Discovery or Bonitas?

supersunbird

supersunbird

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So I have to go to one or the other beginning of next year.

Have had issues with Discovery and their stickler for details attitude (but that was 5 years back) and always read about horrid experiences on hear and elsewhere in the media. Has they changed for the better perhaps recently?

Anyone with Bonitas? How has your experience been?

I'll miss Fedhealth.
 
Was on Bonitas years ago was good, prompt payment no complains.
 
With Bonitas and haven't had problems for over 2 years now. Though don't go to the doc that much, but every time I've been to the doc, they pay.
 
Been on Bankmed and discovery.
No real issues on either side.
Maybe it depends on plan types? Discovery did give me issues about an eye surgery, but i suspect all medical aids would have.

Camaf i have heard great things about
 
Discovery is crap, left them after 3 years of bad service. I was the only member on Discovery but every year I had issues with my funds. I once broke an ankle and I Discovered that Discovery wont pay for certain procedures. I was on their middle option, cnt exactly remember what it was called.

I moved over to Bonitas, got married and had a son. My wife's pregnancy was covered except for the delivery due to the time that she joined My son is constantly sick, checkups, medication. I went for a minor operation all covered and I still have funds remaining at the end of the year WOW! I'm on the BonSaver Option. So from my xperience I'd say unless u want cheaper veggies, flights, gym and all that Vitality nonsense. GO Bonitas.
 
Just looked at Bonitas' BonSave - it is a little bit more than what I'm paying for a hospital plan at Profmed. Will have to get more info.
 
fountain said:
Discovery is crap, left them after 3 years of bad service. I was the only member on Discovery but every year I had issues with my funds. I once broke an ankle and I Discovered that Discovery wont pay for certain procedures. I was on their middle option, cnt exactly remember what it was called.

I moved over to Bonitas, got married and had a son. My wife's pregnancy was covered except for the delivery due to the time that she joined My son is constantly sick, checkups, medication. I went for a minor operation all covered and I still have funds remaining at the end of the year WOW! I'm on the BonSaver Option. So from my xperience I'd say unless u want cheaper veggies, flights, gym and all that Vitality nonsense. GO Bonitas.
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Thanks for the info. I can get Vitality anyway since employer is with both Discovery and Bonitas and the group risk cover is with Discovery (and there are benefits there if you are a Vitality member).

General consensus seems to be that Bonitas is decent enough.
 
I'm with bonitas for a year now, bonsave option. Never had a issue with claims for Gps and medication.
Only downside thus far has been the increase in January was R200. (myself and 2 kids)
 
I was actually looking @ options last night. Think I was looking Discovery (I am with them at the moment), Liberty, Bonitas, FedHealth and Selfmed.

Seems some are actually more expensive than Discovery. Selfmed however even though more expensive for hospital plan, seems you can go to any private hospital you want. I could not find a link in Bonitas where you can see the list of network hospitals. Their website kind of sucks it must be said.

On my current plan with Discovery, I can only go to hospitals that is far away. I want a plan that covers Morningside Medi Clinic or Netcare Sunninghill. Will phone Bonitas and see where I can get a list of their hospitals.
 
Use this tool:

http://www.msit.org.za/newsite/index.php?mod=12&action=compareschemes


It's useful to note the financials of these companies, especially their solvency levels and such. Can also compare plans between medical aids there.

A quick scan tells me Bonitas might be more expensive, but offers a few more benefits in terms of what they cover (especially chronic conditions) on certain plans.


Either way, it's tricky, i've been on Discovery for ages now and never had issues, but then again i've never had medical issues. Most of my claims was from my savings account (physio / glasses / contact lenses) and i've eventually turned this whole savings account thing off and rather pay those things cash (It's Discovery's "Core" series where they dropped the MSA part) .

For some reason doctors are more sensitive to what they charge when you tell them you pay cash and i find it kinda absurd that you dump money into an MSA and then Discovery still impose limits on how much and what you can use it for. I've never found any particular benefit for the MSA other than getting the money pro-rata for the year. So now i rather pay that same amount into my bank account and use it for what i want.

But long story short, never had issues with Discovery up to now. I like their website and the fact that they have apps and services all over the place. I usually prefer a company that is "tech savvy" and moving forward than one where you need to fax them to get anything done.The whole Vitality thing has saved me a ton on flights and movies so far.
 
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I'm even thinking of going Hospital plan and then self funding glasses, dentistry and gp visits and such.

My MSA is currently on R8000. I can put that onto my credit card and then save the R1000pm saved into that too. Don't have any dependants.
 
supersunbird said:
I'm even thinking of going Hospital plan and then self funding glasses, dentistry and gp visits and such.

My MSA is currently on R8000. I can put that onto my credit card and then save the R1000pm saved into that too. Don't have any dependants.
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That's what I do - we're 4 dependants - our annual day-to-day costs are pretty minimal - nowhere enough to justify the cost of a full medical aid. As long as you've got the cash available to cover those costs then it's a good idea. BTW do you get any interest on money paid into the MSA?
 
If you have a 4 year degree check out Profmed - I've been with them for several years - no problems. Their benefits are pretty good.
 
senyetse said:
That's what I do - we're 4 dependants - our annual day-to-day costs are pretty minimal - nowhere enough to justify the cost of a full medical aid. As long as you've got the cash available to cover those costs then it's a good idea. BTW do you get any interest on money paid into the MSA?
Click to expand...

Yes, R29 for Sept, R35 for Aug for example.
 
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