How much does Discovery Health Essential Saver cost in 2026?

The 2026 main-member contribution is R 3 886 per month. Adult dependants pay R 2 914 and child dependants R 1 556. Only the first 3 children are billed.

Which hospitals can I use on Discovery Health Essential Saver?

This plan uses any private hospital — specifically the Any private hospital approved by the Scheme. PMB emergencies are always covered at the nearest private hospital.

How many chronic conditions does Discovery Health Essential Saver cover?

27 chronic conditions in total — that's the 27 statutory PMB conditions plus 0 additional conditions. Medication must come from the plan's approved formulary.

Is Discovery Health Essential Saver good for families?

It depends on your family's healthcare usage. The savings element gives you flexibility for day-to-day expenses.

Where does this pricing come from?

All figures are taken directly from the official Discovery Health 2026 brochure (accessed 2026-10-07). Final premiums are confirmed by Discovery Health when you apply.

Discovery Health: Essential Saver

Savings

2026 Plan

From R 3 886/month

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From 1 January 2027

2027 prices are out

R4 194

main member / month

Main member

R3 886R4 194

▲ 7.9%

Adult dependant

R2 914R3 145

▲ 7.9%

Child dependant

R1 556R1 680

▲ 8.0%

Family of four (2 adults + 2 kids): R9 912 in 2026 → R10 699 in 2027, an extra R787 a month.

Source: Discovery Health Medical Scheme 2027 Contributions. Benefits shown on this page are 2026 until we load the 2027 benefit changes. Compare every 2027 increase

Heads up: This is general information, not financial advice. Pricing is sourced from the official Discovery Health 2026 brochure but may change — always confirm directly with Discovery Health before joining.

Monthly Contributions

Main memberR 3 886

Adult dependantR 2 914

Child dependantR 1 556

Max 3 children billed.

Hospital Cover

Limit: Unlimited

Network: Any private hospital

Network name: Any private hospital approved by the Scheme

Chronic Cover

27 conditions covered (27 PMB + 0 additional)

Plan highlights

Unlimited private hospital cover at any hospital
Full cover for specialists with whom Discovery has a payment arrangement; other healthcare professionals up to 100% of DHR
10% of your contribution goes to a Medical Savings Account for day-to-day expenses
Personal Health Fund of up to R1,500 per adult for out-of-hospital services
Day-to-day Extender Benefit for essential GP visits once MSA is used up

Who is Essential Saver for?

Members who want flexibility — use savings for any healthcare expense
People with predictable but not heavy day-to-day usage

This is general guidance. Use our free calculator to see whether this plan matches your specific needs and budget.

What's covered

Unlimited hospital cover at any private hospital
27 chronic conditions (27 PMB + 0 additional)
All Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) — required by South African law

What to watch out for

Chronic conditions outside the 27 statutory PMB list
Cosmetic procedures, alternative therapies and certain elective treatments
Out-of-hospital costs above your annual day-to-day limit (where applicable)

Compare with similar Discovery Health plans

Classic Delta Saver

Savings

From R 3 875/month

27 chronic conditions

Restrictive network

Classic Core

Hospital Plan

From R 3 905/month

27 chronic conditions

Any private hospital

KeyCare Plus

Capitated

From R 3 980/month

27 chronic conditions

Restrictive network

Frequently asked questions

Find my best plan See all Discovery Health plans Official brochure

Source: Discovery Health Medical Scheme Plan Comparison 2026 (contributions 1 April to 31 December 2026) — accessed 2026-10-07.

Information sourced from Discovery's official 2026 plan guide. Contributions and benefits may change. Always confirm with Discovery before joining.

We are not a financial services provider and do not offer financial advice.