Do not pay for essential brace after open heart surgery

Firstly some background to my situation : My 79 year old father had to undergo a quadruple bypass and valve replacement last year after suffering a massive heart attack out of nowhere. All payment of accounts were processed and went smoothly bar a few hiccups. He was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital here in PE for 4 weeks where he lost 20kg in weight and ended up being discharged with a septic wound. For this he was readmitted to hospital and had to undergo further surgery right into chest to his sternum. He was hospitalised for a further week due to this. A total of 10 weeks ! I brought the negligence to Bonitas and Medscheme's Managements attention concerning the rehabilitation hospital. They reviewed and investigated and had meetings with the doctor and CEO of the rehabilitation hospital and report backs are now required from them. With me informing the Management of the gross mistakes, and many more of the rehabilitation hospital I have saved Bonitas an immense amount of money for the future in claims against them and unnecessary payments. However, they refuse to pay for a chest brace that was fitted onto my father's chest in surgery after his operation. This brace had to be worn for his full stay in hospital as it is to keep his chest cavity closed and together. As the slightest movement or sneeze can result in the whole chest and rib skeleton in splitting open again which result in emergency heart surgery again. In the meantime the company who the brace was issued from is wanting to hand my father over as payment for the brace was never received from Bonitas. Who have since informed me that it is not covered in their scheme. How can this essential and vital brace not be covered ??!! IF there is no brace the expense of further heart surgery will cost a fortune for Bonitas, will it not !!! The cost of the brace is a mere R1690 but they refuse to pay this but would rather pay for surgery and hospitalisation again. Seems a no brainer to me. My father does not have the money to pay this account so I have arranged with the company a payment plan for myself to pay off.