How to Cancel Discovery Medical Aid

In short: To leave Discovery Health Medical Scheme, give 30 days’ notice (a calendar month) that you or a dependant are withdrawing. Contact Discovery on 0860 99 88 77, follow their withdrawal process, and ask in writing for your end date plus a membership certificate. Positive Medical Savings Account balances are paid later (see below). Not financial advice — confirm on Discovery’s live FAQs and Scheme Rules.

Source: Discovery — Health FAQs (“How do I cancel my health plan?”).

What you are cancelling

Discovery Health Medical Scheme is a registered medical scheme. Discovery Health (Pty) Ltd administers it. Ending cover means withdrawing from the scheme, not cancelling a bank debit alone.

Notice period

Discovery’s FAQ: tell the scheme 30 days in advance (a calendar month’s notice) before you withdraw yourself or dependants. Contact 0860 99 88 77.

Plan the date carefully — you normally owe contributions through the effective end date Discovery confirms.

Steps that usually work

1. Call 0860 99 88 77 or use Discovery’s Get Help / member channels and say you want to withdraw (whole membership or named dependants only)
2. Complete any withdrawal form or portal steps they give you
3. Ask for written confirmation that the request was received and the membership end date
4. Request a membership certificate (Discovery lists this under Find documents / Get Help) — useful when joining another scheme
5. Keep copies of forms, emails and SMS confirmations

Medical Savings Account when you leave

You cannot casually “cash out” the MSA while you stay on a savings plan. Discovery’s FAQ says positive MSA balances are paid if you resign from the Scheme (or move to a plan without an MSA). Payment is on the first claims run in the fifth month after the effective withdrawal date, to allow late claims.

If you leave or downgrade mid-year after using more MSA than you have repaid, you may owe the scheme the shortfall.

Before you go

• Check waiting periods and late-joiner rules on the next scheme (gaps of more than 90 days can matter)
• Vitality and other Discovery products are separate — ask what ends with scheme membership
• Stop or update debit orders only after Discovery confirms the end date, so you do not miss an owed contribution

Complaints

Unresolved queries: Discovery’s complaints form → Principal Officer → scheme dispute process → Council for Medical Schemes (medicalschemes.com, 0861 123 267). Details are on the same Health FAQs page.

Related

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Last checked: September 2026 against Discovery Health FAQs. Scheme Rules and forms can change — confirm on discovery.co.za. Not financial advice.