AS Sure Investment Services, in collaboration with Optimum Investment Group, enable our clients to have access to a well-versed investment team with extensive experience in both local and global asset management, which allows clients to grow their wealth and meet their investment objectives. This document outlines financial market movements as well as the effects it had on the AS Forum Funds.
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As we approach 2025, it’s crucial to stay informed about the changes that may impact your financial planning. We’ve gathered the latest updates on Discovery premium increases and benefit enhancements that you can expect in the new year.
Discovery Premium Increases
Every year, medical schemes are faced with finding the right balance for their members between affordability of contributions, and sustainability of benefits. To continue providing members with high quality medical cover, Discovery Health Medical Scheme will increase its member contributions by between 7.4% to 10.9% for 2025. This increase will be supported by various benefit optimisations and plan updates – keep reading to learn more!
Active Smart Plan for Under 30s
Active Smart is the ultimate healthcare solution for the next generation of young professionals. The new Active Smart plan is the most affordable plan in the open scheme industry with a bespoke benefit offering for young professionals starting out their careers – with premiums from only R1 350 per principal member per month.
New KeyCare Start Regional Hubs
For 2025, the regions of KeyCare Start Regional have been expanded beyond the six existing regions to include Johannesburg Central and Pretoria. By covering eight regions in 2025, 42% of KeyCare members will be located within a KeyCare Start Regional Hub.
Depression Risk Management Programme
Mental health is a key focus for Discovery in 2025. The Depression Risk Management Programme is a six-month long care programme grounded in neuroscience, aimed at reducing the risk of depression and enhancing mental wellbeing. Members are deemed to be eligible for the programme either based on the results of their mental wellbeing assessment, or they will be proactively identified by a cutting-edge machine learning algorithm designed to dynamically identify depression risk.
Maternity Enhancements
We are excited to share that Discovery will enhance its Maternity Benefit in 2025! The enhanced benefit will allow for two mental health consultations and one nutrition assessment to be available during pregnancy or after delivery.
Click here for more info
Screening & Prevention Benefit Enhancements
Screening and early detection are vital for the treatment of various diseases and illnesses. In 2025, the Scheme will enhance its Screening and Prevention Benefit to include:
- Self-sampling testing kits and related pathology tests for bowel cancer screening, once every two years.
- Self-sampling testing kits and related pathology tests for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing, once every five years.
- Cover for a breast biopsy at the Scheme’s network of accredited mammography centres following a positive result on a mammogram.
For more information on new premiums and increase per plan, Read the latest edition of the Discoverer. Download full brochure
Personal Health Pathways
Discovery Health has pioneered a groundbreaking approach to personalised healthcare. By analysing data that spans more than 60 million life years, the Scheme has determined the optimal health actions and personalised health pathways for each of its 2.2 million eligible adult members on Discovery Health Medical Scheme.
In 2025, each eligible member will get access to their Personal Health Pathway – a unique sequence of the most important actions that can be taken to improve one’s health. Members can access their personalised healthcare pathway through the Discovery Health app and an intuitive WhatsApp journey, making it to navigate the healthcare system and to know what actions to take to have the biggest impact on long-term health. Completing these actions will not only have a positive influence on members’ health but will also reward and incentivise members to stay engaged.
Personal Health Fund
The Personal Health Fund is a new category of healthcare funding which members can accumulate as they engage in their Personal Health Pathways and complete their next best health actions. The fund can be used for day-to-day medical expenses and greatly enhance the overall health journey.
For more information on the personal health Pathway
Trauma Cover Benefit
Discovery Health offers clients cover for health care expenses related to accidental emergencies through the Trauma Cover Benefit. In 2025, Discovery Health is providing an expanded suite of options to cover the cost of emergencies to provide cover up to R1 000 000.
Vitality Enhancements and Premiums
In 2025, Vitality is making it even easier to get active, eat well and establish healthy habits. A healthy lifestyle is made even more rewarding with a series of enhancements to the Vitality Mall and Vitality Travel platform.
>> Get active
Vitality helps everyone get active in a way that suits them best. Members can look forward to a simplified Vitality Active Rewards journey to develop healthy exercise habits, the ability to exercise at a wider range of facilities in the Vitality Fitness network, and discounts on padel gear to complement the Discovery Vitality Padel benefit.
>> Eat well
Vitality Healthy Food has helped hundreds of thousands of families make healthier choices. The benefit has been upgraded to make healthy eating even more accessible, affordable and rewarding. Plus, engagement will be easier than ever before with a seamless activation journey through WhatsApp to start earning rewards at Checkers and Woolworths.
>> Get rewarded
Get rewarded for engaging in healthy behaviours and experience more value with Discovery Miles and the Vitality Mall. Keep an eye out for new partners like Checkers, Uber Eats and Sorbet and enjoy irresistible deals every #RewardsWednesday.Plus, enjoy elevated convenience and comfort with new Vitality Travel partners, United Airlines and Emirates Skyward.
For more information on the enhanced Vitality benefits
If you have any questions about your premiums or benefits, please contact us and we will gladly assist.
DISCLAIMER
While every care and effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, any information shared in this document does not constitute advice as defined in the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002. It is your responsibility to get professional advice to accompany you with the information read, that will suit your personal circumstances.