CAMAF – When You Need Your Medical Aid Most, They Leave You to Suffer

I am utterly disgusted and disappointed with the service I have received from CAMAF.

I have been a CAMAF member, together with my two children, since 1 May 2025. Following my remarriage in May 2026, I made the decision to add my husband to my membership with effect from 1 August 2026. Although he previously belonged to his own medical aid, we felt it made more sense for our entire family to be covered under one scheme.

Little did I know how disappointing this decision would turn out to be.

In October 2026, my husband developed severe and debilitating back pain. Initially, he consulted his GP, who prescribed medication that provided temporary relief. Unfortunately, the pain returned with a vengeance.

Further investigations followed. An X-ray led to a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon, who subsequently requested an MRI. The MRI confirmed spinal stenosis.

The orthopaedic surgeon advised that the condition was sufficiently severe to fall outside his scope of treatment and referred my husband to a neurosurgeon, Dr Karan.

After assessing my husband and reviewing his MRI results, Dr Karan advised that surgery was not necessarily the only option and recommended spinal block injections as an alternative treatment.

However, CAMAF has refused to authorise these injections, citing the fact that my husband only joined the medical aid in August 2026.

Let me explain what this actually means for us.

My husband is in excruciating, constant pain. The medication prescribed to him is not providing adequate relief. His pain has become so unbearable that he has expressed suicidal thoughts because he simply cannot see an end to his suffering.

Yes, you read that correctly.

I have communicated the severity of his condition to CAMAF. I have explained that this is not ordinary back pain that can be managed with a few painkillers. This is a man whose quality of life has deteriorated to the point where he is struggling to cope with the pain.

And what has CAMAF's response been?

We have been told that the matter is being investigated and that the process could potentially take up to a year.

A YEAR!

So, what exactly is my husband expected to do in the meantime? Continue living in unbearable pain while CAMAF completes its administrative investigations?

I understand that medical aid schemes have rules, waiting periods and underwriting requirements. I am not disputing that. However, surely there must be room for urgent clinical consideration when a member is suffering this severely?

What makes this situation even more frustrating is that the spinal block injections are a less invasive and potentially more cost-effective alternative to surgery. A specialist has assessed my husband and recommended this treatment.

Surely it makes sense to consider the recommended treatment rather than leave a patient suffering while an administrative process drags on?

I pay substantial monthly contributions to CAMAF. The entire purpose of belonging to a medical aid is to have access to medical care when unforeseen circumstances arise, without having to find enormous sums of money to fund procedures ourselves.

What is the point of paying these contributions if, when we genuinely need assistance, we are met with refusals, delays and uncertainty?

I have even escalated this matter to CAMAF senior management and questioned what accountability there would be if my husband's suffering were to result in a tragic outcome.

If he were to take his own life because he could no longer endure the pain, what would happen to his family? Would CAMAF accept any responsibility for the circumstances? Would anyone consider the devastating emotional and financial consequences left behind for his wife and children?

I am not suggesting that CAMAF is automatically legally responsible for his underlying medical condition. I am questioning whether sufficient urgency and compassion are being shown towards a member whose physical and mental wellbeing are clearly deteriorating.

I have also lodged a complaint with the Council for Medical Schemes because I believe this matter warrants independent scrutiny.

I am not asking CAMAF for special treatment. I am asking for reasonable, compassionate and urgent consideration of a genuine medical situation.

I am now seriously questioning whether remaining with CAMAF is worthwhile. I should not have to consider paying even more to upgrade my option simply to have access to the treatment my family needs.

A medical aid should be there when you need it most. Unfortunately, our experience with CAMAF has left us feeling completely abandoned.

I sincerely hope CAMAF takes this complaint seriously and provides a meaningful resolution, rather than another generic response advising that the matter is still under investigation.

All we are asking for is the opportunity for my husband to receive the treatment recommended by his specialist and to live without this unbearable pain.

Is that really too much to ask from a medical aid?