Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 23h 33m
TrustIndex
3
Reply Time
21h 50m
NPS Score
-100
Recommended: Unlikely
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 23h 33m
Oct '25 - Sep '26
Frequently Asked Questions About EssentialMED
Is EssentialMED trustworthy?
EssentialMED has a TrustIndex of 3 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 11 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 100% of negative reviews, typically within 23 hours 33 min. Hellopeter has tracked EssentialMED across 720 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (11)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Sept 2023
My account at Arwyp Hospital has been handed over due to non payment
I'm not happy in may my son was sick so we went to Arwyp Hospital which I was referred to and authorisation was approve . I'm at taken pillar to post regarding the admission fee at was supposed to pay doctor treating my son. I have been getting calls sending emails till today .my account at Arwyp has been handed over I can't pay them and still settle the doctors bill
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2023
My account at Arwyp Hospital has been handed over due to non payment
I'm not happy in may my son was sick so we went to Arwyp Hospital which I was referred to and authorisation was approve . I'm at taken pillar to post regarding the admission fee at was supposed to pay doctor treating my son. I have been getting calls sending emails till today .my account at Arwyp has been handed over I can't pay them and still settle the doctors bill
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2018
Throwing money into water expecting a boat to rise from the water
It's like throwing money in the water expecting a boat to come from it I pay for the day to day and the hospital cover with the extra heart option and all that. I've gone to a doctor on their network for about 4 times in the last year to get an email from them saying they only cover a certain amount for this doctor and I need to pay the outstanding fees... For a doctor on their own network that should be covered I right now am having an emergency decided to come to the hospital for a doctor to just treat me. Episodic Health had to be phoned and because a network doctor didn't refer me they can only pay R2500 for this doctor/hospital visit and x-rays and blood tests are to be covered by me. It's 18:00 at night, I'm having an emergency and that's the response from them. I did pay for my x-rays that cost me R1464 and I won't be able to claim it back. I pay R1100 a month for this plan and I'm realizing that it's not worth it. 4 doctor trips in a year and now 1 hospital trip to see a doctor. I've been with them for 14 months and I've spent R 15 400 for a medical that at most cost them R4000. You're right if you're thinking I'm cancelling and can't recommend them at all. I cancelled this morning, my fiance cancelled this morning and a friend couple of ours also cancelled this morning. That's 4 cancellations because it's unfortunately a very bad medical scheme that you pay for and thinking everything is covered by their network but it's just not. It's like you're paying them to cover almost nothing
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2018
Throwing money into water expecting a boat to rise from the water
It's like throwing money in the water expecting a boat to come from it I pay for the day to day and the hospital cover with the extra heart option and all that. I've gone to a doctor on their network for about 4 times in the last year to get an email from them saying they only cover a certain amount for this doctor and I need to pay the outstanding fees... For a doctor on their own network that should be covered I right now am having an emergency decided to come to the hospital for a doctor to just treat me. Episodic Health had to be phoned and because a network doctor didn't refer me they can only pay R2500 for this doctor/hospital visit and x-rays and blood tests are to be covered by me. It's 18:00 at night, I'm having an emergency and that's the response from them. I did pay for my x-rays that cost me R1464 and I won't be able to claim it back. I pay R1100 a month for this plan and I'm realizing that it's not worth it. 4 doctor trips in a year and now 1 hospital trip to see a doctor. I've been with them for 14 months and I've spent R 15 400 for a medical that at most cost them R4000. You're right if you're thinking I'm cancelling and can't recommend them at all. I cancelled this morning, my fiance cancelled this morning and a friend couple of ours also cancelled this morning. That's 4 cancellations because it's unfortunately a very bad medical scheme that you pay for and thinking everything is covered by their network but it's just not. It's like you're paying them to cover almost nothing
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2021
Feel so ****med by EssentialMed
When I signed up in 2025 Aug, I was advised that there is a network of doctors that I have to use. I called a GP near to where I live, gave her my policy number essential med details, and she confirmed that she is affiliated with EssentialMED. I thought okay fine, I have a doctor on their network and will make use of it. Months go by and my family and I are still seeing this GP. Then bloods are required, GP gives me the required docs, I go to Lancet and bloods gets done, for both my daughter and I. Weeks later, i received an email from Lancet, Im liable to pay over R5000 for bloods. Naturally, I contact EssentialMED explain everything and then get told, sorry the GP who referred you is not a network doctor so we cannot pay for the bloods. Had it been a network doctor, we would have paid. I tried explaining to them that the doctor confirmed that they are affiliated with you, but EssentialMed says sorry that doc is not on our list. As per EssentialMed, doctors do that just to get the patient. My question is; EM noticed im using this doctor for some time now, nobody bothered to advise that this is not a network doctor. I just get told sorry you have to pay Lancet we cannot assist you there. Totally upset at the lack of service here. Now we work hard for our monies, then we must pay for other medical things on top of that. Before EssentialMed says, we did advise you that you need to use a network GP, Id like to say that what happens if the GP confirms that they are a network doctor. I must now go through your list of doctors. What a schlep. Honestly need to get a better service provider.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2021
