Most useless, inefficient and ineffective Medical fund out there!

Hello

I recently foresaw that I was going to be referred to a specialist, so I called Bonitas to ensure that I was prepared in knowing what I needed to do. They told me to go see a general practitioner (GP) and get a referral letter. After this I will need to get pre-authorization for the consultation with specialist. What they refrained from mentioning was that the GP himself needed to call and get the authorization. So long frustration story short I got to the specialist and had to go back to the doctor to ask him to call, because the call I made didn't help at all.

So let me get this straight after the GP, a professional in the field of medicine and human sickness, made a professional judgement call to refer you to a specialist, he himself had to be put through a verifying process to ensure his judgement was correct. You are wasting the GP's and my time! I totally get it to first go and see a GP as you cannot self diagnose and go to a specialist directly, but after the GP referred you why in Hells name does he need to get pre authorization for a consultation with the specialist. Yes a ****** consultation, not a special procedure with the specialist, just a consultation.

What frustrates me the most is, irrespective of the medical aid option/plan with Bonitas, you would need to go through this whole process. I am currently on the BonSave medical option which states that out of hospital they cover 100% of Bonitas's rate for specialists, which is paid from your saving. YES, my saving, the money I saved monthly in my medical aid account! Now I need authorization so that my own saving money can be released to be used to pay for an allowed(based on my medical plan that does cover specialists and the fact that a normal GP advised and referred me to go and see a specialist) consultation???

Please tell me the logic behind this??? Please tell me how even the most expensive option with Bonitas(according to your consultants) need to go through this super inefficient process so that the medical aid pay for a normal consultation?

2 years ago, also with bonitas, I got a hairline fracture in my toe, went to a GP, he referred me to go and see an orthopedic specialist. I got to the specialist, paid the consultancy fee myself, after the visit, I submitted the referral letter with the proof of payment and by a miracle of time Bonitas paid their portion of the consultation.

Why is it now so difficult?

I will change medical aids as soon as I am allowed to, your structure and process makes no sense! My friend with a similar option at Discovery(savings) literally has to get a referral note from his GP, and then the portion of the consultation is paid from his saving within his medical aid fund, no questions asked. If his money runs out, he needs to pay himself. So why in the almighty's name do first need approval so that I can use my own saving to go and see a specialist based an another professional's advise and opinion?????

I with make sure anybody that I get in touch with know about how ineffective and useless Bonitas is.

Regards Daniel Member number ********** 6255