Is discovery vitality worth it?

[Th4ndo]

I'm looking into getting life cover for my bond. One of the options is discovery insure.

It would be an extra R290 or so, do you think it is worth it? Are all the benefits what they seem to be or is it another ebucks (takes forever to accumulated and use for something worthwhile)?

 

[milan188]

If your health status is good it is worth it. I saved about R10 000 in flights and car hire last year which more than made up for the yearly fee

 

[Th4ndo]

If your health status is good it is worth it. I saved about R10 000 in flights and car hire last year which more than made up for the yearly fee

Was that R10 000 from saving over time or from just one year being healthy?

 

[Blu82]

If you are on the medical aid yes otherwise no.

 

[AlmightyBender]

I make the cost back every month due to the healthy food benefit alone, and then everything else over that is just bonus. Btw I also target eBucks and make a big profit there every month i.e. getting about R500 in ebucks per month. All completely worth it.

 

[Th4ndo]

If you are on the medical aid yes otherwise no.

Why is that?

 

[Th4ndo]

I make the cost back every month due to the healthy food benefit alone, and then everything else over that is just bonus. Btw I also target eBucks and make a big profit there every month i.e. getting about R500 in ebucks per month. All completely worth it.

Wait? How are you target ebucks? Are the two related?

 

[Blu82]

Why is that?

Discovery pays back a portion of your life insurance premiums based on your medical aid plan, medical aid claims and and vitality status. It can go up to 55% on the classic saver plan.

 

[Th4ndo]

Discovery pays back a portion of your life insurance premiums based on your medical aid plan, medical aid claims and and vitality status. It can go up to 55% on the classic saver plan.

So that's the cash back aspect, if you don't have one you could still discounts on flights and hotels correct?

 

[russellO]

Vitality is awesome if you use it properly. The higher your Vitality status, the better the rewards. They reward you for being healthy (because that means less claims payouts for clients and more money in their pocket). So buy Discovery shares as well

1) Get a HealthyGear card and you get 25% cash back @ TotalSports or Sportsmanswarehouse (you choose which provider)
2) Link your Woolies rewards card (dont need the Woolies credit card - just the free points card) and get 25% cash back on all healthy food (fish, fresh fruit n veg, etc.).
3) Get a linked Dischem card or Clicks card and get 25% cash back on loads of items. (you choose which provider)

If you go to Sportsmans, Woolies and Dischem, you will see a Discovery or Vitality logo on the price tag of each item, those are the ones you get cash back on. It is a **** load of items.

I get about R 300 back from Woolies, R 200 back from Dischem and R 600 from BP (coz of Discovery Insure) every month. If you paying with a FNB card, you get ebucks on top of those cash backs.

Plus then there are yearly paybacks on the Discovery Life and all the travel benefits (renting car, accommodation and flights) from Vitality.

 

[Th4ndo]

Do you have the medical aid?

Assuming those are the benefits without medical aid?

So it seems I can pay back my vitality fees with just the Woolie's cash back.

 

[Venomous]

If you are on the medical aid yes otherwise no.

I don't know about Discovery/Vitality


But

Momentum allows you to have multiply as long as its either medical aid or life insurance policy with them

 

[russellO]

Do you have the medical aid?

Assuming those are the benefits without medical aid?

So it seems I can pay back my vitality fees with just the Woolie's cash back.

I don't have Discovery Medical Aid, No.

You get all those benefits without needing to be on their medical aid.

If you were on their medical aid though, there would be more benefits. The more of their products that you have and integrate together, the more benefits you get.

 

[HavocXphere]

On life insurance - check if your employer offers life insurance. Tends to be much better deal. Mine had life insurance for everyone for pocket change (seem to recall 20 ZAR)...and the cover wasn't bad (4x annual salary I think).

I'd be wary of vitality unless you know you're (REALISTICALLY) going to hit their going to the gym targets and all that garbage.

 

[snowwolf]

Multiply. Better overall than Vitality.

 

[lived666]

I'm looking into getting life cover for my bond. One of the options is discovery insure.

It would be an extra R290 or so, do you think it is worth it? Are all the benefits what they seem to be or is it another ebucks (takes forever to accumulated and use for something worthwhile)?

Yes, you will get that R290 back easily from your monthly shopping alone.
I don't use any of their other benefits as I can always find cheaper flights or car hire than their so called discount rates, but the healthy food cash back is easily double the vitality cost and then if you join virgin you benefit from the discovery rates as well.

Also on life insurance you will get some yearly cash back, not sure how its calculated but just received an expected amount last month.

 

[Nerfherder]

Do you have the medical aid?

Assuming those are the benefits without medical aid?

So it seems I can pay back my vitality fees with just the Woolie's cash back.

Yes, you should be able to.

I get about R300-R500 per month back on the healthy foods thing so covers it for me.
I fly several times a year and at the top tier of vitality you get 35% discount. If the flight is 2k per person that is R700 saving.
The gym membership thing is still probably the biggest reason to get it - also its a way to get points.

Points are also easy, you do blood tests and a fitness test once a year and you will get to gold. The rest of the points can be covered by doing the surveys on he site, its actually minimal effort.
Other than that, you just hunt round for the other discounts to make it really worth it.... loads of stuff is discounted like sports gear, rental cars and accommodation. Before you send big money do your research. My last overseas trip it was better to just let a travel agent get a better flight than try and book via discovery.
I only really bother with the discounts if the process is simple. Healthy foods rebate comes straight back in to your account at the end of the month, healthy gear is the same. With the Kulula flights you get the discount upfront.

If you want to join the gym and shop at PnP/Woolies then its great. If you don't then its probably not worth it.

 

[Slingshot]

get 25% cash back

You only get 25℅ cash back when you reach diamond status, which takes minimum of 3 years, correct? So for the first 3 years or more, you get a smaller percentage back.

 

[Th4ndo]

Thanks everyone, I'll continue shopping around and comparing.

Seems it would be worth it, no issues with eating healthy and exercising but I'll look into the other options mentioned as well.

 

[milan188]

Was that R10 000 from saving over time or from just one year being healthy?

Due to my status. I was able to get a 35% discount on Europcar, Hotel accommodation and flights for my December holiday.