Comparing South Africa’s Medical Aid Rewards Programmes
Medical aid reward programs aren’t just there to get your free smoothies and discounts on flights (though those are definite perks). They’re a way for medical aid companies to encourage you to stay healthy. Healthier members usually result in fewer claims, so it’s a win-win for both parties.
Discovery Health and Momentum Health are two of the biggest medical aid schemes in South Africa, and both offer rewards programmes (or a wellness programme, in Discovery’s case). We do an ultimate comparison between the two, below:
Discovery Vitality vs Momentum Multiply Premier: The Basics
First off, how do each of them work?
Both Vitality and Multiply have five rewards levels. Members begin with zero points each year and work to reach the highest level by performing certain activities.
This includes things like going to the gym, completing a fitness assessment, or getting a flu vaccine. In most instances, Multiply awards a higher proportion of the total points required to members for completing tasks than Discovery.
For example, if you ‘Have an Active Day’ with Momentum (i.e. go to the gym or complete a fitness assessment), you’ll earn 80 points. With Discovery, a gym visit will earn 100 points. However, single members need only 750 points to reach the top level on Multiply, but 50,000 to do the same with Vitality.
There’s also a difference in who can earn points. On Multiply, only the main member and one other member need to earn points. With Vitality, every member over the age of 18 must earn points. Plus, if you have more than two adult dependants, each additional dependant can earn only 25,000 points per year.
Multiply changed its reward-level structure in 2024 and has yet to release the information on how many points an individual needs to qualify for the various tiers.
| Discovery Vitality Rewards Levels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Diamond | |
| Single member | All members start on Blue at the beginning of each year | 7,500 | 25,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 |
| Main member + 1 member | 15,000 | 50,000 | 80,000 | 100,000 | |
| Main member + 2 members | 18,750 | 62,500 | 100,000 | 125,000 | |
| Each additional member | +3,750 | +12,500 | +20,000 | +25,000 | |
With Discovery, the tier you’re on will affect the level of discounts you’ll receive from their various partners. In the same way, Multiply relies on your tier to determine the discounts and cashback that you’ll get. (More on this a bit later.) So, the more points you earn, the more Pilates classes you can take at the gym for a lower fee.
That said, to truly benefit from Vitality, you’ll need to have a Discovery Health medical aid or Flexicare Medical Insurance, or a Discovery Life Policy. For the travel benefit, even if you’re on the top tier (Diamond), you can’t access the highest rewards level if you don’t have a Discovery Bank Account.
With Multiply, the earning is somewhat simpler. It’s still best to hold multiple Momentum products, but this won’t necessarily make or break your ability to reach certain tiers or get certain rewards.
Momentum Multiply vs Discovery Vitality: Rewards and Benefits
Let’s start with Momentum. Multiply gives members instant discounts as well as cashbacks. The cash is loaded onto members’ Multiply Money Card or to their Multiply app. The cash can then be spent on the Multiply online shop or anywhere else you choose.
With Discovery, members are paid in either instant rewards or Discovery Miles rather than cashbacks. These miles can be spent with selected partners, unless you're a Discovery Bank client, in which case you can convert your Discovery Miles to cash.
For every R15 a member spends at Vitality partners, they’ll earn 1 Discovery Mile. When you’re cashing your rewards in, every 10 Discovery Miles redeemed is equal to R1. This is one time when you want to get your mileage way up, so to speak.
Discovery Vitality and Momentum Multiply Discounts and Rewards
| Discovery Vitality | Momentum Multiply Premier | |
|---|---|---|
| Available to | Discovery Health, Discovery Life, or Flexicare Medical Insurance | Momentum Health and other qualifying medical scheme clients as well as holders of other Momentum products |
| Price per month | First member: R359/month Two members: R439/month Three or more members: R509/month |
First member: R292/month Two members: R368/month Three or more members: R398/month |
| Rewards tiers | 5 | 5 |
| Number of partners | 69 | 70 |
| Healthy food | Up to 25% of your spend at Pick n Pay or Woolworths back in Discovery Miles. Up to 75% back if you use Discovery Bank and reach Vitality Money goals. |
Up to 12% in cash back from Pick n Pay shops. |
| Personal care | Up to 25% back at Clicks or Dischem in Discovery Miles. Up to 50% back if you bank with Discovery Bank and meet Vitality Money goals. |
Up to 12% cash back from DisChem and Clicks. |
| Gym | Save up to 75% of your monthly Virgin Active membership fees. Up to 100% if you bank with Discovery Bank. Discounts at other Vitality-enabled gyms. Activation fee: R499. |
Up to 40% off Virgin Active. Up to 50% off Planet Fitness and Zone Fitness. No activation fees. |
| Fitness gear | Up to 50% upfront discount on gear at Total Sports. Up to 75% upfront discount if you're a Discovery Bank client. |
Up to 30% on gear at SportSA. Up to 35% on Sweat Gear. |
*Excludes medicine
How to Maximise Your Rewards
Rewards programmes don't work well if you don't understand how to make the most of their benefits.
For Vitality, the best ways to make the most of the reward programme is to eat well, exercise, and get your health checked. So, make sure to log your workouts, link your Vitality card to the grocery store partner of your choice, and buy healthy food. Finally, get your annual health check-ups and vaccinations that are paid for by Vitality.
When it comes to Momentum Multiply, you can do the financial wellness activities, like completing a questionnaire, upload proof of the safety features you have in your car and home, plus drive safely, and finally, stay physically active and track your health progress.
Conclusion
Choosing a medical aid should be based on how you'll be covered when you get sick or are facing a medical emergency – rather than what their reward programmes offer.
With that said, the incentives offered by reward programmes can be powerful in changing your behaviour to live a healthier life. That’s a big win!
If you don’t have medical aid yet or are looking to switch to a medical aid with a reward program that suits you, try out our free medical aid comparison tool today. It lets you compare medical aid quotes side by side and choose the one that will fit your needs. Our advisory team can then assist you with guidance and recommendations.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or medical advice. Information correct at the time of writing. Keep an eye on the various brand websites for changes and updates to rewards programmes.
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