Discovery Health 2027 increases, explained simply
Discovery's prices go up by between 7.4% and 8.9% on 1 January 2027, an average of 8.2%. There's also a new low-cost plan, Active Core.
Announced 29 September 2026. Figures from the official Discovery Health 2027 documents, subject to approval by the Council for Medical Schemes.
Average increase
8.2%
From 7.4% to 8.9%
Cheapest plan in 2027
R1 450
Active Smart, main member (lower on income-based plans)
Biggest rand increase
+R1 104
Executive, a month
Starts
1 Jan 2027
Your first debit order of the year
🎒 Explain it like I'm 15
If your Discovery plan cost R100 a month this year, it'll cost between R107.40 and R108.90 from January. Same plan, same cover, just more expensive.
Worth knowing
Discovery's 2026 increase only started on 1 April 2026, so if you're on Discovery, January 2027 is your second price increase in nine months.
Every Discovery Health plan: 2026 vs 2027
Monthly price for the main member, cheapest first. “Family of 4” is two adults and two children. Totals include the medical savings account on plans that have one.
| Plan | 2026 | 2027 | Extra a month | Family of 4 in 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active SmartHospital only | R1 350 | R1 450 | +R100 (7.4%) | R5 800+R400 a month |
| Essential Dynamic SmartNetwork plans | R1 797 | R1 939 | +R142 (7.9%) | R7 756+R568 a month |
| KeyCare CoreNetwork plansIncome band R10,651–R17,250 (2026: R10,251–R16,600) | R1 859 | R2 025 | +R166 (8.9%) | R5 054+R414 a month |
| KeyCare Start RegionalNetwork plansIncome band R11,401–R17,200 (2026: R10,951–R16,550) | R1 932 | R2 104 | +R172 (8.9%) | R6 102+R500 a month |
| KeyCare StartNetwork plansIncome band R11,401–R17,200 (2026: R10,951–R16,550) | R2 107 | R2 295 | +R188 (8.9%) | R6 652+R544 a month |
| Essential SmartHospital only | R2 161 | R2 332 | +R171 (7.9%) | R9 328+R684 a month |
| Essential Delta CoreNetwork plans | R2 681 | R2 894 | +R213 (7.9%) | R7 394+R543 a month |
| KeyCare PlusNetwork plansIncome band R10,651–R17,250 (2026: R10,251–R16,600) | R2 695 | R2 936 | +R241 (8.9%) | R7 528+R618 a month |
| Essential Smart SaverHospital + savings | R2 750 | R2 968 | +R218 (7.9%) | R7 437+R547 a month |
| Classic SmartNetwork plans | R3 018 | R3 257 | +R239 (7.9%) | R8 430+R621 a month |
| Essential Delta SaverHospital + savings | R3 099 | R3 345 | +R246 (7.9%) | R8 554+R630 a month |
| Classic Delta CoreNetwork plans | R3 126 | R3 374 | +R248 (7.9%) | R8 733+R642 a month |
| Coastal CoreNetwork plans | R3 250 | R3 540 | +R290 (8.9%) | R9 009+R739 a month |
| Classic Smart SaverHospital + savings | R3 350 | R3 616 | +R266 (7.9%) | R9 704+R714 a month |
| Essential CoreHospital only | R3 356 | R3 622 | +R266 (7.9%) | R9 248+R681 a month |
| Classic Delta SaverHospital + savings | R3 875 | R4 182 | +R307 (7.9%) | R10 848+R799 a month |
| Essential SaverHospital + savings | R3 886 | R4 194 | +R308 (7.9%) | R10 699+R787 a month |
| Classic CoreHospital only | R3 905 | R4 215 | +R310 (7.9%) | R10 915+R803 a month |
| Coastal SaverHospital + savingsMain member goes up 8.4%, more than the 7.9% announced for Saver plans: Coastal Saver's 2027 price now matches Essential Saver's | R4 098 | R4 441 | +R343 (8.4%) | R11 327+R851 a month |
| Classic SaverHospital + savings | R4 850 | R5 235 | +R385 (7.9%) | R13 559+R998 a month |
| Essential PriorityHospital + savings | R5 327 | R5 803 | +R476 (8.9%) | R15 001+R1 231 a month |
| Classic PriorityHospital + savings | R6 198 | R6 752 | +R554 (8.9%) | R17 478+R1 435 a month |
| Classic Smart ComprehensiveComprehensive | R8 576 | R9 343 | +R767 (8.9%) | R22 333+R1 833 a month |
| Classic ComprehensiveComprehensive | R10 037 | R10 934 | +R897 (8.9%) | R25 638+R2 105 a month |
| ExecutiveComprehensive | R12 338 | R13 442 | +R1 104 (8.9%) | R32 022+R2 630 a month |
New for 2027
Active Core (Hospital only)
Unlimited hospital cover at the Active Hospital Network, up to R8,000 a year in day-to-day benefits through the Personal Health Fund, plus maternity and mental health benefits. Launch is subject to Council for Medical Schemes approval.
R1 700 main member · R1 550 per adult · R500 per childFamily of 4: R4 250 a month
What's changing
- Active Smart goes up the least: 7.4%, to R1,450 a month per person.
- Smart, Smart Saver, Saver and Core plans go up 7.9%.
- KeyCare, Priority, Comprehensive, Executive and Coastal Core go up 8.9%, the biggest increase.
- New plan, Active Core: R1,700 for the main member, R1,550 per adult and R500 per child, with hospital cover at the Active Hospital Network (more than 40 hospitals).
- KeyCare income bands move up: Plus and Core now R0–R10,650, R10,651–R17,250 and R17,251+; Start and Start Regional now R0–R11,400, R11,401–R17,200, R17,201–R26,150 and R26,151+.
- The Personal Health Fund (money you earn by completing health actions) changes per plan, for example up to R500 per adult on KeyCare and up to R3,000 per adult on Comprehensive.
Before you switch, ask yourself
- Would a cheaper plan still cover the hospitals and doctors you actually use?
- Do you or your family need chronic medicine? Check it's on the new plan's list.
- Is anyone pregnant, or planning to be, in 2027? Maternity cover differs a lot between plans.
- Would you face new waiting periods? Changing plan within the same scheme usually doesn't restart them, but moving to a new scheme can.
- What's the cut-off date for changing plan? Most schemes allow one change a year, starting 1 January.
Not sure if you should change plans for 2027?
A Verified Partner (an accredited, independent broker) can compare your options before the cut-off. It's free, and you only hear from them if you ask.
Quick answers
How much is Discovery Health going up in 2027?
Discovery Health contributions go up by 7.4% to 8.9% from 1 January 2027, a weighted average of 8.2%. The increase depends on your plan.
What is the cheapest Discovery Health plan in 2027?
Active Smart at R1 450 a month for the main member (R1 350 in 2026). If your household earns R11,400 a month or less, KeyCare Start Regional costs R1,392.
Can I change my Discovery Health plan for 2027?
Most medical aids let you change plan once a year, with the change starting on 1 January. The scheme sets a cut-off date for requests, usually towards the end of the year, so ask the scheme or a broker before you decide.
Sources
2026 prices are the official 2026 brochure prices. 2027 prices are subject to approval by the Council for Medical Schemes, and the scheme's registered rules always apply. Joining or changing plans is subject to the scheme's underwriting.