Discovery Essential Smart Saver medical aid (2026)
Discovery Essential Smart Saver is a savings-account (saver) medical aid plan from Discovery Health Medical Scheme. In 2026 it costs R2,557 a month for a main member, R2,185 per adult dependant and R832 per child.
Source: Discovery Health Medical Scheme 2026 published contributions (Discovery Health website)Last reviewed
Contributions
Main member
R2,557
Adult dependant
R2,185
Child dependant
R832
Dependant rules: max 3 children, each under 21.
In-hospital
- Hospital network
- Smart Network hospitals at 100% of DHR.
- Specialist rate
- 100% of DHR in hospital; specialists in hospital paid at scheme rate.
- Specialist payment gap
- Not covered.
Day-to-day
- Day-to-day benefits
- Digital GP consults plus MSA.
- Savings account (MSA)
- Lower MSA than Classic Smart Saver.
- Above-Threshold Benefit
- Not offered.
Chronic & specialised
- Chronic conditions
- CDL conditions only (27).
- Specialised medicines
- Specialised Medicine Benefit applies.
Oncology & innovation
- Oncology
- Full oncology at scheme rate.
- Innovation / advanced illness
- Advanced Illness Benefit applies.
Maternity & mental health
- Maternity programme
- Antenatal and post-natal benefits.
- Mental wellbeing
- Counselling and psychiatry per plan limits; chronic mental illness on CDL list at PMB level.
Wellness & extras
- Wellness programme
- Vitality programme (optional separate subscription, not a scheme benefit).
- Africa evacuation
- Emergency evacuation in sub-Saharan Africa via Discovery 911.
- International travel
- Not covered.
- ART (assisted reproductive)
- Not covered.
FAIS Disclaimer
This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Consult a registered financial adviser (FSP) before making any medical aid decision. Contributions shown are current-year (2026) figures from official scheme sources.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Discovery Essential Smart Saver costs R2,557 a month for the main member, R2,185 per adult dependant and R832 per child in 2026. Up to 3 children are charged, each under 21.
Lower MSA than Classic Smart Saver. The main-member savings allocation is R2,316 a year.
Discovery Essential Smart Saver uses the Smart hospital network. A small, fixed list of hospitals chosen to keep the contribution down. Smart Network hospitals at 100% of DHR.