How to Cancel Your Discovery Medical Aid
Complete guide for South African residents
Last updated: October 2025
Quick Facts
- You must give 30 days’ written notice to cancel
- No cancellation fees charged by Discovery
- Beware of late joiner penalties if you rejoin later (5-75% extra)
- Many cheaper alternatives available from R589/month
- Never have a gap in medical cover
Table of Contents
Understanding Discovery Medical Aid
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is South Africa’s largest medical aid provider. It covers about 57.8% of the open medical scheme market. Discovery offers more than 20 different health plans. These range from affordable hospital-only plans to comprehensive cover.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme is regulated by the Council for Medical Schemes. This means it must follow strict rules set out in the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998. The scheme is administered by Discovery Health (Pty) Ltd.
Important: Discovery Medical Scheme is different from Discovery Life Insurance or other Discovery products. This guide only covers the medical aid scheme.
Common Reasons People Cancel
South Africans cancel their Discovery Medical Aid for many reasons:
- Too expensive: Discovery plans can cost from R1,331 to over R11,000 per month
- Job loss: Lost employer subsidy and cannot afford full cost
- Found cheaper option: Other medical aids offer similar cover for less money
- Moving overseas: Leaving South Africa permanently
- Unhappy with service: Claims rejected or poor customer service
- Need different benefits: Current plan doesn’t cover specific needs
Whatever your reason, make sure you think carefully before cancelling. Medical emergencies can cost hundreds of thousands of Rands without cover.
⚠️ Important Things to Know Before You Cancel
1. The 30-Day Notice Period
You must give Discovery 30 days’ written notice. If you send your cancellation notice on 31 October, your cover will only end on 30 November. You must pay for November even if you don’t use the medical aid.
2. Late Joiner Penalties Are Serious
If you cancel and later want to rejoin ANY medical aid in South Africa:
- You were not on medical aid before 1 April 2001
- You have a break in cover of more than 3 months
- You join for the first time after age 35
The penalty can be 5% to 75% extra on your monthly premium. This penalty stays with you for life. A R2,000 per month premium could become R3,500 per month with penalties.
3. Waiting Periods on New Medical Aid
If you switch to a different medical aid, you may have waiting periods:
- 3-month general waiting period: For most benefits
- 12-month condition-specific waiting period: For pre-existing conditions
However, if you have a certificate of membership from Discovery proving you had no break in cover, the new scheme may reduce or waive these waiting periods.
4. What Happens to Your Medical Savings Account?
Any money left in your Discovery Medical Savings Account stays with Discovery. You cannot take it with you to a new medical aid. You can use it for approved medical expenses after you leave, but once it’s finished, it’s gone.
✅ Step-by-Step: How to Cancel Discovery Medical Aid
Step 1: Prepare Your Information
You will need:
- Your Discovery membership number
- ID number
- Contact details
- The date you want your membership to end
- Reason for cancellation (optional but helpful)
Step 2: Contact Discovery
You can cancel through:
Phone: Call 0860 99 88 77 (Monday to Friday, 07:00-17:00)
Email: Send written notice to Discovery Health customer service
WhatsApp: Message Discovery on WhatsApp (available 24/7, agents respond 07:00-17:00 weekdays)
Online: Log in to www.discovery.co.za and submit a termination request
Step 3: Put It in Writing
Discovery requires written notice. Your cancellation letter should include:
“I, [Your Full Name], ID number [Your ID], membership number [Your Number], request to cancel my Discovery Health Medical Scheme membership effective [Date – must be at least 30 days from today]. Please confirm receipt of this notice and my final payment date.”
Step 4: Request Important Documents
Before you leave, ask Discovery for:
- Membership certificate: Proof of how long you were a member (very important!)
- Final statement: Shows any money owed or credit
- Confirmation letter: Proof that your cancellation was received
Step 5: Stop Your Debit Order
After your final payment month, contact your bank to cancel the Discovery debit order. Keep proof that you requested the cancellation. If Discovery takes money after your membership ends, you can claim it back.
