Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) has announced the annual price increase for 2023, with new contribution increases taking effect on 1 April.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme delayed contribution increases for six months in 2021 and nine months in 2022. These 15 months of lower contributions enabled members to enjoy the current year’s benefits at the previous year’s rates, collectively reducing contributions paid by members by R2.2 billion in 2021 and R4.6 billion in 2022. Furthermore, the scheme continued to defer contribution increases in 2023, offering members a 0% increase for the first three months of 2023 on all health plans.
Dr Ryan Noach, the CEO of Discovery Health, shared: “85% of DHMS members will experience a 7.9% increase in their contributions, while the remaining 15% of members will experience a 9.9% contribution increase. ”Dr Noach confirmed that the weighted average contribution increase for 2023 for the Scheme will be 8.2%.
Scheme members, including those on the Keycare, Smart, Core and Saver Plans, will see a 7.9% increase. Members on the Priority, Comprehensive and Executive plans will have a 9.9% increase.
Benefit enhancements available to members since January 2023:
- The introduction of the WELLTH Fund provides members with up to R10,000 per policy for a wide range of health screening and preventative healthcare services. In 2023, more than 126,000 policies have already unlocked their WELLTH Fund, with over R56 million in WELLTH Fund claims paid by the Scheme to date.
- A 25% increase in Oncology Benefit thresholds.
- A Disease Prevention Programme to support members who are at risk of developing diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The 12-month management programme offers members risk benefits for GP consultations, dietitian consultations, prescribed pathology, and health coaching by healthcare professionals.
- The new Essential Dynamic Smart Plan is the most affordable plan in the digitally enabled Smart Series. The new Smart Plan is enabled by the new Dynamic Smart Hospital network, an innovative offering that guides members to the highest quality of hospital care in real-time, based on their location, treatment needs, and health status.
- In April 2022, DHMS became the first Shari’ah-compliant medical scheme in the market. Members are able to elect to have their health plan administered in accordance with principles that are Shari’ah compliant.
Link Here: Discovery Cost and Benefits Brochure 2023
