Boncap Income Verification - Query No:170118QKPFDN

The Bonitas Boncap product is a challenge. I writing to Hello Peter for the second time with regard to their policies and procedures. Annually there is an Income Verification process. My mother is a member of Bonitas Boncap. She earns a SASSA pension. She is 68 years old with a diabetes and had a stroke, her monility is very restricted. Every year i have to obtain confirmation that she still earn a pension through affidavit, latter they changed to bank statement or SASSA letter.

This year , 2017 verification, for 2018 year, Bonitas decided to include a new requirement a bank statement or proof of bank account. My mother does not have an effective bank account but you need a confirmation from the bank on the status thereof. She used to habe FNB saving book, but she has not used it in a long while, but i needed to confirm with the bank whether it is still active lest I be accused of *****.

I am based in Pta GP and my mother is in KZN Howick, the bank would not confirm over the phone unless I supply a letter authorizing me thereof. I submitted everything except the bank account confirmation. In December, I was in Howick, I went tonthe bank with the savings book and I was told it has been closed or inactive. I then went to the police station to write sn affidavit which i then submitted.

Bonitas then send me an email saying because of the non submission of that information they will put my mom on a higher income level thus imply a higher contribution of R3900. My mom earns R1800 per month government grant, putting her on higher incone scale when you have in your possession a letter from SASSA confirming R1800 is not only insemsitive but is also ********** and unreasonable.

I wrote to Bonitas raising my objection and displeasure on their decision. They responded that the information was submitted late (bank account confirmation) thus they will only adjust back the contribution from the first of Feb 2018. I objected on the 29 Dec and they responded on the 4th January that they have escalated the matter to senior management.

On the 16 January 2018 i received a letter suspending the medical aid benefits because there is a balance of R2300 of contributions outstanding. The monthly contributions is R1600 and that was paid the R2300 outstanding is due to the penalty contribution which is under question.

I believe that Bonitas is more concern about money than taking care of its members. The fact that information was submitted in Dec they should have correctedvtheir system as the penalty would not do anything on the benefits of the member neither disadvantage others. Secondly the income was confirmed on time and they are aware she is within the income level. The bank account confirmation would not change the income earned by mom as a pensioner, in sny event it is a new requirements.

I have called Bonitas but i was referred to Medscheme who then referred the query back to Bonitas. Clearly the objective is to make money instead.

I am disgusted on the insensitive way this matter is being handled considering my mom’s health state is not good, she depends on the medical aid for her wellbeing. She has been a members since 2011 or so. Already she is paying a 100% late joiner penalty due to joining late although as s black person earning peanuts she was not allowed to join a medical aid during apartheid, can you imagine Bonitas is now adding 3 time penalty thereof, how insensitive and irresponsible can you be as a medical aid ?