MOST *********** MEDICAL AID

I have been utterly disappointed and actually DISGUSTED with the services of Discovery Health. I joined the medical aid in 2019 & had never really had issues with the scheme. I was on the Delta Savings Plan. On 20 June 2020, I was diagnosed with COVID-19. Prior to testing, I called Discovery on 19 June 2020 because I was advised that I would need authorization from my medial aid prior to testing & that FURTHER – I WOULD BE REIMBURSED/COULD CLAIM BACK THE AMOUNT I PAID FOR THE COVID TEST. ****This call was recorded!**** The lady that I spoke to advised me that I SHOULD I TEST POSITIVE – I WILL BE REIMBURSED. After I received my results I called discovery. My results were furnished to me on a Sunday so I called them on Monday – the next day. There was no answer & nobody to assist so I complained on twitter whereafter I received a direct message from someone at Discovery who was willing to assist me & immediately called me back. I was asked to send through my results (the pathology report) – which I did. After I HAD TO FOLLOW UP (two weeks later) I received an email authorizing me for a blanket of cover for Covid. I was relieved to have received this because I was worsening & my chest had become severely impacted. I required more doctor consultations & had to purchase, amongst other things, an asthma pump & nebulizing machine with medication. At this point I was already notified of my retrenchment from my employer. I continuously called Discovery & sent through emails attaching my COVID-19 testing slip which reflected the amount that I had paid for the test as well as my invoices from my GP. I was told TELEPHONICALLY that these would be paid for. These calls im sure were recorded. However NOT ONCE did discovery get back to me. I told them that I am left with no choice but to cancel my medical aid because they were REFUSING to assist me – what on EARTH WAS I PAYING R2000 a month for. At the same time my mum & grandfather were diagnosed with COVID & I watched in awe as their medical aids CONSTANTLY assisted them & always reimbursed them etc where needed (GEMS & BONCAP). What SHOCKED me further was that this is the time when the medical fraternity needed to play their biggest role & DISCOVERY’s service was BEYOND PATHETIC. I purposely skipped payments as I had no intention to pay for a medical aid that could not even cover a doctor’s appointment in the amount of R450. Shortly after this I received an email stating that I owe the scheme an amount of R1800 (estimated – do not know the exact figure). I REFUSE to pay this and will not & further I will be reporting them to the relevant Ombudsman. I have also advised friends & family of this who have now cancelled their membership with the scheme & have moved over to Bonita’s who in my opinion is the best medical aid. I have a VERY LARGE social media following & will speak out about the pathetic & useless service received by discovery who can take R2000 a month & not even pay for one consult or covid test. I reiterate further that I will NOT BE PAYING THE AMOUNT OUTSTANDING & I WILL BE REPORTING & TARNISHING THE NAME OF DISCOVERY.

Discovery keeps calling me for the money but I WILL NOT BE paying it.

Sameerah Butler