Step 6: Keep Records
Save copies of all communication with Discovery. Keep your membership certificate in a safe place. You will need it if you ever join another medical aid to avoid late joiner penalties.
Alternative Medical Aid Options in South Africa (2025)
If Discovery is too expensive, consider these cheaper alternatives. All are registered with the Council for Medical Schemes and must provide Prescribed Minimum Benefits.
Budget-Friendly Options (Under R1,500/month)
| Medical Aid | Cheapest Plan | Cost/Month | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Momentum Ingwe | Ingwe Option | From R589 | State hospital cover + primary care |
| Bonitas | BonCap | From R1,154 | Network private hospitals |
| Discovery | KeyCare Start | From R1,184 | Network hospitals + day-to-day |
| BestMed | Beat1 Network | From R2,111 | Network hospitals only |
Mid-Range Options (R2,000 – R4,000/month)
These plans offer better benefits and more hospital choices:
- Bonitas BonEssential Hospital Plan: R2,509/month – Hospital cover, chronic medication
- Medshield MediCurve: R1,701/month – Hospital + virtual GP
- Fedhealth EntrySaver: R2,500-R3,000/month – Network hospitals + savings
Top-Rated Medical Aids (2025)
Based on customer satisfaction, financial stability, and benefits:
- BestMed: Highest customer satisfaction score
- Discovery Health: Largest scheme, most plans available
- Bonitas: Good value, strong financially
- Momentum Health: Excellent customer service
- Medshield: Very financially stable (64.4% solvency ratio)
🚨 Late Joiner Penalties: This Is Serious
The biggest mistake people make is cancelling their medical aid without understanding late joiner penalties. These penalties are set by law in the Medical Schemes Act.
How Late Joiner Penalties Work
You will face penalties if:
- You join a medical aid for the first time after age 35
- You were not on medical aid before 1 April 2001
- You have a break in medical aid cover of more than 3 consecutive months
Penalty Amounts
The penalty depends on your age when you join:
| Your Age | Penalty % | Example: R2,000 Premium Becomes |
|---|---|---|
| 35-39 years | 5% | R2,100 |
| 40-44 years | 15% | R2,300 |
| 45-49 years | 25% | R2,500 |
| 50-54 years | 35% | R2,700 |
| 55-59 years | 45% | R2,900 |
| 60-64 years | 55% | R3,100 |
| 65+ years | 75% | R3,500 |
This penalty lasts for your entire life. If you’re 45 and take a 4-month break, you’ll pay 25% extra on your medical aid premium forever. Over 20 years, that’s hundreds of thousands of Rands wasted.
✅ How to Switch Medical Aids Safely
The safest way to leave Discovery is to switch directly to another medical aid. This way you never have a gap in cover and avoid late joiner penalties.
The Right Way to Switch
Step 1: Choose your new medical aid and apply
Step 2: Get your membership certificate from Discovery
Step 3: Give this certificate to your new medical aid (they may reduce waiting periods)
Step 4: Make sure your new cover starts on exactly the same day your Discovery cover ends
Step 5: Send cancellation notice to Discovery (remember the 30-day notice period)
Example: Today is 15 October 2025. You want to switch to Bonitas. First apply to Bonitas and request a start date of 1 December 2025. Then send Discovery your cancellation notice on 1 November 2025. Your Discovery cover will end on 30 November, and Bonitas starts on 1 December. No gap in cover!
What to Compare When Choosing a New Medical Aid
- Monthly cost: Can you afford it every month?
- Hospital network: Can you use your preferred hospital?
- Chronic medication: Is your condition covered?
- Day-to-day benefits: GP visits, dentist, optometrist
- Medical savings account: How much do you get?
