Discovery:
All the 2026 medical aid plans

Table of Contents:

About Discovery’s Plans:

Discovery has 26 different plans. Use Table of Contents (above) to go to your plan.
Discovery Health 2026 premiums only start 1 April 2026.
Tip: Due to complexity of the data, this page is designed to be viewed on a non-mobile screen.

// Comprehensive Plans:

These plans may have a savings account, a self payment gap and a generous Above Threshold Benefit (ATB). There are also generous “extra” benefits paid for by Discovery.
The Executive Plan has an unlimited ATB, which makes it the top plan for Discovery.
The Smart Comprehensive plan requires you to use network hospitals, and has a high self payment gap.

Discovery Classic Smart Comprehensive:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 7,945 R 7,337 R 1,855
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 14,292 R 13,200 R 3,336
SPG*: R 17,958 R 19,050 R 2,824
ATB*: R30,000 R30,000 R7,500
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 8,576 R 7,920 R 2,002
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 14,292 R 13,200 R 3,336
SPG*: R 20,518 R 21,610 R 3,314
ATB*: R31,100 R31,100 R7,770
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
*SPG: Self Payment Gap. The least amount you can expect to pay out of pocket before ATB kicks in (see below). More info .
*ATB: Above Threshold Benefit = extra amount scheme will pay for out of hospital claims once you've paid the Self Payment Gap. More info .
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Classic Comprehensive:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 9,298 R 8,793 R 1,856
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 27,876 R 26,364 R 5,568
SPG*: R 4,374 R 5,886 R 592
ATB*: R35,000 R35,000 R8,500
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 10,037 R 9,492 R 2,002
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 27,876 R 26,364 R 5,568
SPG*: R 6,934 R 8,446 R 1,082
ATB*: R36,290 R36,290 R8,810
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
*SPG: Self Payment Gap. The least amount you can expect to pay out of pocket before ATB kicks in (see below). More info .
*ATB: Above Threshold Benefit = extra amount scheme will pay for out of hospital claims once you've paid the Self Payment Gap. More info .
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Executive:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 11,430 R 11,430 R 2,185
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 34,284 R 34,284 R 6,552
SPG*: R 5,156 R 5,156 R 928
ATB*: Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 12,338 R 12,338 R 2,358
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 34,284 R 34,284 R 6,552
SPG*: R 8,286 R 8,286 R 1,528
ATB*: Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
*SPG: Self Payment Gap. The least amount you can expect to pay out of pocket before ATB kicks in (see below). More info .
*ATB: Above Threshold Benefit = extra amount scheme will pay for out of hospital claims once you've paid the Self Payment Gap. More info .
View all benefits for this plan

.

// Priority Series:

These plans also have a savings account, a self payment gap and an Above Threshold Benefit (ATB). There are substantial co-payments required for certain surgeries.

Discovery Classic Priority:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 5,796 R 4,571 R 2,318
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 17,376 R 13,704 R 6,948
SPG*: R 8,024 R 5,386 R 1,512
ATB*: R19,370 R13,820 R6,770
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 6,198 R 4,889 R 2,478
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 17,376 R 13,704 R 6,948
SPG*: R 9,784 R 6,706 R 2,102
ATB*: R20,080 R14,330 R7,020
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
*SPG: Self Payment Gap. The least amount you can expect to pay out of pocket before ATB kicks in (see below). More info .
*ATB: Above Threshold Benefit = extra amount scheme will pay for out of hospital claims once you've paid the Self Payment Gap. More info .
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Essential Priority:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 4,981 R 3,917 R 1,989
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 8,964 R 7,044 R 3,576
SPG*: R 16,436 R 12,046 R 4,884
ATB*: R19,370 R13,820 R6,770
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 5,327 R 4,189 R 2,127
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 8,964 R 7,044 R 3,576
SPG*: R 18,196 R 13,366 R 5,474
ATB*: R20,080 R14,330 R7,020
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
*SPG: Self Payment Gap. The least amount you can expect to pay out of pocket before ATB kicks in (see below). More info .
*ATB: Above Threshold Benefit = extra amount scheme will pay for out of hospital claims once you've paid the Self Payment Gap. More info .
View all benefits for this plan

.

// Saver Series:

These plans have a Savings Account to fund out of hospital expenses.

Discovery Coastal Saver:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 3,797 R 2,855 R 1,533
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 6,828 R 5,136 R 2,760
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 4,098 R 3,082 R 1,648
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 6,828 R 5,136 R 2,760
Hospital Choice: Coastal
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Classic Saver:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 4,535 R 3,577 R 1,817
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 10,872 R 8,580 R 4,344
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 4,850 R 3,825 R 1,943
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 10,872 R 8,580 R 4,344
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Classic Delta Saver:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 3,624 R 2,863 R 1,455
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 8,688 R 6,864 R 3,492
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,875 R 3,062 R 1,556
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 8,688 R 6,864 R 3,492
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Essential Saver:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 3,634 R 2,725 R 1,455
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 4,356 R 3,264 R 1,740
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,886 R 2,914 R 1,556
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 4,356 R 3,264 R 1,740
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Essential Delta Saver:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 2,898 R 2,187 R 1,163
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 3,468 R 2,616 R 1,392
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,099 R 2,339 R 1,243
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 3,468 R 2,616 R 1,392
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

// Smart Saver Series:

These plans have a Savings Account, but Discovery pays for a lot of the out of hospital expenses (GPs consults, etc) if you use the Smart Network providers. You need to use the Smart Network for all hospital admissions.

