Discovery Funeral Cover

Essential is the entry plan, with payouts between R10,000 and R50,000 across five plan levels. Classic pays the same range and adds cash back. Classic Max pays R100,000 for the main member and spouse, and does not include the airtime, grocery and education benefits.

You can cover yourself and up to 20 dependants: a spouse, up to 5 children, up to 4 parents and up to 10 extended family members. Discovery says premiums depend on your risk profile, so the published figures are starting prices, not quotes. The plans table below shows each plan in detail.

• The funeral plan is underwritten by Discovery Life Limited and administered by Phakama, an authorised FSP (FSP 1473). (discovery.co.za)
• You can cover yourself and up to 20 dependants: a spouse, up to 5 children, up to 4 parents and up to 10 extended family members. (discovery.co.za)
• Members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme, LA Health or Flexicare get 15% off monthly premiums. (discovery.co.za)
• Funeral claims are emailed to [email protected] or posted to Discovery Claims, PO Box 3017, Rivonia, 2128; Discovery Life Claims phone is 0860 103 905. (discovery.co.za)

Plans as Discovery describes them on its own website on 30 September 2026. Premiums depend on your age, the cover amount and who you add, so the published figures are examples, not quotes.

Extra benefits Discovery lists:

• Essential Funeral Plan: Airtime, grocery and education benefits with R5,000 payout (tiered based on plan); double payout for accidental death of principal life or spouse; annual benefit increase; claims paid within 24 hours; up to 15% off monthly premiums for Discovery Health Medical Scheme, LA Health or Flexicare members.
• Classic Funeral Plan: Airtime, grocery and education benefits with R10,000 payout (tiered based on plan); double payout for accidental death; one month's premiums back every year; up to 100% of your premiums back in cash at age 65 (CashBack paid at the later of age 65 or 10 years after the benefit starts); annual benefit increase; claims paid within 24 hours.
• Classic Max Funeral Plan: One month's premiums back every year; access R10,000 CoverBoost for dependents after 3 years free of charge; annual benefit increase; claims paid within 24 hours (airtime, grocery and education benefits not available on this plan).

Sources: discovery.co.za/life-insurance/funeral-cover.

Checked on 30 September 2026 against Discovery's official website. Numbers change, so confirm on the linked page before you call. Discovery will never ask you to pay a claim fee or send money to a new bank account; if a caller does, hang up and phone the official number.

Sources: discovery.co.za/life-insurance/funeral-cover, discovery.co.za/...3/discovery-funeral-plan.pdf, discovery.co.za/life-insurance/how-to-claim.

Members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme, LA Health or Flexicare get 15% off monthly premiums. This is the only link between the funeral plan and Discovery's other products that Discovery states on its funeral pages. We found nothing on those pages about Vitality.

The Classic plans also pay one month of premiums back every year, and up to 100% of your premiums back in cash at age 65. Classic starts at a higher premium than Essential, so work out whether you will keep the policy long enough to benefit. See cash back funeral cover for how these benefits compare.

The waiting period for natural death is six months on new business. This comes from Discovery's adviser brochure of February 2023, not from the current public funeral page, so ask Discovery to confirm it in writing. Discovery's adviser material says accidental death is covered during the waiting period, and South African rules do not allow a waiting period for accidental death.

Entry ages in the plans table come from an April 2023 one-pager, so treat them as a guide and confirm the limit for the plan and person you want to cover. Our page on funeral cover with no waiting period explains what the rules allow.

Email your documents to [email protected], or post them to Discovery Claims, PO Box 3017, Rivonia, 2128. You can also phone Discovery Life Claims on 0860 103 905, Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 17:00 and Friday 08:00 to 16:00.

Discovery does not publish a list of funeral claim documents on its pages, so ask when you phone. Have the policy number, the IDs and the death certificate or notice of death ready.

Discovery says claims are paid within 24 hours. Its Funeral Plan brochure says the claim is paid within one working day after Discovery receives the necessary paperwork. The rules say an insurer must decide a funeral claim within 2 business days of receiving all documents.

Ask for the reason in writing. Common reasons are a claim inside the waiting period, unpaid premiums or missing documents. An insurer may not refuse a funeral claim because you did not disclose something it never asked about.

If you are still unhappy, complain to the National Financial Ombud on 0860 800 900 or at nfosa.co.za. It is free, and complaints can be dismissed after three years. See our guide to funeral cover scams and your rights.

Essential suits someone who wants the lowest published price. Classic suits someone who wants cash back and expects to keep the policy for many years. Classic Max suits a couple who want the higher R100,000 payout.

If you are a member of one of the named medical schemes, the 15% discount is worth asking about. Compare with OUTsurance, Old Mutual and other providers before you decide.