Discovery Keycare Core A:
cancer, maternity and mental health (2025)

What's on this page:

This page has information on: Costs, Maternity, Oncology, Mental Health for Discovery KeyCare Core A

View all the Discovery plans, with costs and brief summary.

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Terminology:

  • PMBs: Prescribed Minimum Benefits. You can read more about PMBs, see a list of all PMB conditions or read more what "PMB only" benefit means.
  • DSPs: Designated Service Provders. Where stipulated, you must use specific specific providers to get full benefit.
  • Co-payment: Paid out of pocket, or out of savings account. Sometimes this is refundable to you if you have a gap product
  • All schemes have extensive exclusions. We've tried to list the non-common ones here, but please consult your scheme or broker to get the full list.

Monthly Costs (2025)

(Other benefits: Costs | Inhospital | Out of hospital | Medication | Maternity | Cancer | Mental Health | Dentistry | Optometry | Other/Extra Benefits | Wellness | Prosthetics)

Discovery:KeyCare Core A (2025 prices)
Main member: Adult member: Child member:
Total Cost pm:
  • R1,381
  • R1,381
  • R361
  • Only pay for 3 children
Savings (per year):
  • No savings account option on this plan
  • The scheme might still cover some or all day-to-day claims. See below, and see benefits.
Children Rates:
  • Under 21yrs
  • Only pay for 3 children
Income band:

Cancer/ Oncology benefits (2025):

(Other benefits: Costs | Inhospital | Out of hospital | Medication | Maternity | Cancer | Mental Health | Dentistry | Optometry | Other/Extra Benefits | Wellness | Prosthetics)

Discovery: KeyCare Core A
Assume scheme pays all these costs, unless otherwise stated
Overall cancer coverage (in and out of hospital):
  • PMBs only
  • Palliative Care: Unlimited cover for approved care at home
  • Note: Most cancers are PMBs, and treatment is paid in full by scheme. More info here
  • Most schemes require use of specific providers (DSPs) for oncology treatment.

Maternity benefits (2025):

(Other benefits: Costs | Inhospital | Out of hospital | Medication | Maternity | Cancer | Mental Health | Dentistry | Optometry | Other/Extra Benefits | Wellness | Prosthetics)

Discovery: KeyCare Core A
Assume scheme pays all these costs, unless otherwise stated
Hospital stay:
  • 100% scheme rate for specialists
  • Elective c-sections: no benefit
  • Usually covered for 2 nights for natural birth, and 3 nights for C-sections.
  • All newborns receive immediate full medical aid cover at birth, even if parents are on a waiting period.
Consultations: Discovery pays for:
  • 8 consults with GP, Gynae or midwife
  • Nuchal translucency or Non-Invasive Prenatal Test if you meet the criteria
  • Certain blood tests
  • Five antenatal or postnatal classes or consultations with a registered nurse up until two years after you have given birth
  • After birth :
    • One six week post-birth consult with midwife, GP or gynae
    • One nutritional assessment
    • Two mental health consults
    • Breastfeeding consultation
  • Savings on stem cell banking
Scans:
  • 2 x ultrasound scans
Note:

Mental Health benefits (2025):

(Other benefits: Costs | Inhospital | Out of hospital | Medication | Maternity | Cancer | Mental Health | Dentistry | Optometry | Other/Extra Benefits | Wellness | Prosthetics)

Discovery: KeyCare Core A
Assume scheme pays all these costs, unless otherwise stated
Summary of day-to-day benefits:
Main Member: Adult: Child:
Savings (per year):
  • No savings account option on this plan
  • The scheme might still cover some or all day-to-day claims. See below, and see benefits.
FYI:
  • Mental Health PMB conditions are covered for in and out of hospital treatment, even on "hospital" plans. For a full list see here.
  • Example of PMB condition: Acute stress disorder accompanied by recent significant trauma, including physical or sexual abuse. Treatment includes hospital admission for psychotherapy / counselling up to 3 days, or up to 12 outpatient psychotherapy / counselling contacts. Scheme will pay this in full, if you use a DSP.
In-hospital:
  • Major affective disorders, anorexia and bulimia: 21 days for admissions or 15 out-of-hospital consultations
  • Attempted suicide or detoxification: 3 days admission
  • Other mental health admissions: 21 days in-hospital
  • Alcohol and drug rehab: 21 days in-hospital
  • All admissions are covered in full at a network facility, or at 80% scheme rate at a non-network facility
Out-of-hospital:
  • See above
Other:
  • Traumatic event claims: 6 counselling sessions per person per year, for the year in which the trauma event occurred and the year after

    Important!
  • Unless specified, assume that all benefits are paid are paid at 100% scheme rate
  • No limits or co-payments can apply to treatment of PMBs, which is always unlimited, although subject to strict protocols and scheme rules.
  • "Unlimited" benefits are still subject to authorisation, protocols and sublimits
  • Assume that all benefits need to be pre-authorised


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.