Paying for medical aid which I can't use when I need it the most

Its so mind boggling to me that I pay for a medical aid every month (expensive at that) but when I am sick and I need it the most, I don't get to use the benefits that I have been paying for every month. I recently went through an operation, had to get medication for recovery and had an emergency stomach infection that I needed to treat to get better. I had to pay for all of these costs cash which is absurd to me when I have medical aid. I feel ****** and put under stress that is in humane which I believe I shouldn't be going through while recovering. What is the point of paying for a service I can't use when I need it? Also what is very frustrating is the fact that pay about R30 - 40k a year on medical aid and don't ever use most of that. Medical aid schemes should be reimbursing members some of the unused contributions paid.