Keyhealth vs Discovery

[KingMikel]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at medical aids, from Discovery to Key Health.

Comparing the following 2 plans:
- http://keyhealthmedical.co.za/options/2014/equilibrium (For a couple its R2227 a month)
- Discovery Essential Core/Saver.

I don't really want to spend R2400 a month for the both of us.
Input and advice please.

Thanks!

 

[TofuMofu]

What does the Discovery plan cost?

Medical Aid is extremely expensive, unless you just get a hospital plan.

I would suggest maybe going for a hospital plan for now and upgrade later to a proper medical aid when your income grows

 

[Dubes]

Discovery Essential Core is a "hospital plan". Unless of course you are referring to one of those short term "cash back for each day spent in hospital" plans.

OP, use this website to compare plans: http://www.msit.org.za/newsite/index.php?mod=12&action=compareschemes

Or get yourself an adviser to do so. You pay nothing more but commission goes to the broker instead of the call centre account. DM me if you'd like my assistance.

 

[Dubes]

OP, the things that immediately jump out when comparing:

Oncology benefit limited to R109,000 per family per annum on Keyhealth. This is absolutely nothing.
Keyhealth has annual savings and limited day to day benefits.

 

[Chevron]

I pay around 2grand for me alone. That seems super cheap for 2people. I'd be worried about what they're leaving out.

 

[Dubes]

I pay around 2grand for me alone. That seems super cheap for 2people. I'd be worried about what they're leaving out.

Probably more accurate to ask what is added on yours. All medical plans must cover PMBs. You probably have substantial savings and day to day benefits on yours. Your in-hospital percentage is probably higher too as well as the annual sub-limits for certain procedures. You may also have a wider range of chronic conditions covered which is not usually of concern unless you suffer from one of these.

 

[KingMikel]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I think we're gonna go with the Essential Core, cost will come in at just over R2400. We're able to manage that.

Only real reason I looked at Keyhealth, was because of the SO. Her parents are on it and it seems decent.

 

[Chevron]

Probably more accurate to ask what is added on yours. All medical plans must cover PMBs. You probably have substantial savings and day to day benefits on yours. Your in-hospital percentage is probably higher too as well as the annual sub-limits for certain procedures. You may also have a wider range of chronic conditions covered which is not usually of concern unless you suffer from one of these.

Correct. I also get covered at 200% the medical aid rate for doctors and specialists.

 

[JayM]

Nearly fainted when I saw what my medical aid is going up to next year: R3700.00 p/m, no dependents, age 36. Crazy.

 

[Dubes]

Nearly fainted when I saw what my medical aid is going up to next year: R3700.00 p/m, no dependents, age 36. Crazy.

Are you healthy? Sounds like you may have far too comprehensive a plan. But hesitant to say you definitely do without knowing your personal circumstances.

 

[Park@82]

OP, use this website to compare plans: http://www.msit.org.za/newsite/index.php?mod=12&action=compareschemes

Useful link thanks! I am currently on the Medihelp Dimension Prime 1 hospital plan.

 

[Dubes]

Pleasure.

I actually assisted somebody with advice on moving from that plan to Discovery recently

They were wanting the Vitality benefits and were wanting a detailed comparison.

 

[JayM]

Are you healthy? Sounds like you may have far too comprehensive a plan. But hesitant to say you definitely do without knowing your personal circumstances.

Yes, fairly healthy. On classic comprehensive - work pays half otherwise I'd probably go onto something cheaper. It's more of an insurance policy than anything else - get into a bad car wreck and need years of therapy for example, on the cheaper plans you're out of luck. Friend of mine racked up millions in medical bills and because he was on a comprehensive plan, he's not bankrupt today.

 

[Park@82]

I actually assisted somebody with advice on moving from that plan to Discovery recently

They were wanting the Vitality benefits and were wanting a detailed comparison.

Are you a broker? Can you recommend anything in a similar price/benefits bracket?

I dont want to join vitality /I'm not really into nanny rewards programs

 

[Dubes]

Are you a broker? Can you recommend anything in a similar price/benefits bracket?

I dont want to join vitality /I'm not really into nanny rewards programs

To be brutally honest most medical aids are much of a muchness anyway. They all need to offer the PMBs and where one is better in one area (eg annual oncology limit) it may be worse in another (eg co-payments for scopes). The problem is we don't know upfront which area will be of most importance to us (unless you have a family history perhaps). My comparison would usually revolve around pointing out the differences and then deciding if another plan may suit the client best.

The equivalent Discovery option would be Essential Core or, if you are in a coastal province, Coastal Core. Just a quick glance reveals the following main differences:

* I see the Dimension Prime 1 limits their oncology benefit to PMBs and only treatment within the ICON network. Discovery you can have treatment anywhere but with an annual limit of R200,000 thereafter unlimited with a 20% co-payment (easily remedied with gap cover).

* Medihelp Dimension Prime 1 also has a annual day to day benefit thrown in of R1,180. Negligible really and would not be my deciding criteria.

If you were to consider changing and used my services I'd look a little deeper to see if there are any other major differences as regards co-payments and sub-limits. I'd also consider other medical aids.

 

[Nippie]

To be brutally honest most medical aids are much of a muchness anyway. They all need to offer the PMBs and where one is better in one area (eg annual oncology limit) it may be worse in another (eg co-payments for scopes). The problem is we don't know upfront which area will be of most importance to us (unless you have a family history perhaps). My comparison would usually revolve around pointing out the differences and then deciding if another plan may suit the client best.

The equivalent Discovery option would be Essential Core or, if you are in a coastal province, Coastal Core. Just a quick glance reveals the following main differences:

* I see the Dimension Prime 1 limits their oncology benefit to PMBs and only treatment within the ICON network. Discovery you can have treatment anywhere but with an annual limit of R200,000 thereafter unlimited with a 20% co-payment (easily remedied with gap cover).

* Medihelp Dimension Prime 1 also has a annual day to day benefit thrown in of R1,180. Negligible really and would not be my deciding criteria.

If you were to consider changing and used my services I'd look a little deeper to see if there are any other major differences as regards co-payments and sub-limits. I'd also consider other medical aids.

Dubes what is the most affordable medical plan that covers hospital, doctors visit and dentistry.

 

[Dubes]

Dubes what is the most affordable medical plan that covers hospital, doctors visit and dentistry.

Doctors visits and conservative dentistry would be paid from your savings on most affordable plans. Unless you join something like Keycare where you get dentist and GP visits included, but in a limited network. But these plans only make sense to those earning under a certain amount as you pay based on your earnings. Rather pay cash for day to day expenses and make sure you're covered for those major medical costs that will financially cripple you.