Please do not try to Become a member...

I absolutely hate this Medical scheme.

I am in search for a new medical aid and heard by word of mouth that Medshield is such a wonderful and good medical aid.

This is absolutely not true and are they an absolute disgrace....

I haven't even properly finished with the registration of becoming a member and am i so fed up with them it is just not even funny....

Even during the application process there had been such a lack of communication and popper feedback. It is absolutely like speaking to a electronic robot.

First of all if you contact there number your have to go thru a call center. There, the one call center agent does not know about the other. They know nothing and do nothing. They just refer you to have to communicate via e-mail and then at least give you e-mail addresses you can use..

Then the frustration begins. You sent an e-mail, and then you get a reply back with a reference number stating that your query as been logged and that they will get back to you withing 5 working days.

After about 3 to 4 working days later. They then send you an Application form. You will then fill in this form and sent it back. You will then get an automated message reply back stating that your query has been logged and that they will get back to withing 5 working days and you will get a new reference number. In this time if you would decide to contact them you will not be able to speak to any of the people that are in the signatures on the rep**** e-mail, for you are not allowed to speak to them and do they not accept any calls. Thus the call center agent just tel you to refer back to your e-mail and answer them there.

Back to the e-mail, after about 4 to 5 days later they would respond by saying something like, O you have forgotten a document or a copy of something or so. Then you would respond immediately and correct the issue and sent them the outstanding documents. On reply to that you will once again receive an e-mail stating "Thank you for your query" and that they will get back to you withing 5 working days.

After another 4 to 5 days if you again have not given some correct documents or forms they would say "your application has been rejected please supply us with x, y or z. In this whole time no phone calls are being made to you to maybe speed up the process and again you can not contact them.

Then after a good couple of weeks you would not get any reply back stating that your are being turned down but all of a sudden receive an e-mail stating that your application has been approved based on: Then they would give you a run down on what you are covered for waiting periods what you are not covered for and exclusion etc

In my case i am basically covered for nothing. I have penalties that was calculated wrongfully and thus pushed my normal premium up to R2000 more. I have a waiting period as long as my arm and not allowed any coverage from the period. I also have more exclusions than cover. But I am a member and I am to receive documents and my cards are on the way and my first installment is due to be paid.

No phone call, no explanation, no confirmation that all is in order with me, nothing.

After trying to contact them again. It is the call center again stating that the underwriting department do not accept any calls and any query I should explain to them and they will communicate to them via e-mail.

Guess what they told me when i responded "Well I am no longer interested in your scheme and which to cancel my application.

They said that I should send them an e-mail confirming my cancellation!!!!

Well it is now again the second week and two e-mails further that I am trying to get out of my application. They just keep on replying back stating how please they are to have me as a member and bla bla bla.

Thus People, be warned.