Feel so ****med by EssentialMed
When I signed up in 2025 Aug, I was advised that there is a network of doctors that I have to use. I called a GP near to where I live, gave her my policy number essential med details, and she confirmed that she is affiliated with EssentialMED. I thought okay fine, I have a doctor on their network and will make use of it. Months go by and my family and I are still seeing this GP. Then bloods are required, GP gives me the required docs, I go to Lancet and bloods gets done, for both my daughter and I. Weeks later, i received an email from Lancet, Im liable to pay over R5000 for bloods. Naturally, I contact EssentialMED explain everything and then get told, sorry the GP who referred you is not a network doctor so we cannot pay for the bloods. Had it been a network doctor, we would have paid. I tried explaining to them that the doctor confirmed that they are affiliated with you, but EssentialMed says sorry that doc is not on our list. As per EssentialMed, doctors do that just to get the patient. My question is; EM noticed im using this doctor for some time now, nobody bothered to advise that this is not a network doctor. I just get told sorry you have to pay Lancet we cannot assist you there. Totally upset at the lack of service here. Now we work hard for our monies, then we must pay for other medical things on top of that. Before EssentialMed says, we did advise you that you need to use a network GP, Id like to say that what happens if the GP confirms that they are a network doctor. I must now go through your list of doctors. What a schlep. Honestly need to get a better service provider.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2026
Horrible service!!!
I'm only giving one star because I have to give some sort of rating. They don't even deserve that one star. My family called for 2 hrs to get pre authorization with no assist. The phone just rings unanswered. I almost died. They are so dam useless. I'm finding a new service provider first thing tomorrow morning. What a useless bunch.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2026
Horrible service!!!
I'm only giving one star because I have to give some sort of rating. They don't even deserve that one star. My family called for 2 hrs to get pre authorization with no assist. The phone just rings unanswered. I almost died. They are so dam useless. I'm finding a new service provider first thing tomorrow morning. What a useless bunch.
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2010
UNPROFESSIONAL BAD BEHAVIOR AND DISRESPECT TO THE HAND WHICH PAYS EPISODIC AND ESSENTIAL-MED FOR SERVICES
It has come to my attention Episodic and Essential-Med are disrespecting their clients since I joined in 2023 I never had any problems but nowadays you're out of line in February/March there was a problem with my new born son and I paid extra while I paid the doctor R360 and you R300 for nothing now is another story with my partner. My partner (Policy No: E161794) went to the doctor to find out her cover was terminated by mistake by your own unprofessional administrator who doesn't know how to read their emails and we paid Cash to the doctor as she was very sick and we couldn't return back home under that condition. Now I'm adding her on my cover (E150037) we're told by Episodic department Elize van der Merwe to make the payment for June while you terminated and reactivated without our knowledge while on the other other side I took the money from my pocket and paid the doctor. My question based on the measure since we paid cash to the Doctor under your ********* and inappropriate bad service we have to pay you for what reasons? what the hell are you saying? What kind of a game is this? NO APP TO COMMUNICATE NO EMAILS TO COMMUNICATE NO MONTHLY STATEMENT WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS IS THIS? Why should we suffer while paying monthly I feel very disappointed and mistreated by all your department. I'm the one paying for this policy and i won't tolerate your failures to display the standard of behavior and business ethics please do the right thing! WE DON'T ***** THE MONEY PAID TO YOU MONTHLY WE WAKE-UP EVERYDAY JUST LIKE YOUR EMPLOYEES AND WORK HARD SO WHY SHOULD I ALWAYS PAY DOUBLE? I PAID YOU AND THE DOCTOR FOR MY SON AND NOW I HAVE TO DO THE SAME FOR MY PARTNER? WHAT KIND OF THE ORGANIZATION IS THIS?
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2010
UNPROFESSIONAL BAD BEHAVIOR AND DISRESPECT TO THE HAND WHICH PAYS EPISODIC AND ESSENTIAL-MED FOR SERVICES
It has come to my attention Episodic and Essential-Med are disrespecting their clients since I joined in 2023 I never had any problems but nowadays you're out of line in February/March there was a problem with my new born son and I paid extra while I paid the doctor R360 and you R300 for nothing now is another story with my partner. My partner (Policy No: E161794) went to the doctor to find out her cover was terminated by mistake by your own unprofessional administrator who doesn't know how to read their emails and we paid Cash to the doctor as she was very sick and we couldn't return back home under that condition. Now I'm adding her on my cover (E150037) we're told by Episodic department Elize van der Merwe to make the payment for June while you terminated and reactivated without our knowledge while on the other other side I took the money from my pocket and paid the doctor. My question based on the measure since we paid cash to the Doctor under your ********* and inappropriate bad service we have to pay you for what reasons? what the hell are you saying? What kind of a game is this? NO APP TO COMMUNICATE NO EMAILS TO COMMUNICATE NO MONTHLY STATEMENT WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS IS THIS? Why should we suffer while paying monthly I feel very disappointed and mistreated by all your department. I'm the one paying for this policy and i won't tolerate your failures to display the standard of behavior and business ethics please do the right thing! WE DON'T ***** THE MONEY PAID TO YOU MONTHLY WE WAKE-UP EVERYDAY JUST LIKE YOUR EMPLOYEES AND WORK HARD SO WHY SHOULD I ALWAYS PAY DOUBLE? I PAID YOU AND THE DOCTOR FOR MY SON AND NOW I HAVE TO DO THE SAME FOR MY PARTNER? WHAT KIND OF THE ORGANIZATION IS THIS?
