A motion to review access to healthcare for transgender and gender diverse members has been narrowly approved at the Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) AGM.

The resolution received votes of 52% in favour of the motion, with 30.29% against it and 17.71% of those who attended abstaining. 

Moneyweb reports that DHMS’ rules govern how written proposals should be submitted to the scheme as well as how these are considered by its board.

According to the SA Journal on Human Rights, Discovery Health began a pilot programme in 2018 which pays for surgery as well as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender patients. Moneyweb reports that it says to date Discovery ‘has approved care for two of the five patients who applied to take part in the programme’.

One report from 2021 says Discovery’s cover under this programme remains ‘limited’ and references a ‘lifetime limit’ (at that time) of ‘R200 000 in partial payment benefits’. 

The pilot programme is only available to members on the Executive and Comprehensive plans.

Under the Medical Schemes Act, all schemes have to cover the cost related to the diagnosis, treatment and care of an emergency medical condition, a defined list of 271 diagnoses, and a defined list of 27 chronic conditions, as prescribed minimum benefits (PMB).

This includes lifelong conditions such as asthma, diabetes or hypertension. Currently, medical aids in SA typically classify HRT as non-PMB or ‘elective’ care.

The Medical Schemes Amendment Bill proposes scrapping PMBs in favour of a more comprehensive package of conditions and services to be included in cover.

Moneyweb reports that DHMS did not disclose how many members voted, but at the start of the AGM, board chair Michelle Norton confirmed that 91 principal members were logged onto the meeting (which was more than the requirement of 50 for quorum).

The scheme had 1 368 000 principal members as at 31 December 2025.

Full Moneyweb report