Pathetic Service/Pathetic Medical Scheme

I recently was told by different orthopaedic surgeons that I require surgery on my shoulder. Fedhealth furnished me with an authorisation number but on the quote there is a co-payment for the arthroscopic procedure. According to them, the Trustees have stated that doctors excessively use and exploit this method which according to them is quite costly, so to save members' by keeping the costs down, you have to pay the co-payment regardless of what plan you are on with Fedhealth. I am not a surgeon and how can we as members/patients dictate how a doctor must operate is beyond me. They are quick with their responses but not quick at all to give you options. So what they are saying to me is, sorry for you, if you cannot pay R9k you cannot have this operation done! Talking to them is a nightmare, they don't respond well to emails and quite frankly reading other comments made by members of Fedhealth I too wonder why I'm still with them. You gladly take our monthly premiums .... You state that you're affordable, but when it really counts who are you actually looking after? Non-invasive surgery is better for the patient, but it costs too much for the scheme - "Family looks after Family" - REALLY?