Living Longer, Facing New Health Challenges
What the Data Shows
Discovery Health’s HealthTrend2026 report, built from over 60 million years of health information for 2.7 million members, reveals two clear trends. First, people are living longer and surviving serious illnesses better. Second, the rise in longevity comes with a growing load of long‑term, complex diseases.
Why Life Expectancy Is Improving
Earlier Diagnosis and Better Treatment
Over the past ten years, mortality among scheme members dropped by 5.6 %. This decline is thanks to:
- Screenings that catch problems earlier
- More effective treatment pathways
- Wider access to healthcare services
Patient Engagement in Health Programs
Ron Whelan, CEO of Discovery Health, points out that targeted system‑wide interventions and increased participation in wellness programs have played a big role in these gains.
The Rise of Multiple Chronic Conditions
Despite living longer, more than half of members with a chronic illness now manage two or more conditions at once. The most common culprits are cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and mental illness.
Numbers Are Climbing
The share of members treating three or more chronic diseases has more than doubled in the last decade, showing how health needs are becoming more intertwined.
Where the Money Goes
Four disease groups drive the bulk of chronic‑care spending:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Mental illness
- Diabetes
- Cancer
Together they account for 84 % of total chronic disease costs.
Cost Concentration Among a Few
In 2025, the top 1 % of members—about 29 000 people—generated 33 % of all healthcare spending, roughly R25 billion. The top 5 % contributed 63 %, or just under R47 billion.
These high costs are largely tied to serious, unpredictable conditions like cancer and heart disease that can strike at any age.
Mental Health on the Rise Among Teens and Young Adults
Among members aged 18‑30, mental‑illness prevalence jumped 80 % over the last ten years. Today, about one in seven young adults reports experiencing a mental health condition.
More Young People Are Seeking Help Early
Discovery attributes this rise to better access to care and earlier interventions, not to a sudden increase in severity. Dr. Whelan notes that when young adults reach out sooner, outcomes improve and problems are less likely to escalate.
He also stresses the need for mental‑health services to become more preventive and better woven into physical‑health care.
Cancer Survival Is Getting Better
Cancer‑related mortality among scheme members has fallen by 48 % in the past decade. Oncology‑registered members now enjoy an average of 7.1 extra years of life.
These gains come from earlier detection and advances in treatment. Continued access to effective cancer therapies will be key to maintaining progress.
The “Prevention Dividend” Concept
Discovery describes the overall trend as a “prevention dividend.” When we:
- Diagnose conditions early
- Apply targeted interventions
- Encourage lasting healthy‑behaviour changes
we not only improve health outcomes but also lower long‑term risks and costs.
Conclusion
South Africans are enjoying longer lives and better survival rates for serious illnesses, thanks to earlier detection, improved treatments, and greater healthcare access. However, this success brings a new challenge: a rising tide of long‑term, often overlapping diseases—especially heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and mental health conditions. Costs are increasingly concentrated among a small group of members, highlighting the importance of financial protection and preventive care. For teens and young adults, the message is clear: seeking help early, staying engaged in wellness programs, and integrating mental‑health support with physical health can help secure a healthier future while keeping the system sustainable.
