Last reviewed: November 2026. How we work: our editorial standards, corrections policy and how Curemed is paid. General information, not advice. A personalised recommendation follows a written needs analysis under the FAIS Act.
By Martin Janse van Rensburg, Sales Manager and Financial Advisor at Curemed. Reviewed by Roxanne Hurter-Ehlers, Director of People and Governance.
Discovery Health Medical Scheme and Bestmed Medical Scheme have both published their 2027 contributions and benefits. This guide pairs options from the two schemes that do a similar job, sets out what each costs from 1 January 2027, and compares the rules that decide what a member pays out of pocket. Every figure comes from the official Discovery 2027 contribution table, the Discovery 2027 plan guides and the Bestmed 2027 Comparative Guide. Both schemes state that their 2027 information is subject to approval by the Council for Medical Schemes or its Registrar.
For a short overview of the two schemes, see our Bestmed vs Discovery overview. For every option price, see the Discovery 2027 increase analysis and the Bestmed 2027 increase analysis. This article goes option by option.
In short: Discovery vs Bestmed in 2027
- Discovery contributions rise by a weighted average of 8.2% from 1 January 2027, within a range of 7.4% to 8.9%. Bestmed has announced a weighted average of 7.35%, as reported by Moonstone.
- Bestmed costs less for a principal member at the hospital plan and savings levels, for example R3,315 on Beat2 against R4,194 on Essential Saver. At the comprehensive end the two are close: Pace4 costs R13,641 and Executive R13,442.
- Discovery pays specialists without a payment arrangement up to 200% of the Discovery Health Rate in hospital on Classic Saver and Classic Comprehensive, and up to 300% on Executive. Bestmed pays 100% of Scheme tariff in hospital.
- Both schemes cover the 26 Chronic Disease List conditions. Bestmed covers between none and 29 extra non-CDL conditions, depending on the option.
- New for 2027: Discovery Active Core at R1,700 for a principal member, subject to approval, and the Bestmed Best Bucks benefit of R1,000 per family on qualifying options.
How do the Discovery and Bestmed ranges line up in 2027?
Discovery groups its options into 8 series and 26 plans for 2027, according to its 2027 plan comparison guide. Executive and Comprehensive offer extensive day-to-day benefits. Priority, Saver, Smart Saver and Smart offer limited day-to-day benefits. The Core series is made up of hospital plans, and KeyCare is the income-based network series.
Bestmed has three ranges. The Beat range offers hospital cover, with a personal medical savings account (PMSA) from Beat2 upwards and network versions of Beat1, Beat2 and Beat3 that cost less. The Pace range offers comprehensive in-hospital and out-of-hospital benefits. The Rhythm range is priced by income and uses designated service providers in the Rhythm network.
| Type of cover | Discovery | Bestmed |
|---|---|---|
| Income-based network cover | KeyCare series (4 plans) | Rhythm1 and Rhythm2 |
| Hospital plan, day-to-day costs paid by the member | Core series, for example Classic Core and Essential Delta Core | Beat1 and Beat1 Network |
| Hospital cover plus a savings account | Saver series, for example Essential Saver and Classic Saver | Beat2, Beat3 and their Network versions |
| Savings plus extra day-to-day cover | Priority series | Beat3 Plus, Beat4 and Pace1 |
| Comprehensive cover | Comprehensive series and Executive | Pace2, Pace3 and Pace4 |
What do comparable options cost in 2027?
Discovery split 2026 into two contribution periods, so the 2026 Discovery figures below are those that applied from 1 April to 31 December 2026.
