Bonitas is a disappointment

Hi,

I hope this email finds you well. On the 18th of June 2023, I took my wife (Xolile Mkhatshwa) to Life Fourways Hospital emergency because she was not feeling well. The doctor examined her and found that it is a life-threatening condition and advised that she must be admitted as this can lead to her losing her life or our unborn baby. Bonitas did not approve her admission regardless of the condition she was in. Took this medical aid hoping they will be there for me in my time of need as they have promised. The hospital said I should pay R10 999 for a night so my wife can be admitted since Bonitas did not approve her admission.

I was left with no choice but to rush her to the Helen Joseph Hospital where we arrived at 3:00 pm (18th June 2023) and she only was attended by the doctor at 9:30 pm. We further waited until the next day 2:00 am for her to get a bed with no blankets. On Monday 19th June 2023 I called Bonitas and they blamed the hospital for not submitting incorrect information but shortly they approve the admission starting from the previous day pretending as if they authorized it on Sunday. They call me and my wife on Monday 18th June 2023 at noon that my wife should go back to Life Fourways Hospital because her admission has been approved and further say we should pay a co-payment of R1590. I then asked if Bonitas would pay for the entire treatment since they failed to pay for the consultation in full. The Consultation was R824 but Bonitas only paid R93, what confidence do I have in them that they will pay the entire R10 999 per day for the admission and the treatment? I continue to ask them to give me confidence that they will pay all medical expenses for my wife as she was supposed to be admitted through the emergency.

Imagine taking my wife back to Life Fourways hospital and when she is discharged I am left with R20 000 bill. Because they only paid R93 for the consultation of R824, the consultation was done through the emergency and the doctor strongly advised that she must be admitted immediately. Because of that, I decided to let my wife continue at the public hospital.

I have one question, is this how you treat your clients when they are in need, do you think I can recommend Bonitas to anyone, if it was you would you be happy with the service I got from Bonitas? I wish I could just cancel right now because Bonitas is useless, what do you call it a medical aid instead of a pyramid scheme? To say I got a poor service it’s an understatement.

I have attached a few claims, please check how much Bonitas has been paying for each of the claims, they paid 10% or less for each claim. There is a booster that is not working in any of the claims.