Bonitas

Good day

My mother Ansie Steyn was diagnosed with Polymyositis on the 23/03/2019 after a muscle biopsy. As per the doctors and my own investigation there is only two treatments for this illness, Cortisone and Polygam. My mother was treated on a very high dosage of cortisone, she showed side effects after 3 days but continued on the medication because of the relief on the muscles, but after 2 weeks the side effects got so bad that she did not have any other choice but to discontinue the use of the cortisone.

Since then, I have been in contact with Bonitas regarding an authorisation number for the Polygam, they have requested the report of the biopsy and a letter from the doctor. This was forward to them in a PDF file and they did confirm that it was received and they are busy with the application. The next day I received an e-mail that the request for the Polygam was declined due to the fact that this illness is not get covered by this medical aid or plan. I got more information from the doctor and motivation letters etc. Seeing that this is a life/death situation, I really begged them to look at the motivations from the doctor, to my surprise, declined again. We went so far as to go to the state after 3 days of sitting to see one doctor to another we did get a date to go to JHB Jen on the 01/08/2019. Not knowing what to do next as the 01/08/2019 was still a month to go, I decided to contact a medical aid broker, she advise that I need to ask the medical aid to submit an application to Ex Gratia.

In the meantime my mother was admitted to hospital due to her lung and heart muscles not working as they should, due to the Polymyositis. Another doctor contacted the medical aid to explain that my mother will die soon if she does not get the treatment, they advise the doctor that they will approve the treatment but need more paperwork from us. Paperwork meaning: Payslips, bank statements, Tax certificate and expenditure???? This paperwork was requested on Monday 15/07/2019, I e-mailed it to them in a PDF file (as the previous paperwork) but was advised that they cannot open the PDF file I must forward in a different format. This I duly done 10 times already!!!! It is now Friday morning and we still have not received an authorisation number or any feedback from the medical aid. I phoned this morning and as per the consultant they did receive the paperwork but the rules at the special cases are that they do not take any calls and that it can take up to 30 days before we can get an answer, and that the chances for this to be declined again is possible. Last night my mother was so sick that we thought this is the end, and the doctor had to come out to the hospital because the nurses could not help her. If my mother dies while paying this medical aid I will make sure the whole world will know this every year while I am a live! This will be a daily job for me from today on to make sure people out there know what kind of facility Bonitas Medical Aid is.

I do not have any other choice but to lay charges at the medical board, I will be in contact with the newspapers and definitely will contact Carte Blanche TODAY!