| Level | Option | 2026 principal | 2027 principal | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital plan | Discovery Classic Core | R3,905 | R4,215 | 7.9% |
| Hospital plan | Discovery Essential Delta Core | R2,681 | R2,894 | 7.9% |
| Hospital plan | Bestmed Beat1 | R2,523 | R2,712 | 7.5% |
| Hospital plan | Bestmed Beat1 Network | R2,269 | R2,439 | 7.5% |
| Hospital and savings | Discovery Classic Saver | R4,850 | R5,235 | 7.9% |
| Hospital and savings | Discovery Essential Saver | R3,886 | R4,194 | 7.9% |
| Hospital and savings | Bestmed Beat3 | R4,514 | R4,853 | 7.5% |
| Hospital and savings | Bestmed Beat2 | R3,084 | R3,315 | 7.5% |
| Savings plus day-to-day | Discovery Classic Priority | R6,198 | R6,752 | 8.9% |
| Savings plus day-to-day | Bestmed Pace1 | R5,934 | R6,349 | 7.0% |
| Comprehensive | Discovery Classic Comprehensive | R10,037 | R10,934 | 8.9% |
| Comprehensive | Bestmed Pace3 | R10,064 | R10,919 | 8.5% |
| Comprehensive | Bestmed Pace2 | R8,766 | R9,511 | 8.5% |
| Comprehensive, upper | Discovery Executive | R12,338 | R13,442 | 8.9% |
| Comprehensive, upper | Bestmed Pace4 | R12,572 | R13,641 | 8.5% |
| Income-based, first band | Discovery KeyCare Plus | R1,961 | R2,136 | 8.9% |
| Income-based, first band | Bestmed Rhythm1 | R1,736 | R1,866 | 7.5% |
At the hospital plan and savings levels, the Bestmed option in each pair costs less: Beat2 is R879 a month cheaper than Essential Saver for a principal member, and Beat1 is R1,503 cheaper than Classic Core. At the comprehensive level the two schemes are close, and Bestmed Pace4 costs R199 a month more than Discovery Executive. The increases also differ by level. The Discovery Priority, Comprehensive and Executive options rise by about 8.9%, while the Bestmed Pace2 to Pace4 options rise by 8.5% and Pace1 by 7.0%.
What does a family of four pay on each side?
Child rates change the picture, because each scheme prices children differently.
| Option | 2027 monthly total | 2027 annual total |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Classic Core | R10,915 | R130,980 |
| Bestmed Beat1 | R7,036 | R84,432 |
| Discovery Essential Saver | R10,699 | R128,388 |
| Bestmed Beat2 | R8,604 | R103,248 |
| Discovery Classic Saver | R13,559 | R162,708 |
| Bestmed Beat3 | R11,739 | R140,868 |
| Discovery Classic Priority | R17,478 | R209,736 |
| Bestmed Pace1 | R14,236 | R170,832 |
| Discovery Classic Comprehensive | R25,638 | R307,656 |
| Bestmed Pace2 | R23,032 | R276,384 |
| Discovery Executive | R32,022 | R384,264 |
| Bestmed Pace4 | R33,672 | R404,064 |
For this family, Bestmed costs less in every pair except Pace4, which costs R1,650 a month more than Executive because its adult rate matches the principal rate and its child rate is R3,195.
How much of the contribution goes to savings?
According to the Discovery 2027 Saver plan guide, the Medical Savings Account is 20% of the contribution on Classic Saver and 10% on Essential Saver. For a principal member that is R1,047 a month on Classic Saver and R419 on Essential Saver, against R1,688 on Classic Priority and R3,360 on Executive.
On Bestmed, the PMSA is 16% on Beat2, 15% on Beat3, 25% on Beat3 Plus, 14% on Beat4, 19% on Pace1, 14% on Pace2 and Pace3, and 3% on Pace4: R530 a month on Beat2, R728 on Beat3 and R1,206 on Pace1 for a principal member. Pace4 pays day-to-day claims from Scheme risk first and uses its small PMSA once those benefits run out.
The Discovery Personal Health Fund gives up to R2,500 per adult and R1,250 per child on Classic Saver, to R10,000 per family, for completing health actions. Bestmed Best Bucks gives R1,000 per family for out-of-hospital claims once every adult beneficiary has completed the free Tempo Lifestyle Screening. Best Bucks is not available on Beat1, Beat1 Network, Rhythm1 and Rhythm2.
How does hospital cover differ between the two schemes?
Three rules matter for in-hospital costs:
- Specialist rates. Discovery pays specialists who have a payment arrangement with it in full. For other specialists it pays up to 200% of the Discovery Health Rate on Classic Saver and Classic Comprehensive, up to 100% on Essential Saver and up to 300% on Executive. Bestmed pays GPs and specialists at 100% of Scheme tariff for treatment in hospital on the Beat and Pace ranges.
- Hospital networks. On the Discovery Delta Saver options, a planned admission to a hospital outside the Delta network carries an upfront payment of R11,550. On the Bestmed Beat Network options, voluntary use of a non-network hospital carries a co-payment of up to R15,626, and the Rhythm options carry a R15,626 co-payment per event for voluntary use of a non-DSP hospital.
- Day procedures. On the Discovery Saver plans, a procedure on the defined list done outside the Day Surgery Network carries an upfront payment of R7,550 on Classic and Essential options and R11,550 on Delta options. Bestmed charges a co-payment of R2,987 per event if a day procedure is done in an acute hospital rather than a day hospital.
For a member who uses specialists outside payment arrangements, the higher Discovery rates reduce the shortfall. A member who stays with network specialists, or who has Gap Cover, may find the Bestmed price difference outweighs this. See how network plans work.
