Only Good Until You Claim, then God help you ... #Dental

I found this unacceptable and in actual fact this Medical Aid appears to be more like a Money making racket than anything else (based on my experience below, have a look you won't believe it).

I recently submitted a claim for a dentist visit which cost me R3000 at the Sandton Dental Studio.

My monthly premium at Bonitas is around R2500. I have not claimed ANYTHING dental related in 4 YEARS (this is as per email from Bonitas since I requested my claim history). To put this into context, over 4 years that's R120k in premiums (of which the claim is a meager 2.5%).

Bonitas was willing to pay out R1200.00 of my claim (that's not even 50% of the claim).

Their reasons being:

1. "The treatment code 8304, benefit is only available if associated root canal treatment was done." The dentist not doing a root canal (because it was not needed as per the dentist) is a reason for turning down the claim according to Bonitas. Do they therefore condone that dentists perform unneeded surgeries on patients!!?? This is shocking!!!

2. "Please note the treatment done at Practice 466301 DR VAN DER MERWE L J, service dated 28/03/2019 was paid at scheme tariff, as the service provider is not registered on the Denis dental network." This is not some fly by night dentist ... (https://www.sandtondental.co.za/). What is your ****ing problem BONITAS!!! Am I not entitled to the best health care? If co-payment is 10% - 15% I can understand, but 60%!! **** off man!

So, why did I use this dentist?

From my own pocket I paid for whitening therapy the month before in Feb which was around R7k and they were absolutely fantastic. Friendly and Professional. I never even submitted that claim, because I know I can't claim for it. I'm a loyal return customer. Well, I am when I get good service delivery. I can REALLY recommend this dentist to the reader (they even do free dental for Miss SA contestants, which I think is pretty cool). Unless your with Bonitas of course, then your ****ed apparently.

The service experience dealing with this claim was dreadful, Dental at Bonitas is subcontracted to a company called Denis (an EOH company). And we all know what that means folks, you get to meet multiple people as your call is transferred from one person to the other when you follow up on your claim (sorry I can't help you, please call this number to follow up on your claim).

My pain - I'm 28, no dependents, healthy, no chronic illnesses and very rarely claim. I get it Bonitas, people like me, we are the cash ***s that keep you afloat when the elderly and the sick claim often (that's how medical aid works - I get it), but for **** sakes man, on the ODD occasion when I do claim, you need to cover me or what good are you!!

Basically, I'm looking for medical aid elsewhere. Don't even bother with Bonitas guys and Girls. They are ****ing useless.

Some tips, Discovery health looks good as well as Momentum Health insurance. I'll be reading up on them this week. I've heard a lot about ProfMed as well.

Regards, Vic.