Affinity is a pyramid ****.

Been with Affinity Health since 2020. Premiums to date calculate to around R190 000.

Recently had a life-threatening emergency and rushed to nearest hospital. The hospital would not take me because they said Affinity doesn't pay.

I was going into shock after 13 hours of waiting in the ER of the first hospital. Eventually they transferred me to Life Vincent Palotti who does accept Affinity Health cover (I will get back to this later).

Came to the emergency surgery I should have had hours before for this life-threatening condition.

I had to pay over R40 000 cash right then and there because surgeon said Affinity is notorious for not paying and they do not work with them.

Now I already had to pay for the ER treatment at first hospital out of pocket.

Come to claiming from Affinity, they tell me I have reached my max benefits and won't be reimbursing me the money I paid cash while I was at risk of dying.

They claim the hospital invoice tapped out the benefits.

The hospital invoice we asked to see before they pay, and gave them clear instruction to hold off on payment until we could verify the correct charges were being made.

Previously, at Bushamed, they did the same thing and charged my wife for 3 days stay in the hospital she spent an afternoon at. She never got the money back and eventually gave up the fight with the weaponised incompetence at Affinity.

We ask for the recording of the call. As is our right by law.

They refuse to provide it.

They refuse reimbur*****t and tell us we have to take it up with the hospital.

Here is something I just learned:

Affinity OWNS the Life group.

Nice.

What a clever way to increase your profits, Mr Murray Hewlett. Well done on the record profits you earned. From ****ming people.

Make sure you keep the money within the company and make sure no money is actually paid to outside providers, which means that your members are donating money to a for profit company and they still have to pay for medical care out of pocket.

Affinity is a ****.

Talk to any medical care provider before you onboard with Affinity and they will STRONGLY advise against it.

I will be looking for an alternative.