1 reviews | Active since May 2026
ESSENTIAL MED – INADEQUATE COVER FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURES
In December 2025, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and app**** for authorisation for a craniotomy in January 2026. After submitting a hospital quotation of R547 000, Essential Med approved only R63 600 for 3 days of post-operative ICU care and required me to accept liability for the remaining balance. I appealed this decision but received no response. I then submitted a lower hospital quotation of R421 000, yet the approved cover was reduced even further to R42 400, now covering only 2 days of ICU care. This left me with a shortfall of R378 600. The procedure was ultimately performed at a State hospital at minimal cost. However, my subsequent claim was rejected due to alleged insufficient paperwork from the State hospital. I have been a claim-free member for 5 years. My approved cover did not include any in-hospital procedure involving specialists or theatre costs. It is also concerning that the approved benefit decreased as the hospital quotation decreased for the same procedure. Be warned: this product does not provide meaningful financial protection in a serious medical situation.
1 reviews | Active since May 2026
ESSENTIAL MED – INADEQUATE COVER FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURES
In December 2025, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and app**** for authorisation for a craniotomy in January 2026. After submitting a hospital quotation of R547 000, Essential Med approved only R63 600 for 3 days of post-operative ICU care and required me to accept liability for the remaining balance. I appealed this decision but received no response. I then submitted a lower hospital quotation of R421 000, yet the approved cover was reduced even further to R42 400, now covering only 2 days of ICU care. This left me with a shortfall of R378 600. The procedure was ultimately performed at a State hospital at minimal cost. However, my subsequent claim was rejected due to alleged insufficient paperwork from the State hospital. I have been a claim-free member for 5 years. My approved cover did not include any in-hospital procedure involving specialists or theatre costs. It is also concerning that the approved benefit decreased as the hospital quotation decreased for the same procedure. Be warned: this product does not provide meaningful financial protection in a serious medical situation.
1 reviews | Active since May 2022
Refund
I'm not happy. I made a payment last month and was planning to do the next, next week. I went to the doctor yesterday and they called for confirmation. The receptionist was told we not covered since the 30 April. I sent a email yesterday and no response. We haven't used any of the benifits of this scheme and no one informed us about the cancelation. I want my money to be refunded. .
1 reviews | Active since May 2022
Refund
I'm not happy. I made a payment last month and was planning to do the next, next week. I went to the doctor yesterday and they called for confirmation. The receptionist was told we not covered since the 30 April. I sent a email yesterday and no response. We haven't used any of the benifits of this scheme and no one informed us about the cancelation. I want my money to be refunded. .
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2010
DAYLIGHT ******* 1 MONTH WAITING PERIOD JANUARY TO MARCH?
I've never ever had a problem with Essential-Med since I joined in 2023 but right now after 3yrs I'm going crazy I registered my new born in January and I was notified that the debit order for February 2026 couldn't be processed then I made the payment directly into your bank account whereby the 1 month waiting period was from 1 February to 28 February which means I'm in the clean record of waiting period and full payment. Now I'm receiving a remittance that the doctor was not paid due to 1 month waiting period and if I recall correctly this is a prepaid for March 2026 after waiting a full month of February. Please fix that please you can assess and treat me as your valued client please unless you're playing the Discovery Med I left them for such stunts. Please don't make me victim please.
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2010
DAYLIGHT ******* 1 MONTH WAITING PERIOD JANUARY TO MARCH?
I've never ever had a problem with Essential-Med since I joined in 2023 but right now after 3yrs I'm going crazy I registered my new born in January and I was notified that the debit order for February 2026 couldn't be processed then I made the payment directly into your bank account whereby the 1 month waiting period was from 1 February to 28 February which means I'm in the clean record of waiting period and full payment. Now I'm receiving a remittance that the doctor was not paid due to 1 month waiting period and if I recall correctly this is a prepaid for March 2026 after waiting a full month of February. Please fix that please you can assess and treat me as your valued client please unless you're playing the Discovery Med I left them for such stunts. Please don't make me victim please.