What is Discovery Medical Aid in South Africa? How is the enrollment process with Horizons?

Discovery Medical Aid is a leading health insurance provider in South Africa, offering comprehensive coverage that includes hospital visits, doctor consultations, medication, and some mental health treatments. With a variety of flexible plans tailored to individual and group needs, Discovery ensures that employees have access to quality healthcare.

Horizons offers a streamlined process to help clients and employees choose and enroll in Discovery Medical Aid plans. Here’s an overview of how the process works:


Broker Introduction

  • Introduction:
    Horizons introduces employees to a dedicated broker who provides detailed information on coverage options and pricing plans for Discovery Medical Aid.

  • Facilitation:
    The broker assists in selecting the most suitable plan and handles the entire registration process. Once a plan is selected and the employee is registered, the billing will be directed to the client and included in the employee’s payroll.


Onboarding Form

  • Selection:
    The onboarding form includes an optional field where clients can choose between Safetywing and Discovery Health. After a selection is made, our onboarding specialist will provide relevant information and guide the client through the assistance process.

  • Contribution Recommendation:
    We recommend that clients set a contribution amount rather than selecting a specific plan. This approach helps protect against inflation during annual pricing reviews and allows employees the flexibility to choose the plan that best suits their needs.

  • Employee Flexibility:
    Employees have the option to contribute additional funds on top of the client’s fixed contribution to access a higher-tier plan. These contributions will be deducted directly from their payroll.

  • Process:
    Once the client decides on the contribution amount and provides employee details, this information is forwarded to our broker for further action.


Policy Details

  • Policy Flexibility:
    Discovery Medical Aid offers high flexibility with monthly enrolment options, making it easy for employees to join the plan at any time.

  • Employee Tax Relief:
    Contributions to Discovery Medical Aid are tax-relieved at the source, though they remain taxable as part of the employee’s income.

  • Employer Burden:
    The employer’s financial burden will increase based on the selected contribution amount, as reflected in the payroll.

  • Payslip Display:
    Contributions and deductions related to the medical aid will be clearly displayed on employee payslips.


Additional Coverage Information

  • Dependents:
    Discovery Medical Aid allows for the inclusion of dependents under the employee’s plan.

  • Coverage During Absence:
    The medical aid covers essential medical costs such as doctor visits, hospital bills, medication, and some mental health treatments. However, it does not cover income replacement or the cost of living during an employee's absence from work.


Policy Transfer

  • Transition:
    If an employee is already on an existing private medical plan, our broker will assist in transitioning them to the company's group benefit plan under Discovery Medical Aid, ensuring a smooth and seamless transfer.

Was this article helpful?

That’s Great!

Thank you for your feedback

Sorry! We couldn't be helpful

Thank you for your feedback

Let us know how can we improve this article!

Select at least one of the reasons
CAPTCHA verification is required.

Feedback sent

We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article