Discovery Medical Aid

    Discovery Health: Essential Smart

    Network
    2026 Plan
    From R 2 161/month

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    From 1 January 2027

    2027 prices are out

    R2 332

    main member / month

    Main member

    R2 161R2 332
    ▲ 7.9%

    Adult dependant

    R2 161R2 332
    ▲ 7.9%

    Child dependant

    R2 161R2 332
    ▲ 7.9%

    Family of four (2 adults + 2 kids): R8 644 in 2026 → R9 328 in 2027, an extra R684 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 2 161
    Adult dependantR 2 161
    Child dependantR 2 161

    Max 3 children billed.

    Hospital Cover

    Limit: Unlimited
    Network: Restrictive network
    Network name: Private hospitals in the Smart hospital network.

    Chronic Cover

    27 conditions covered (27 PMB + 0 additional)

    Plan highlights

    • Unlimited consultations with GPs in the Smart network, with a R130 co-payment for each consultation
    • One eye test at a network optometrist with an upfront payment of R130 for the test
    • One defined dental check-up with a R195 co-payment for the check-up
    • Cover for over-the-counter (OTC) medicine obtained from a network pharmacy, up to a yearly limit of R605 per family

    Who is Essential Smart for?

    • Members happy to use a defined network of GPs and hospitals in exchange for lower premiums
    • People prioritising affordable monthly contributions over freedom of choice
    • Budget-conscious members looking for entry-level cover

    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 restrictive network
    • 27 chronic conditions (27 PMB + 0 additional)
    • All Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) — required by South African law

    What to watch out for

    • Planned admissions at hospitals outside the network — co-payments apply
    • 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

    Essential Dynamic Smart

    Network
    From R 1 797/month
    27 chronic conditions
    Restrictive network

    Essential Delta Core

    Hospital Plan
    From R 2 681/month
    27 chronic conditions
    Restrictive network

    Essential Smart Saver

    Savings
    From R 2 750/month
    27 chronic conditions
    Restrictive network

    Frequently asked questions

    Find my best plan See all Discovery Health plansOfficial brochure

    Source: Discovery Smart Plan Guide 2026 — accessed 2026-04-28.

    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.