Forcing PMB clients to go onto the top, most expensive, plan!

I would like to lodge a complaint against Bonitas Medical Aid regarding their decision to no longer provide any form of biologic medication to patients who are not on the top, most expensive scheme/plan. I believe this is a loophole to force patients which PMB conditions to pay extremely expensive rates.

I received a call today from a Bonitas consultant informing me that as of January 2019, only the top 'BonComprehensive' scheme, which is approximately R6 500.00 per month, will be covering biologic medication. I am currently on the second highest scheme at Bonitas and have an active PMB condition and think this is absolutely ludacris as I, as I am sure many others with PMB conditions do too, rely heavily on biologic medication to keep my PMB condition under control. It is vital we have access to this medication as it literally keeps us out of hospital and relatively healthy.

As it stands now, there are a few Bonitas schemes in which a 10% co-payment applies, however I appealed this due to lack of funds and got the co-payment waived, but even then it would have been approximately R900.00 a month if I had to pay the co-payment. Being left literally no choice but to move onto the top plan if you want biologics covered means Bonitas is forcing its clients with PMB conditions, and other conditions that require biologics, to move on to their top plan and pay thousands of Rands more each month. For me alone it is an increase of R2 500.00 a month, which I cannot afford, but I have literally not been left with a choice.

If I could leave Bonitas to join another scheme without the 3 month underwriting period, I would in a heartbeat.