Classic Smart Saver:

Main Adult Child
cost: R R R
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R R R
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,350 R 2,840 R 1,400
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 2,820 R 2,388 R 1,176
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Essential Smart Saver:

Main Adult Child
cost: R R R
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R R R
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 2,750 R 2,350 R 895
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: R 2,316 R 1,980 R 756
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

// Smart Series:

With these plans, Discovery pays for a lot of the out of hospital expenses (GPs consults, etc) if you use the Smart Network providers. You need to use the Smart Network for all hospital admissions, and some of the plans will require you to use State facilities for certain procedures.

Discovery Classic Smart:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 2,822 R 2,227 R 1,127
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,018 R 2,381 R 1,205
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Essential Smart:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 2,021 R 2,021 R 2,021
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 2,161 R 2,161 R 2,161
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Dynamic Smart:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 1,681 R 1,681 R 1,681
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 1,797 R 1,797 R 1,797
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Active Smart:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 1,350 R 1,350 R 1,350
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 1,350 R 1,350 R 1,350
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

// Core Series:

These plans are the “hospital” plans.

Discovery Classic Core:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 3,652 R 2,882 R 1,461
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,985 R 3,083 R 1,562
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Classic Delta Core:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 2,923 R 2,305 R 1,169
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,126 R 2,465 R 1,250
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Essential Core:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 3,138 R 2,354 R 1,260
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,356 R 2,517 R 1,347
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Unlimited
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Essential Delta Core:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 2,507 R 1,887 R 1,006
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 2,681 R 2,018 R 1,076
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Network
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

Discovery Coastal Core:

Main Adult Child
2025 cost: R 3,011 R 2,259 R 1,196
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Main Adult Child
2026 cost: R 3,250 R 2,438 R 1,291
Day-to-Day Benefit:
Savings: None None None
Hospital Choice: Coastal
Child rates: Child rates for Under 21yrs; Only pay for 3 children
View all benefits for this plan

.

// Keycare

Premiums are adjusted to your income level. These plans have (varying) cover for out of hospital benefits, and require you to use a limited network of hospitals and providers.

Capitated Plans, by price

Below is a list of this scheme's capitated medical aid plans. With these plans, the less you make the less you pay for your medical aid. The benefits stay the same for all the income levels, only the price changes. We list all the capitated plans and explain them in more detail here.

Income Bracket: Main: Adult: Child:
KeyCare Core A R0-R9,900 R 1,381 R 1,381 R 361
KeyCare Core B R9,901-R15,990 R 1,723 R 1,723 R 427
KeyCare Core C R15,991+ R 2,636 R 2,636 R 598
KeyCare Plus A R0-R9,900 R 1,817 R 1,817 R 661
KeyCare Plus B R9,901-R15,990 R 2,497 R 2,497 R 704
KeyCare Plus C R15,991+ R 3,687 R 3,687 R 986
KeyCare Start A R0-R10,550 R 1,331 R 1,331 R 811
KeyCare Start B R10,551-R15,950 R 1,952 R 1,952 R 878
KeyCare Start C R15,951-R24,250 R 3,063 R 3,063 R 919
KeyCare Start D R24,251+ R 3,488 R 3,488 R 949
KeyCare Start Regional A R0-R10,100 R 1,184 R 1,184 R 713
KeyCare Start Regional B R10,101-R15,250 R 1,790 R 1,790 R 805
KeyCare Start Regional C R15,251+ R 2,790 R 2,790 R 854
KeyCare Start Regional D R 3,178 R 3,178 R 890
.

Note:

  • Classic Plans pay specialists at 200% scheme rate.
  • Essential plans pay specialists at 100% scheme rate.
  • Delta Plans require you to use a Delta Network hospital for overnight procedures. Almost all plans require network hospitals for day procedures.
  • Coastal Plans limit you to usage of hospitals in coastal provinces only, unless an emergency
Great news!
We'll help you squeeze the most out of your cover

Every Friday, you’ll have free inside-help for your medical aid, gap cover and claim issues. Plus: 

💥 Super Deals on wellness products and services
💥 Latest 🇿🇦 healthcare news,
💥 Free healthcare guides, to download and print
💥 Access to free online and offline workshops
💥 Fun weekend read, just for South Africans

Join 5k 🇿🇦 subscribers. We never share your info.

What does a “PMBs only” restriction mean?
In this case, the scheme will only pay for diagnosis, treatment and management of a claim for one of 270 pre-defined conditions (PMBs). Read more, and see full list of PMB conditions. 

What does “From Risk” mean?
The scheme will pay for this claim from its own funds, not from your savings or other day-to-day benefits. 

What is a DSP?
A Designated Service Provider. The scheme has a network of providers, and will often only pay claims in full if you use a DSP. If you choose another provider, you might have a co-payment, or even no cover. 

Compare Plans:
Plan A:

Scheme to compare:

Plan B:

Scheme to compare:

Our Guides (free!)

Get the Guides for free when you join our 5k+ 🇿🇦 newsletter subscribers. We never share your info.

Articles: