Being with Discovery for more than 5 years and yet in a life threatening emergency my medical aid was off no use. Heartbreaking!

Paying for medical aid every month (for more than 5 years now) and yet my partner had to be taken to a government hospital and despite doing everything I could, my medical aid (Discovery) could unfortuantly not care less. Most of the consultants really did their best to try and help me as best as they could (unfortuanlty after every call I received different advice on how to proceed, which is very concerning). I was left in the very situation for which I pay every month not to be in. Now Discovery refuse to pay the private hospital emergency room claims because there is no hospital authorization, when my partner was taken to the government hospital (since you don't need authorization to go to a government hospital), I was just told to call the government hospital and instruct them to open a authorization because without that Discovery can't do anything. (Needles to say the government hospital did not answer and after informing Discovery of this I was told to call again because they HAVE to answer)

Faced with a medical emergency I have always thought that I would be safe and secure with Discovery Medical Health as my Medical Scheme but having to go through a week of constant phone calls to Discovery where they are not able to help move my partner to a network hospital that would be closer to home, and in better conditions than her having to lie in a bed covered with a already blood stained sheet (not her blood) and no clothes (as they even took off her gown that Unitas Hospital dressed her in), I found myself with the harsh reality that my medical aid did nothing when my partner almost died. Cherry on top, after claiming to pay in case of emergency (which Discovery very proudly advertise), I am receiving excuse after excuse as to why the emergency room claims are being rejected.

I am at a loss. Why pay for medical aid when I couldn't even be there for my partner for support because I was on the phone for hours with Discovery, to no avail.

Once, long ago, Discovery Medical Health was a good medical scheme. but it seems the fall from glory is far. I hope I can find a medical aid that can actually provide me with security and protection against emergency.

Discovery is undependable!