Elderly Mother Left Hanging by BonCap During Heart Failure Emergency

In April this year, I put my mom on Bonitas BonCap because I wanted her, as an elderly woman of colour, to finally have the dignity of proper healthcare. She disclosed all her PMBs, served the full 3-month waiting period (which ended 1 July), and has even been paying a late-joiner fee because this is her first medical aid.

Two days ago, after a specialist referral, she was admitted to Melomed Mitchells Plain for HEART FAILURE , brought on by the strain of the chronic conditions BonCap had already approved.

And now BonCap is refusing to authorise her admission, claiming she “didn’t disclose heart failure” when she joined. How could she? She was diagnosed two days ago. The heart failure is a direct result of the PMBs they already know about.

On top of that, the service has been shocking. Andiswa, the consultant handling the case, has been completely unhelpful. Melomed has called several times, tried to escalate, and still nothing. My mom is fighting for her life with heart failure, waiting on a medical aid that seems more focused on loopholes than helping an elderly patient in a real emergency.

I’m exhausted. I’m angry. And I’m scared for my mom.

BonCap and Bonitas, you should be ashamed.