Discovery Life paid out R11.5 billion to clients in 2025, matching its 2024 total and exceeding 2023 payouts by R1 billion.
Statistics released on 17 March 2026 show that the total included R6.9 billion in individual life insurance claims, R2.2 billion in group risk claims, and R2.4 billion in shared-value benefits designed to reward clients for actively managing their health and finances.
Of the R6.9 billion paid to individual clients, R3.2 billion went towards life cover benefits, while R1.8 billion was allocated to severe illness claims. Capital disability benefits accounted for R987 million, paid out as lump sums, and R684 million was for income continuation benefits supporting clients unable to work due to illness or disability. A further R268 million covered additional support such as funeral cover and education benefits in cases of death, severe illness, or disability.
Discovery Life Chief Executive Gareth Friedlander said the role of life insurance is evolving beyond traditional payouts after death.
“Life insurance is no longer just about what happens when someone dies. More and more, it’s about supporting people while they are still alive – helping them navigate severe illness, disability, or income disruption,” he said.
Friedlander added that 52% of risk payouts are now directed towards supporting clients during their lifetime, highlighting a significant shift in the industry.
Overall, Discovery Life has paid out R67 billion in claims, with R36 billion distributed in the past five years alone. In 2025, the company processed 9,298 claims—nearly three times the number recorded 15 years ago.
The insurer also introduced its Personalised PayBack Booster in 2025, a programme aimed at encouraging healthier behaviour among clients. The initiative resulted in close to 9,500 cancer screenings, 5,500 health checks, 2,500 metabolic assessments, and more than 710 organ health screenings.
Dr Deidre Kotze emphasised the growing role of artificial intelligence in transforming healthcare outcomes.
“AI is enabling highly personalised recommendations based on each client’s health profile and behavioural patterns,” she said. “By guiding clients toward the screenings most relevant to them, we are increasingly able to detect serious conditions earlier, when treatment options are broader and outcomes are often significantly better.”
Cancer remains a leading driver of claims, accounting for 45% of severe illness claims, 28% of life cover claims—just behind heart and artery conditions at 29%—and 11% of income continuation claims.
Dr Kotze noted improved early detection rates for cancers with established screening programmes, including breast, prostate, cervical, and colon cancer.
“Early detection dramatically improves outcomes,” she said, citing survival rates of 96% for early-stage breast cancer and 99% for localized prostate cancer.
