Discovery Classic Core vs Classic Smart

Kosmik said:
I've been on it since inception but also to be honest, not had a hospital issue yet but thats the least of my worries.

The day to day and medicine cover has helped tremendously. Actually moaned at the my wife who was complaining about sore feet etc, "FFS its R65, just go to the damn doctor and stop googling symptoms!".

Our MSA would have been toast long ago.

The ONLY downside I've found, although its relative , are for bigger day to day like main dentistry, optometry etc but that all comes out your MSA anyway.
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quick q.. where do you check if the doctor is on the Smart network? I can't seem to find it.
 
I've been with Discovery since 2009. Prior to the start of 2024 I've only had a single claim from Discovery since 2009!!! However, this year my daughter started school and has brought home all manner of bacteria and viruses.. All I can say is thank god I swiched from Classic to Smart at the beginning of the year.
I've had about 10 GP visits and I've paid R68 for each of them. Not only that, the Smart plan has covered most of the meds I've been prescribed and even vitamins!

For the first time in over a decade I'm actually getting something back from my medical aid contributions.
 
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Napalm2880 said:
I've been with Discovery since 2009. Prior to the start of 2024 I've only had a single claim from Discovery since 2009!!! However, this year my daughter started school and has brought home all manner of bacteria and viruses.. All I can say is thank god I swiched from Classic to Core at the beginning of the year.
I've had about 10 GP visits and I've paid R68 for each of them. Not only that, the Smart plan has covered most of the meds I've been prescribed and even vitamins!

For the first time in over a decade I'm actually getting something back from my medical aid contributions.
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Kids, especially when young and get into more diverse environments, can chew up a lot of doctors visits easy. Big reason I switched from a MSA to non-MSA, MSA was just being eaten like mad.
 
I've been on the Classic Smart for years. I've had dental surgeries done and they paid a big chunk of it. As long as I have a network doctor close by and a network hospital in reasonable distance, I'm happy with it. No point in spending all that extra money just to go to any hospital like you need it often.
 
Napalm2880 said:
All I can say is thank god I swiched from Classic to Core at the beginning of the year.
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Sorry, what do you mean from "Classic" to "Core"? The plans we're discussing are "Classic Core" vs "Classic Smart", ie the Core series vs the Smart series. Each series has several varieites, eg the Core series has: Classic Core, Classic Delta Core, Essential Core, Essential Delta Core and Coastal Core; and the Smart series has: Classic Smart, Essential Smart, Essential Dynamic Smart, and Active Smart.
 
Scooby_Doo said:
Classic core, Costal core, Classic Smart, Costal Saver.

Its impossible to understand it all.
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I mean these are easy.

Classic = Anyone not at the coast pays more.
Coastal = People living at the coast pay less.

Core = No MSA
Saver = MSA.
 
Kosmik said:
Depending on your local network providers, I think so.
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Brawler said:
Hmm thanks for thread.
I'm currently on Coastal Core and after a quick look Classic Smart seems cheaper, twice the hospital cover and includes day to day cover?
What is the catch besides just making sure the hospital/doctor is on the network?
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That's not even an issue if you have gap cover, most will cover the R12k odd for a non-network planned hospital admission.
 
Kosmik said:
I've been on it since inception but also to be honest, not had a hospital issue yet but thats the least of my worries.

The day to day and medicine cover has helped tremendously. Actually moaned at the my wife who was complaining about sore feet etc, "FFS its R65, just go to the damn doctor and stop googling symptoms!".

Our MSA would have been toast long ago.

The ONLY downside I've found, although its relative , are for bigger day to day like main dentistry, optometry etc but that all comes out your MSA anyway.
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What medicines and OTC meds do they cover?
And how do you claim for the meds, it seems you buy them from a network pharmacy like Clicks or Dischem and they make the deduction right there at purchase?
 
airborne said:
What medicines and OTC meds do they cover?
And how do you claim for the meds, it seems you buy them from a network pharmacy like Clicks or Dischem and they make the deduction right there at purchase?
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Correct. So when picking up your script they will tell you and if its over the counter the same. I you log on to your portal and go to benefits, you will see the limit for both and a tracker of how much you have used.

Prescription I think is sched 2 and higher, otc is basic stuff like corenza , panado whatnot.


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airborne said:
That's not even an issue if you have gap cover, most will cover the R12k odd for a non-network planned hospital admission.
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I'm not sure if gap covers non network for planned. Gap very specifically states they cover shortfalls, not what your medical aid WON'T cover.
 
Kosmik said:
I'm not sure if gap covers non network for planned. Gap very specifically states they cover shortfalls, not what your medical aid WON'T cover.
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Most Gap should because it’s a co-payment, mine does, Sirago Ultimate Gap
 
Kosmik said:
Acute meds are also paid for separately ( schedule 3 + that get prescribed ). I think ours is like R2.3k a year.





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"You do not have cover for medicine that is prescribed by a specialist or a non-network GP, or if the medicine falls within the exclusion list on page 3 below" - so this is the bit that really worries me - what if you need to be put on certain chronic medication - this will not be covered.

And some of the chronic medication can be over R10k pm.
 
TheJman said:
"You do not have cover for medicine that is prescribed by a specialist or a non-network GP, or if the medicine falls within the exclusion list on page 3 below" - so this is the bit that really worries me - what if you need to be put on certain chronic medication - this will not be covered.

And some of the chronic medication can be over R10k pm.
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Chronic is separate and on a list of specific formulary. It does not fall under either of these if its a registered Chronic condition.

I'm on chronic and shifting from coastal to classic smart covered the same conditions. However, as with all of them it depends on the medical formulary how much they pay and which type/generic and what not. Best to contact the Chronic line if you find yourself in such a situation.

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Kosmik said:
Correct. So when picking up your script they will tell you and if its over the counter the same. I you log on to your portal and go to benefits, you will see the limit for both and a tracker of how much you have used.

Prescription I think is sched 2 and higher, otc is basic stuff like corenza , panado whatnot.


View attachment 1790570
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thanks for this.
My wife was at the doctor last week and was prescribed some acute meds.
Clicks said discovery are rejecting the meds even though we also have "R3180" acute limit.
I need to go later to get Trustan so will try that also.
 
Brawler said:
thanks for this.
My wife was at the doctor last week and was prescribed some acute meds.
Clicks said discovery are rejecting the meds even though we also have "R3180" acute limit.
I need to go later to get Trustan so will try that also.
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Query it with Discovery. There are certain conditions I think like above a certain schedule or required prescription else it comes out the other benefit but we normally have all our prescribed meds covered.
 
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