How is chronic medicine covered?
Every medical scheme must cover the 26 conditions on the Chronic Disease List as Prescribed Minimum Benefits, set by the Council for Medical Schemes. Discovery pays in full for chronic medicine on its formulary for all Chronic Disease List conditions, using a network pharmacy, and adds cover for its Additional Disease List on Executive and Classic Comprehensive. Bestmed pays CDL and PMB medicine at 100% of Scheme tariff, with a co-payment of between 10% and 30% when medicine is not on the formulary, depending on the option.
The difference lies in conditions beyond the Chronic Disease List. Bestmed sets a number of non-CDL chronic conditions for each option in its 2027 guide: none on Beat1, Beat2 and Rhythm, 5 on Beat3, 6 on Beat3 Plus, 9 on Beat4, 8 on Pace1, 20 on Pace2 and Pace3, and 29 on Pace4. A family managing a condition such as ADHD or eczema should check the list for the exact option. See our guide to Prescribed Minimum Benefits.
What is new on each scheme for 2027?
According to the Discovery 2027 member FAQ, Active Core is a new hospital plan for early career and lower income families, and Active Smart moves to a new Active Hospital Network across 32 regions. Discovery is adding a Virtual Chronic Care programme, and co-payments and deductibles rise by 3.9% from 1 January 2027.
Bestmed has added Best Bucks and two emergency room or casualty visits per family a year, up to R3,000 per event, on Beat2 to Beat4 and the Pace range. Its 2027 guide also lists one RSV vaccine dose for infants born between January and May. The round-up of 2027 medical aid increases places both schemes next to the other open schemes.
Which members does each scheme suit?
Bestmed may suit a family that wants savings and hospital cover at a lower monthly cost, especially with several children, because a family pays for a maximum of three children outside Rhythm1 and dependants pay the child rate until 24. The Pace options suit a member who needs a wider non-CDL list.
Discovery may suit a member who sees specialists outside payment arrangements and wants the higher in-hospital rates, a member who wants the Personal Health Fund and the separate Vitality programme, or a young family looking at Active Core once it is approved.
The right answer depends on your doctors, hospitals, chronic conditions and budget. Before you switch, read our guide to medical aid waiting periods.
If you would like help comparing a Discovery plan and a Bestmed option for 2027, a Curemed Advisor can check your doctors and hospitals against each network and show where Gap Cover may help with shortfalls and co-payments, depending on the policy. Curemed has advised members since 1992, and a conversation carries no obligation. Speak to a Curemed Advisor.
Frequently asked questions
Will I serve waiting periods if I move from Discovery to Bestmed, or the other way?
Possibly. A new scheme may impose waiting periods under section 29A of the Medical Schemes Act, depending on your cover history and any break in cover. An applicant with no medical scheme cover in the 90 days before joining can have Prescribed Minimum Benefits excluded during a waiting period. Confirm what the new scheme will apply before you resign.
Can I compare Discovery KeyCare and Bestmed Rhythm on price alone?
No. Both price by the income of the principal member, but the income bands are set differently: the first KeyCare Plus band runs to R10,650 a month in 2027 and the first Rhythm1 band to R9,000. Rhythm1 in-hospital cover is limited to Prescribed Minimum Benefits at designated service providers, so compare the hospital cover as well as the contribution.
How many children does a family pay for on each scheme?
On every Bestmed option except Rhythm1, a family pays for a maximum of three children, and dependants under 24 pay the child rate. Discovery counts up to three children when it works out the annual Medical Savings Account and the Annual Threshold, except for children in foster care. Check the 2027 contribution table for the child rate on your option.
Is the new Discovery Active Core plan available to Bestmed members who switch?
Discovery says Active Core is open to existing and prospective members, subject to the Scheme Rules, from 1 January 2027 and subject to approval by the Council for Medical Schemes. It costs R1,700 for a principal member, R1,550 for an adult and R500 for a child, with a R15,900 deductible for non-emergency admissions outside the Active Hospital Network.
Does Gap Cover work with both schemes?
Yes. Gap Cover is short-term insurance regulated by the FSCA, not a medical scheme, so it sits alongside either scheme. Depending on the policy, it can help with in-hospital shortfalls and some co-payments or upfront payments, within the annual limit set in regulation.
Martin Janse van Rensburg
Sales Manager and Financial Advisor | Curemed Health and Wealth Consultants
More about MartinThis article is for information only and does not replace the registered Rules of either scheme. Where there is a difference, the Scheme Rules prevail. Curemed is an authorised financial services provider, FSP 44098.
