Emergency or casualty cover

What is a medical emergency?

A medical emergency is the sudden, unexpected onset of a health condition that needs immediate medical or surgical treatment. If this treatment is not provided the person’s life would be at risk or result in serious impairment or dysfunction of an organ or body part.

• Cover for medical emergencies in South Africa
• Cover for HIV prophylactics
• Cover for casualty
• Cover while travelling overseas
• Cover for evacuation in Africa

Cover for medical emergencies in South Africa

In a medical emergency, call Discovery 911 on 0860 999 911 – this number is displayed on your membership card and car sticker for easy reference.

If you need medically equipped transport, for example an ambulance or helicopter for a medical emergency, we will cover the costs from your Hospital Benefit, if you are admitted to hospital or from the Insured Procedures Benefit (IPB) if you are not admitted to hospital. We will cover your emergency transportation at 100% of the Scheme Rate, subject to an annual limit.

We cover HIV prophylactics

If you need HIV prophylactics to prevent HIV infection from mother-to-child transmission, occupational and traumatic exposure to HIV or sexual assault, call us on 0860 100 417.

Cover for going to casualty

If you are admitted to hospital from casualty, we will cover the costs of the casualty visit from your Hospital Benefit, as long as we confirm your admission. If you go to a casualty or emergency room and you are not admitted to hospital, we will pay the costs from your day-to-day benefits. Some casualties charge a facility fee, which we do not cover.

Cover for medical emergencies while traveling overseas

If you’re going overseas and you need travel insurance, please contact one of the following prior to departure to arrange for this:

• Your travel agent
• Your bank

You will have to pay for all emergency hospital and non-hospital expenses upfront and claim from the Scheme when you return to South Africa. You will be reimbursed at Scheme Rate and in accordance with your Scheme benefits. Please call 0860 100 693 for more information on your cover.