discovery Health member, you may have noticed that the Essential Delta Comprehensive Plan is no longer available.

This change has left some patients with chronic illnesses, like Mickaela Faye who lives with ankylosing spondylitis, facing challenges.

Faye relies on expensive medication to manage her condition, and the plan she was on covered it.

However, with the plan gone, she's been forced to switch to a more expensive option, with little warning or explanation from Discovery.

“Discovery has pushed their chronically ill members into a dark corner with no explanation, apology or way out and I am disgusted,” she told Knowler.

Rozelle Coetzee, who also relies on medication for Crohn's disease, is in a similar situation.

Knowler contacted Discovery Health to inquire about the substantial increase of 47% for affected members and the extent of those affected by the discontinuation of the cheaper plans.

Deon Kotze, the Chief Commercial Officer, responded that these changes were necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of the scheme.

"The decision to close three of the five plans in the Discovery Health Medical Scheme Comprehensive Series for 2024 was not taken lightly or without due consideration to the financial impact it may have on members like Ms. Faye and Ms. Coetzee".

The discontinuation of these options impacts around 28 000 beneficiaries, including 17 800 on the Essential Comprehensive option, 7,500 on the Classic Delta Comprehensive option, and 2600 on the Essential Delta Comprehensive option.

They emphasised that these changes were not intended to disregard the needs of members or the medical treatments they rely on.