Discovery Health: Essential Smart
Network
2026 Plan
From R 2 161/monthGet a free callback
Heads up: This is general information, not financial advice. Pricing is sourced from the official Discovery Health 2026 brochure but may change — always confirm directly with Discovery Health before joining.
Monthly Contributions
Main memberR 2 161
Adult dependantR 2 161
Child dependantR 2 161
Max 3 children billed.
Hospital Cover
Limit: Unlimited
Network: Restrictive network
Network name: Private hospitals in the Smart hospital network.
Chronic Cover
27 conditions covered (27 PMB + 0 additional)
Plan highlights
- Unlimited consultations with GPs in the Smart network, with a R130 co-payment for each consultation
- One eye test at a network optometrist with an upfront payment of R130 for the test
- One defined dental check-up with a R195 co-payment for the check-up
- Cover for over-the-counter (OTC) medicine obtained from a network pharmacy, up to a yearly limit of R605 per family
Who is Essential Smart for?
- Members happy to use a defined network of GPs and hospitals in exchange for lower premiums
- People prioritising affordable monthly contributions over freedom of choice
- Budget-conscious members looking for entry-level cover
This is general guidance. Use our free calculator to see whether this plan matches your specific needs and budget.
What's covered
- Unlimited hospital cover at restrictive network
- 27 chronic conditions (27 PMB + 0 additional)
- All Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) — required by South African law
What to watch out for
- Planned admissions at hospitals outside the network — co-payments apply
- Chronic conditions outside the 27 statutory PMB list
- Cosmetic procedures, alternative therapies and certain elective treatments
- Out-of-hospital costs above your annual day-to-day limit (where applicable)
Compare with similar Discovery Health plans
Essential Delta Core
Hospital Plan
From R 2 507/month
27 chronic conditions
Restrictive network
Essential Dynamic Smart
Network
From R 1 797/month
27 chronic conditions
Restrictive network
Essential Smart Saver
Savings
From R 2 750/month
27 chronic conditions
Restrictive network
Frequently asked questions
Source: Discovery Smart Plan Guide 2026 — accessed 2026-04-28.
Information sourced from Discovery's official 2026 plan guide. Contributions and benefits may change. Always confirm with Discovery before joining.
We are not a financial services provider and do not offer financial advice.