- Maternity benefits: If you plan to have children
- Financial stability: Check their solvency ratio
Your Consumer Rights and Where to Get Help
Your Rights Under South African Law
The Medical Schemes Act protects you. You have the right to:
- Cancel your medical aid membership at any time (with 30 days’ notice)
- Receive a detailed summary of your rights and benefits
- Get Prescribed Minimum Benefits for 271 conditions and 26 chronic diseases
- Complain to the Council for Medical Schemes if Discovery treats you unfairly
- Switch to any other registered medical aid
- Get a membership certificate proving your cover history
Where to Complain
Council for Medical Schemes (CMS)
Phone: 0860 123 267
Email: complaints@medicalschemes.co.za
Website: www.medicalschemes.co.za
The CMS handles complaints about medical schemes. They can investigate if Discovery is not following the rules or treating members unfairly.
Discovery Health Complaints
Phone: 0860 99 88 77
Email: Via Discovery website
WhatsApp: Available 24/7 (agents reply 07:00-17:00)
Always try to resolve issues with Discovery first before going to the CMS.
Common Problems and Solutions
Problem: Discovery keeps taking money after you cancelled
Solution: Contact your bank immediately to reverse the debit order. Send Discovery proof of your cancellation notice. If they don’t refund you, complain to the CMS.
Problem: Discovery won’t give you a membership certificate
Solution: They are legally required to provide this. Request it in writing. If they refuse, report them to the CMS immediately.
Problem: Discovery says you owe money after cancelling
Solution: Ask for a detailed statement. Check if claims were made that you don’t recognise. If the debt is legitimate, arrange a payment plan. Never ignore medical aid debt.
🚨 Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mistake 1: Cancelling Without a Plan
Many people cancel because they’re struggling to pay. But one hospital visit without medical aid can cost R50,000 to R500,000. Rather downgrade to a cheaper plan than cancel completely.
❌ Mistake 2: Not Getting a Membership Certificate
This document is gold. Without it, you cannot prove continuous cover. You’ll face full waiting periods and possible late joiner penalties when you rejoin. Get it before you cancel!
❌ Mistake 3: Thinking You’ll Save Money
Saving R2,000 per month feels good until you have a medical emergency. One ICU stay costs more than 10 years of medical aid payments. Consider cheaper medical aid rather than no medical aid.
❌ Mistake 4: Not Understanding Timing
If you send your cancellation on 15 November wanting to stop in December, you’re too late. You need to give 30 days from when Discovery receives your notice, not from when you send it.
❌ Mistake 5: Falling for Scams
Scammers offer “cheaper medical aid” or “hospital plans” that are not registered with the CMS. These are illegal and won’t pay when you need them. Always check if a medical aid is registered on www.medicalschemes.co.za
Our Final Recommendations
If Discovery is Too Expensive:
Don’t cancel! Rather:
- Switch to Discovery KeyCare Start (cheaper network plan from R1,184/month)
- Switch to another medical aid like Momentum Ingwe (from R589/month)
- Switch to Bonitas BonCap (from R1,154/month)
If You Really Must Cancel:
- Get your membership certificate first (very important!)
- Give written notice 30 days before you want to stop
- Join a new medical aid immediately (no gap in cover)
- Keep all documents and proof of cancellation
- Stop the debit order after your final payment
Remember:
A gap in medical aid cover of more than 3 months can cost you late joiner penalties for life. If you’re 40 years old, that’s 15% extra on your medical aid premium forever. Over 20 years at R2,000/month, that’s R72,000 wasted just on penalties. Keep your membership certificate safe and never have a gap longer than 3 months.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and was last updated in October 2025. Medical aid regulations, fees, and requirements may change. Always verify current information with Discovery Health and the Council for Medical Schemes before making decisions about your medical aid membership.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme (Registration number 1125) is administered by Discovery Health (Pty) Ltd (Registration number 1997/013480/07). The information in this guide applies to the medical scheme only and not other Discovery products.
For complaints or disputes, contact the Council for Medical Schemes at 0860 123 267 or visit www.medicalschemes.co.za
I need to cancel my dependent in my medical aid
Please phone or WhatsApp discovery
Why is it so difficult (almost impossible) to find an email address for Discovery Health. I do not want a telephonic conversation with them – as an email is written proof.
it really is!