Unhappy

Monique K Strauss TO: DISCOVERY HEALTH MEDICAL SCHEME REFERENCE NUMBER: *** MEMBERSHIP NUMBER: ***4 Anchorage Road LANGEBAAN, 7357 Tel: *** E-mail: *** 6 December 2021 This communication refers to your letter in which I was informed of the withdrawal of my membership of Discovery’s Health Medical Scheme. On 3 November 2021 I started having severe pain across my abdomen. Since I have previously suffered from constipation and abdominal pain I made an appointment to see Dr Lauren Cawood at her practice in Langebaan, Dr Cawood diagnosed me with severe haermorrhoids, please see Dr Cawood’s attached letter. Dr Cawood also made an appointment for me to see Dr Wilandi Jacobs, a general surgeon who has rooms at Blaauwberg Hospital, on 16 November 2021. Prior to my visit to Dr Cawood, I was also attended to by Dr JP Bester of Langebaan on 8 July 2021 for the same reason, he treated me for clinical diverticulitis, please see Dr Bester’s attached letter. When the pain later that day became unbearable my husband phoned Dr Jacobs’ rooms to enquire whether she could possibly see me that day. Dr Jacobs’ secretary assured me that she was too busy to attend to me, but suggested that, if the pain became even worse, we should drive through to the Trauma Unit at Blaauwberg Hospital. My husband and I left for the hospital and when we arrived there I was told that Netcare do not attend to patients enrolled in the specific medical scheme on which I was, we were then directed to Panorama Mediclinic. On my arrival at Panorama Mediclinic, I was seen by Dr Erasmus who decided to admit me. Dr C Cooper, general surgeon, then took over my treatment and decided to do certain tests and procedures to ascertain the origin of the pain. Up to that point, I have NEVER in my life been diagnosed or treated by any medical officer for CANCER or any such related disease. In order for Dr C Cooper to undertake any tests or procedures, authorisation had to be obtained from your office. On 4 November 2021 authorisation was granted under reference number ***6. In view of the authorisation being granted, Dr C Cooper proceeded with having various tests and procedures done. Everything was fine until a diagnosis of C20 – malignant neoplasm of ****** was made when you, Discovery, unilaterally decided to withdraw my membership as from 31 October 2021 leaving me to foot all the bills.

With a sole income of R1500 from a living annuity which my late dad had left me, I simply do not have the financial resources to settle the bills that I have thus far received, already in the order of approximately R70 000, and the ones that I still stand to receive. In light of the fact that authorisation was granted for the tests and procedures which were undertaken and the fact that I would NEVER have given permission for tests and procedures to be done adding up to such an astronomical amount of money for payment by myself, I am once again submitting these accounts for settlement. Should this matter not be concluded to my satisfaction, I will take it up with the appropriate Ombudsman. Yours sincerely Monique Strauss