Flexicare brings more accessible and affordable healthcare to South African consumers

06 August 2024, Johannesburg: Discovery Health and Auto&General have announced enhanced benefits to its current day-to-day private healthcare offering, Flexicare, at a more affordable rate starting from R350 per month.

“We are thrilled to introduce a broader suite of services to the Flexicare offering, over and above the existing benefits, in the form of nurse-led journeys and a digital clinic,” explains Maria Makhabane, Chief Growth Officer at Discovery Health. “Flexicare is now available at a new affordable price point, from R350 per month, making it on average between 13% - 19% more affordable than other equivalent products currently available in the market for employers and individuals respectively.”

Flexicare offers high value healthcare at an affordable price

Flexicare, which is administered by Discovery Health and underwritten by Auto&General, was introduced in 2017 with the aim of bridging the gap by making private healthcare cover available at an affordable premium.

Flexicare is available to corporate employers wishing to provide affordable private healthcare cover for employees. Individuals can also purchase this health insurance as an important benefit for themselves, their household employees or other employees who may be working with them in a small home-office business.

“We are seeing a promising uptake of the product, with a 77% growth in members over the past 30 months. Flexicare currently provides primary healthcare to more than 111,000 members,” says Makhabane.

“This growth is attributed to the high value that members are receiving from Flexicare with rich benefits at the most affordable price point.”

Currently, Flexicare is funding nearly 22,000 GP visits per month – which means that one in every five Flexicare members are consulting with a GP each month. One in 10 members are also getting a script filled per month.

Nurse visits and digital clinic consultations now available

Flexicare funds primary healthcare at an extensive national network of more than 12 000 providers. Flexicare members can easily locate their nearest healthcare provider through the Flexicare website, app or WhatsApp channel.

“Early this year, we introduced new partners and providers to further increase accessibility to primary healthcare. We’re excited to incorporate a network of nurse-led, digitally enabled primary care clinics as part of a new partnership with Intercare, Netclinic and Unjani Clinics.”

Members can start their healthcare journey using a Flexicare clinic with digital capabilities to facilitate a virtual GP consultation and if necessary, an onward referral to a physical GP consultation.

“They will be able to conveniently access their primary healthcare benefits through either a nurse visit and online GP consultation facilitated by the nurse, or by completing a digital consultation with a GP through the online clinic platform. Both care pathways will result in a referral for an in-person GP consultation when this is required.”

Introducing Flexicare and Flexicare PLUS

Significant investment has also been channelled into providing Flexicare members with a differentiated servicing experience, offering swift claims processing and user-friendly digital tools and servicing channels.

Members can choose between two Flexicare plan options – Flexicare and Flexicare PLUS - both offering a basket of primary healthcare benefits. Here’s a breakdown of benefits available on each plan option:

From R350, the Flexicare plan gives members access to:

• Unlimited face-to-face or online consults with a network GP when referred by a network nurse
• Unlimited network clinic
• A defined list of procedures in a network GP rooms, when referred by a network nurse
• A defined list of prescribed acute medicine
• HIV treatment, counselling and education
• Over-the-counter medication from a network pharmacy of up to R150 per policy per year
• Basic radiology and pathology (GP referral required)
• Two pregnancy scans, relevant blood tests and supportive prescribed medicine within the network
• Cover for an annual flu vaccine from a network pharmacy
• Cover for an annual wellness screening at a network pharmacy
• Access to Netcare 911 road ambulance services for emergencies

From R469, Flexicare Plus members have access to all above benefits PLUS these additional benefits:

• Unlimited face-to-face consults with a network GP
• Cover for a defined list of 27 prescribed chronic medicines
• Fillings, extractions, pain and sepsis scaling at a network dentist
• An annual eye test, and a new frame and lenses every two years at a network optometrist
• Over-the-counter medication from a network pharmacy of up to R440 per policy per year

Find out more on: https://www.discovery.co.za/more-health-cover/flexicare

Flexicare is also available to consumers through Clicks’ extensive retail presence, allowing more individuals to purchase quality, affordable, healthcare cover – almost anywhere. Clicks Clubcard members can earn 10% cashback.

Find out more on: https://clicks.co.za/clubcard/discovery-flexicare and view the Clicks offer on: https://youtu.be/O2H_GNj9mG0?feature=shared

Expanding affordable private cover to millions

“Flexicare reflects our commitment to expanding cover to millions more South Africans, and it’s made possible by the strengths of excellent partners who share this vision,” says Makhabane.

Head of Auto&General, Ricardo Coetzee agrees, “It is wonderful to see this partnership growing from strength to strength. It’s also fantastic to see such significant growth placing Flexicare in a prominent position to bring more affordable healthcare to more South Africans, any time it’s needed and from anywhere in the country.”

“We look forward to making even more of a significant impact on people’s lives through Flexicare and through our network of dedicated healthcare providers,” concludes Makhabane.