Discovery launches prepaid health cover in South Africa – how it works
Medical scheme Discovery Health has launched a new prepaid system which will allow any person living in South Africa to buy vouchers for healthcare services through WhatsApp.
The medical scheme said that its first offer is a R300 GP doctor consultation voucher, which includes the medicines dispensed by the doctor after the consultation.
The voucher can be redeemed at any dispensing general practitioner within the Discovery Prepaid Health network, it said.
“Our vision is that buying prepaid vouchers for high-quality private healthcare becomes ubiquitous, akin to buying prepaid airtime for our mobile phones,” said the chief executive of Discovery Health, Dr Ryan Noach.
He added that there is no limit on the number of vouchers that customers can buy.
“We have carefully selected the healthcare professionals who are pioneering the Discovery Prepaid Health offering with us, and we’re excited that every person in our country will have the opportunity to consult with them.”
Noach said that the Discovery Prepaid Health network will initially include doctors in the country’s major metros within eight of the nine provinces. This will be further expanded, with new practices being added daily, he said.
“Whilst Discovery Prepaid Health is designed to appeal to non-insured consumers of private healthcare, this offering is also highly relevant to our existing Discovery Health Medical Scheme members as they can, within 60 seconds, buy a voucher and share the voucher link with anybody else.
“A parent might buy for a student away from home; a sibling may buy for a loved one some distance away, an employer for an employee and so on,” Noach said.
How to access
Discovery Prepaid Health can be accessed by registering a user’s profile via www.discovery.co.za or on WhatsApp on 0800 33 78 46.
Discovery clients can also access a link to these platforms though the Discovery corporate app.
Customers can buy vouchers with cash in-store, at one of 350,000 retail outlets. Vouchers are also available through the Discovery Prepaid Health web-based app, or the Vitality Active Rewards Mall, using a debit or credit card.
Users can then load the voucher to their Prepaid Health balance using WhatsApp, online or through the Discovery Prepaid Health app
“Disruption in the healthcare market is required to improve access and affordability of private healthcare for all South Africans so that they can choose quality, private primary healthcare when they wish to,” said Noach.
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