Quick Facts

• Get up to 100% of your premiums back through PayBack benefits
• Save 75% on Virgin Active or Planet Fitness gym membership
• Earn up to 48% premium discounts by linking Discovery products
• Get half-price movies and 25% back on healthy food
• Vitality points reset every year but status stays

What Is Discovery Life Insurance & Vitality?

Discovery Life is a South African life insurance company. They offer life cover that protects your family.

Vitality is Discovery’s wellness programme. It rewards you for healthy living.

The two work together. The healthier you live, the more money you save.

What Makes Discovery Different?

Most life insurance only pays when you die. Discovery pays you while you are alive.

In 2024, Discovery paid R3.1 billion in living benefits. They also returned R2.4 billion through Vitality rewards.

You can get up to 100% of your premiums back. This happens when you manage your health well.

✅ How Vitality Works

Vitality is a points-based rewards programme. You earn points for healthy actions.

The Basic System

Step 1: You do healthy activities like exercising or health checks.

Step 2: You earn Vitality points for these activities.

Step 3: Points add up to give you a Vitality status.

Step 4: Higher status unlocks bigger rewards and discounts.

Ways to Earn Vitality Points in 2025

Health Checks & Assessments

Activity	Points You Can Earn
Vitality Age Assessment	1,500 points
Vitality Health Check (all in range)	Up to 22,500 points
Mental Wellbeing Assessment	500 points (twice per year)
Vitality Fitness Assessment	Up to 7,500 points
Flu Vaccine	500 points

Exercise & Fitness

You can earn up to 30,000 fitness points per year.

Activity	Points Per Day
Gym workout (30+ minutes)	100 points
Heart rate workout (30+ minutes)	Up to 300 points
Walking 10,000+ steps	100 points
Walking 2,500-4,999 steps (new members)	25 points*
Parkrun completion	Up to 300 points

*New in 2025: Beginner points for 2,500+ steps help you start your fitness journey. These points count towards weekly goals but not your status.

Healthy Eating

Buy HealthyFood at Checkers or Woolworths. Get 25% back in Discovery Miles.

You can earn points throughout the year for healthy shopping.

Vitality Status Levels

Your Vitality points determine your status level. There are five status levels.

Status	Points Needed	Key Rewards
Blue	0 points	Basic rewards
Bronze	2,500 points	50% gym discount, better travel deals
Silver	5,000 points	60% gym discount, more food cashback
Gold	10,000 points	70% gym discount, premium rewards
Diamond	15,000+ points	75% gym discount, maximum benefits

Premium Discounts & PayBack Benefits

Upfront Premium Discounts

You can get up to 48% discount on your life insurance premiums.

How to get discounts:

Link your Discovery Life with other Discovery products. The more you link, the bigger your discount.

Products you can link:

• Vitality membership
• Discovery Health Medical Aid
• Discovery Bank account
• Discovery Insure (car or home insurance)

PayBack Benefits – Get Money Back

PayBack gives you cash every 5 years. The amount depends on your health.

PayBack Type	What You Get
Standard PayBack	Up to 50% of premiums back every 5 years
Double PayBack	Up to 100% of premiums back (wait 10 years instead of 5)
Guaranteed PayBack	Up to 15% guaranteed for first 10 years

Real Example

✅ How to Maximise Your Benefits

Step-by-Step Action Plan

Step 1: Get the Discovery App

Download from Google Play or Apple App Store. All your Vitality tools are in one place.

Step 2: Complete Your Health Checks Early

Do your Vitality Health Check in January. This gives you maximum points early in the year.

Step 3: Link a Fitness Device

Connect your smartwatch or fitness tracker. You earn points automatically for exercise and steps.

Supported devices include:

• Apple Watch
• Samsung Galaxy Watch
• Garmin devices
• Fitbit

Step 4: Join a Gym with Vitality

Get 75% off Virgin Active or Planet Fitness. Exercise at least 36 times per year to keep the discount.

New 2025 offer: Join in January and pay only up to R699 activation fee instead of one month’s full cost.

Step 5: Use Vitality Active Rewards

Set weekly exercise goals. Earn free coffees, smoothies and shopping vouchers when you reach your goals.

Step 6: Shop for HealthyFood

Buy healthy items at Checkers or Woolworths. Get 25% back in Discovery Miles.

Step 7: Link Multiple Discovery Products

The more Discovery products you have, the bigger your premium discount.

Monthly Habits That Pay

Habit	Annual Value
Gym 3 times per week	Save R4,500+ on membership (75% discount)
Buy healthy food weekly	Get R2,400+ back in Discovery Miles
Walk 10,000 steps daily	36,000 Vitality points = better status
Watch movies monthly	Save R720+ per year (half price tickets)

Costs & Fees for 2025

Vitality Membership Costs

Vitality membership fees apply if you have Discovery Life Insurance.

Member Type	Monthly Cost
Main member	Included in Life Insurance
Adult dependant (spouse)	Additional fee applies
Children (under 18)	Included with family plan

One-Time Activation Fees

Item	Cost
Gym activation (Virgin Active/Planet Fitness)	Up to R699 (2025 special)
Apple Watch activation (with Discovery Bank)	R1,199
Vitality Fitness Assessment	Check with provider

Discovery Life Insurance Premiums

Life insurance costs depend on several factors:

• Your age
• Amount of cover you need
• Your health status
• Benefits you choose
• Whether you smoke

Example costs for R1 million death cover:

Age	Approximate Monthly Cost
25-30 years	R350 – R600
31-40 years	R500 – R900
41-50 years	R800 – R1,500

Note: These are estimates only. Get a quote from Discovery for accurate pricing.

⚠️ Important Warnings

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Not Linking Products

Many people miss out on premium discounts. They don’t link their Discovery products together.

Mistake 2: Forgetting Annual Health Check

Your points reset in January. Do your health check early to maximise points for the year.

Mistake 3: Not Using the Gym Enough

You must gym at least 36 times per year. If you don’t, your discount reduces.

Mistake 4: Ignoring the App

The Discovery app shows your progress. Check it regularly to see how you’re doing.

Points That Don’t Count Towards Status

New in 2025: Walking 2,500-4,999 steps earns 25 points. These points help with weekly goals but don’t count towards your annual status.

Monthly limits also apply. You can only earn up to 1,200 points per month from exercise.

🚨 Scams to Watch Out For

Discovery Impersonation Scams

Scammers pretend to be from Discovery. They try to steal your money or information.

Warning signs:

• SMS or email asking for your ID number
• Phone calls asking for your banking PIN
• Requests to pay money to “activate” benefits
• WhatsApp messages asking for one-time PINs
• Emails with links to fake Discovery websites

Fake Insurance Offers

Some scammers offer fake life insurance policies. They take your money and disappear.

How to protect yourself:

• Only deal with Discovery through official channels
• Check the FSCA website for authorised advisers
• Never pay upfront fees to “activate” your policy
• Don’t share OTPs or PINs with anyone
• Call Discovery directly on 0860 000 628 if unsure

Social Media Scams (New in 2025)

The FSCA warned about fake social media groups in 2025. Scammers create fake Discovery pages on Facebook and Instagram.

They offer “special deals” that seem too good to be true.

Your Consumer Rights & Where to Get Help

Discovery Is Registered & Regulated

Discovery Life Limited is a licensed life insurer in South Africa.

Registration number: 1966/003901/06

NCR registration: NCRCP3555

Who Regulates Life Insurance?

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) protects consumers. They monitor insurance companies and handle complaints.

Important Contact Numbers

Organisation	Contact Details
Discovery Life	0860 000 628
Discovery Vitality	011 529 7504
FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority)	0800 110 443 www.fsca.co.za
Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance	0860 103 236 complaints@ombud.co.za
Insurance Crime Bureau (report fraud)	0860 002 526 SMS: 32269

How to Make a Complaint

Step 1: Contact Discovery first. Try to resolve the issue directly.

Step 2: If not resolved, contact the Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance.

Step 3: You can also contact the FSCA for serious conduct issues.

The Ombudsman service is free. They help resolve disputes between you and your insurer.

Alternatives to Discovery Life

Discovery isn’t the only option. Other companies offer life insurance in South Africa.

Other Major Life Insurers

Company	What They Offer
Old Mutual	Life cover, funeral plans, savings options
Sanlam	Life insurance, investment plans, retirement
Liberty	Life cover, disability cover, savings
Momentum	Life insurance, health rewards programme

When Discovery Might Not Be Right

• You don’t want to gym or exercise regularly
• You prefer simple insurance without rewards
• You can’t afford Vitality membership fees
• You don’t use smartphones or apps

Always compare at least 3 life insurance quotes. Make sure the company is FSCA-registered.

Discovery Life with Vitality can save you serious money. But only if you commit to a healthy lifestyle.

The best strategy is to link multiple Discovery products. Then exercise at least 3 times per week. Complete your health checks in January every year.

If you can maintain Gold or Diamond status, you’ll get massive value. You could get up to 100% of your premiums back over time.

Is it worth it? Yes, if you’re willing to stay active and healthy. No, if you want passive insurance with no effort required.

Important: Always verify information directly with Discovery. Download the official Discovery app from Google Play or Apple App Store.

Never pay money to activate benefits. If someone asks for upfront payment, it’s a scam.